By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport

The 64th Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike are scheduled for Wednesday, April 17 through Saturday, April 20 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif.

WATCH LIVE WEBCAST APRIL 18-20 OF 64TH MT. SAC RELAYS PRESENTED BY NIKE ON RUNNERSPACE+PLUS

Here are 10 invitational storylines involving high school athletes to follow at one of the nation’s most prestigious track and field competitions:

Big moment for Baker

Braelyn Baker is the returning girls invitational 200-meter winner from last year at the Mt. SAC Relays, but the presence Saturday of the Duke-bound senior at Bear Creek High in Washington at Hilmer Lodge Stadium is far more significant than just trying to earn back-to-back victories.

Baker, with the support of Mt. SAC Relays High School Division Coordinator Mark Gardner, will have the first opportunity in meet history to compete in a prep 400-meter hurdles race, an event that she is ranked No. 2 in the country this season at 58.26 seconds.

Since California high school competition highlights the 300-meter hurdles at the state level, the Mt. SAC Relays has only offered that event for prep boys and girls competitors in past years.

But Saturday will showcase not only the 100-meter hurdles for female athletes and 110-meter hurdles for boys competitors, but also the 300 hurdles and 400 hurdles competitions as well, with Vincent Atilano of Cathedral Catholic High in California the top entry in the boys invitational 400 hurdles.

Baker is scheduled to race Saturday in the 100-meter dash, 400 hurdles and 200, all in a span of just over two hours. She placed second in the 100 last year at Mt. SAC in a wind-legal 11.65 seconds, in addition to clocking a wind-aided 23.71 to triumph in the 200.

Baker won all three events in July in the 17-18 division at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships at Hayward Field in Oregon.

Plenty of depth on display in DMRs

Although the Campolindo High of California girls program will take center stage Friday in the invitational 4x1,600-meter relay, it will be the Cougars’ participation Saturday in the invitational distance medley relay that could lead to one of the meet’s most memorable matchups.

Campolindo, Del Norte, La Costa Canyon, Corona Santiago, Trabuco Hills and Ventura all have sub-12 potential, in addition to the ambition to chase the 2016 meet record of 11:41.54 established by Great Oak.

Campolindo boasts the fastest entry time of 11:57.26 from its victory March 29 at the Stanford Invitational, with Buchanan producing the top performance in the state this year at 11:52.07 with its win April 6 at the 56th Arcadia Invitational.

Ventura, San Clemente, JSerra, Trabuco Hills and Clovis East highlight an exceptional boys invitational DMR field Saturday.

San Clemente is the top lineup in the field and the California leader this season at 10:13.20 following its victory April 6 at the 56th Arcadia Invitational.

Newbury Park produced the meet record of 9:55.24 in 2022.

Campolindo is not only targeting its 2015 program record of 20:07.23 in the 4x1,600 relay, but also a potential sub-20 effort, with senior Shea Volkmer expected to be anchoring the Cougars.

Newbury Park achieved the fastest performance in U.S. prep history in 2022 by clocking 19:48.81 at the Mt. SAC Relays.

In good company

For the first time since 2017, a 17-foot competitor in the boys invitational pole vault is a significant possibility at the Mt. SAC Relays, and there could be a trio of performers Saturday with the potential to reach that level.

Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the current world record-holder representing Sweden, produced the best prep performance in meet history seven years ago by clearing 18-3 (5.56m).

No other male high school athlete has reached 17 feet at the event, but Paul Migas of the Lakes High in Illinois, along with Taylor Searle from American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek) in Arizona have both achieved multiple clearances at that level and higher this year.

Migas, a Tennessee commit, won the 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on March 29 with a personal-best 17-4.75 (5.30m) clearance.

It was his eighth performance at 17 feet or higher this season, including seven during the indoor season, which was punctuated by his victory March 17 at the adidas Indoor Nationals at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Searle, a Brigham Young-bound senior, cleared 17-3 (5.25m) on March 2 at the Aztec Invitational at Corona del Sol High in Arizona.

Jaden McKee from Martin Luther King High in California has also reached 17 feet (5.20m) in an April 11 dual meet against Corona Santiago High.

Memorable middle-distance moments

Both the girls invitational 800 and mile records could be on borrowed time this weekend, especially with Ventura High junior Sadie Engelhardt entered Friday, looking to improve on her exceptional 4:38.53 mile performance from last year.

The 800 all-time high school mark of 2:06.89 produced by Cate Peters of Monte Vista High also has the potential to be challenged Saturday.

L’Mio Edwards of Claremont High has already run 2:06.01 on March 23 at the Meet of Champions Distance Classic at Azusa Pacific University.

