Sub-Nine Watch Remains Centerpiece Of Boys 3,200; Jane Hedengren Takes Aim At Record Book; Brandon Arrington Eyes Meet Record In 200 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photo by Ken Martinez

It has become a rite of passage for athletes in Southern California and far beyond. 

The Arcadia Invitational and its cast of thousands returns for the 57th time this weekend at Arcadia High School. The recent Los Angeles fires that ravaged several communities serve as something of a somber backdrop for this year's meet. Altadena, much of which was destroyed, is only eight miles from Arcadia. 

One of the nation's most exciting high school track meets features elite sessions for Friday's "Burnin' Batons" and Saturday's invitational finals. 

WATCH THE LIVE FREE WEBCAST OF THE ARCADIA INVITATIONAL

Five Sub-Four Milers Entered In Boys 3,200

Last year, a record total of 69 boys ran under 9 minutes in the 3,200 meters at Arcadia across all sections. That was more than half of the total across the U.S. in 2024 (127). 

The count will be on again as soon as the first boy crosses the line, perhaps in an "open" or "rated" race on Friday. 

New Zealand teen Sam Ruthe, who turns 16 on Saturday, is one of five sub-four milers entered in this year's invitational 3,200 Meters. 

Ruthe will be joined by Owen Powell of Mercer Island WA, who ran an historic 3:58 anchor for his team's distance medley relay last weekend at the Oregon Relays, Crater OR duo Joshiah Tostenson and Tayvon Kitchen, and Tommy Latham of Marist GA. 

Also of note, Belen Jesuit FL sophomore Marcelo Mantecon, who broke the freshman class record last year at Arcadia, is back to contend for the victory and chase the sophomore class record: 8:43.71 by Lex Young of Newbury Park (2021).

Jane Hedengren Ready For Big Things Outdoors

The senior sensation from Timpview UT is entered in the girls 2-mile and who would bet against a record?

Hedengren smashed the indoor high school records in the mile and 5,000 meters last month at Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City. 

The national high school record is 9:41.76 and was set last year by Allie Zealand. 

Hedengren ran 9:37.50 at altitude for 3,200 meters at the Simplot Games in February. 

In that 2-mile on Saturday, she'll face Chloe Huyler of Lakeridge, Ruby Ihmels of Century ND, Sophia and Victoria Rodriguez of Mercer Island WA and Keeghan Edwards of Mountain Vista CO. 

In order to stay on record pace, Hedengren will have to shoulder much of that pacing on her own. 

Brandon Arrington Jr. Going After A Noah Lyles Record

Mt. Miguel's Brandon Arrington Jr is well versed in the meet records for the boys sprints at the Arcadia Invitational. 

US#1 in the 200 