Georgia Jeanneret of JSerra High placed runner-up behind Edwards at 2;07.26.

Tessa Buswell of Poway was runner-up to Peters last season at Mt. SAC and boasts a personal-best 2:08.30.

La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey, La Costa Canyon’s Gioana Lopizzo, Corona Santiago’s Braelyn Combe, Calabasas’ Arielle McKenzie, La Canada’s Katelyn Matarese and Carlsbad’s Makenna Herbst contribute additional depth to an already fantastic field.

Engelhardt is scheduled to be joined in Friday’s mile by Corona Santiago’s Rylee Blade, La Canada’s Maya de Brouwer, South Pasadena’s Abigail Errington, Bakersfield Liberty’s Nicole Bridges, Arcadia’s Reena Hsieh and JSerra athletes Summer Wilson, Kaylah Tasser, Sophie Polay, Chloe Elbaz and Brynn Garcia, in addition to Dailey, Lopizzo and Matarese.

Madeleine Gear from Foundation Christian Academy in Florida, who has run 4:51.69 for 1,600 meters this season, is also expected to compete.

Along with Engelhardt, Lopizzo, Blade, Matarese, Hsieh, Bridges and Elbaz all achieved sub-5 efforts in last year’s mile competition.

Madsen looks to make big statement

McKay Madsen, a junior at Clovis North High, was the top California competitor in both the invitational discus throw and shot put at the 56th Arcadia Invitational, but he placed second overall in both competitions behind Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic in New Jersey.

Madsen looks to maintain his dominance against his state rivals in his final appearance of the season in Southern California, before preparing for the postseason at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis.

Madsen enters the meet as the state leader in both events, with a 197-5 (60.11m) effort in the discus and a mark of 63-6 (19.35m) in the shot put, but the Broncos’ standout is still searching for a victory at Hilmer Lodge Stadium after placing second last year in the discus at 172-1 (52.45m) and fifth in the shot put at 54-10.75 (16.73m).

Zach Lewis of Garden Grove Pacifica High, Eman Goodloe from Downey Warren High, Yucaipa’s Benjamin Lingenfelter and Hagop Marmarian from Pasadena Marshall High are also scheduled to compete in the shot put. Anthony Gash from La Mesa Helix and Sage Creek’s Ryan Telemaque are expected to participate in the discus throw.

Although Madsen has the potential to surpass the 200-foot barrier, the meet record of 224-1 (68.31m) established in 1987 by Kami Keshmeri from Reno High might not be attainable Saturday.

Van Mounts of Bakersfield High has held the meet shot put all-time mark of 67-11 (20.70m) since 1998.

Reaching new heights

Although Meagan Humphries of Castaic High is still rehabilitating from a leg injury suffered April 5 during the heptathlon at the 56th Arcadia Invitational, the three other female athletes in California this season to produce 5-8 (1.72m) clearances in the high jump are all scheduled to square off Saturday in the invitational competition.

Long Beach Poly junior Jillene Wetteland joins Menlo School’s Summer Young and Ventura’s Valentina Fakrogha in the field, which also includes Madison Thai of Thousand Oaks and Amia Witt from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, both producing 5-6 (1.67m) clearances this season.

Fakrogha secured second with a 5-8 effort April 6 in the invitational high jump at Arcadia, with Wetteland and Thai clearing 5-6, Witt producing a 5-4 (1.62m) performance and Young achieving a 5-2 (1.57m) clearance.

Wetteland is the meet’s top returning competitor from last year, placing fourth with a 5-6 clearance.

Vashti Cunningham of Bishop Gorman High in Nevada achieved the national high school record of 6-4.50 (1.94m) in 2015 at the Mt. SAC Relays.

Quite a showcase for sprint supremacy

Jordan Coleman from Granada Hills Charter High in California is the only returning athlete from last year’s invitational 100-meter dash field, taking fourth in a wind-aided 10.43 seconds.

But there is plenty of young talent ready Saturday to steal the spotlight away from Coleman, including Mission Hills Alemany freshman Demare Dezeurn.

Dezeurn took third in a wind-aided 10.43 in the invitational 100-meter dash April 6 at the 56th Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High. Mount Miguel sophomore Brandon Arrington, Jr. was fourth in 10.44 and Quartz Hill junior Adonyss Currie secured sixth in 10.60.

Jalen Ford, a sophomore at Bakersfield High, ran a wind-aided 10.43 to prevail April 13 at the West Coast Relays at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.

They are all scheduled to square off with Coleman, who has only competed in the 100 once this season, clocking 10.88 on April 11 in a West Valley League meet against rival El Camino Real.

Although former Gardena Serra star Rodrick Pleasant ran 10.23 to win the invitational boys 100 last year at Mt. SAC, his performance was a wind-aided effort. Michael Norman, a Vista Murrieta High graduate, still boasts the top wind-legal mark in meet history with his 10.27 victory in 2016.

Momentum building toward big clash

Alexa Sheldon of Huntington Beach Edison is unbeaten in the shot put during the spring outdoor season.

Aja Johnson, a junior at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, is the returning champion at the Mt. SAC Relays and has only endured one setback this year with a fourth-place finish in a competition won by Sheldon at the 56th Arcadia Invitational.

The showdown for shot put supremacy, along with an exciting discus matchup, adds even more intrigue to a loaded Saturday schedule at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Johnson prevailed in the invitational shot put last year with a 43-9 (13.33m) performance and took third in the discus throw at 141-6 (43.12m), but is the top returning competitor as well this season.

Despite inclement weather and navigating challenging winds at the West Coast Relays, Johnson produced a 45-3 (13.79m) effort April 13 to earn the win, just off her season-best 46-1 (14.04m) performance March 22 at the 78th Pasadena Games.

Sheldon triumphed with a lifetime-best 44-3.50 (13.50m) at Arcadia and emerged victorious April 13 at the Orange County Championships with a mark of 42-6.75 (12.97m).

Long Beach Poly’s Mai Ricks and Paso Robles’ Nevaeh Dyer are also scheduled to compete in the invitational shot put.

Stamatia Scarvelis, a Greek athlete who competed for Dos Pueblos High in California, established the shot put meet record of 52 feet (15.85m) in 2014.

Johnson prevailed in the discus at Arcadia with a 151-7 (46.20m) performance and followed it up with a 148-11 (45.39m) effort at West Coast Relays.

Mission Viejo’s Samantha Chang, the Orange County champion at 147-8 (45.01m), is also scheduled to compete, in addition to Canyon Crest Academy’s Elisabeth Driscoll, Camarillo’s Trinity Tipton, JSerra’s Erin Walters and Sheldon.

Billie Jo Grant from Arroyo Grande achieved the best high school discus performance in meet history in 2002 with a mark of 171-7 (52.31m).

Mile repeat no easy feat

Clovis East High of California standout Carter Spradling prevailed in an exceptional boys invitational mile race last year in 4:08.97.

Although Spradling is entered in the mile field again Friday, the remarkable depth assembled should present plenty of challenges in the senior’s pursuit for back-to-back victories.

Andreas Dybdahl from Santa Barbara High took third last year in 4:11.14 and is expected to compete.

Dana Hills’ Evan Noonan, who has run 4:06.80 in the 1,600 to win March 30 at the Stanford Invitational, is also scheduled to race, in addition to Palo Alto’s Grant Morgenfeld, Long Beach Millikan’s Jason Parra, El Diamante’s Devin Ibarra, Cathedral’s Manny Hernandez, Crescenta Valley’s Eddie Sion, St. Francis’ Samuel Franco, JSerra’s Saul Orozco, plus Davis Rydman from Layton High in Utah and the impressive pair from Shadow Ridge High in Nevada of Carson Wetzel and Justin Rawe.

Parra and Hernandez both placed in the top 10 last year, as 11 athletes produced sub-4:16 performances.

Cooper Teare achieved the meet record of 4:00.16 during his senior year at St. Joseph Notre Dame High of Alameda in 2017.

Terrific triple jump set to take shape

Despite the graduation of the top three athletes from last year’s boys invitational triple jump competition, there is still an impressive lineup scheduled to participate Saturday, including Marcus Harris of Vista and Samuel Agbakoba from Fresno Central, who secured fourth and fifth place, respectively, last season.

Harris had a mark of 45-10.50 (13.98m) and Agbakoba jumped 45-7 (13.89m) at Mt. SAC last year, but their improvement, along with the development of several other standouts around the state, could make this competition one of the most underrated on the weekend.

Justin Reichenberg from Mission Bay was the top California finisher April 6 at the 56th Arcadia Invitational, taking fourth with a wind-aided 47-5.25 (14.45m) effort.

Andrew Robinson of Great Oak has jumped 47-5.50 (14.46m) on March 9 at the Redondo Nike Track Festival.

Akello Rasshan from Chino Hills soared to a 47-3 (14.40m) performance in an April 9 dual meet against Upland.

David Mangum, a teammate of Agbakoba at Fresno Central, has surpassed the 46-foot mark this season, along with Cajon’s Keith Cotlage.

It would be an ambitious goal for any of the athletes to challenge the 1982 meet record of 50-11.50 (15.53m) established by Troy’s Ken Williams, but the depth of the competition should be one of the best in Mt. SAC Relays history.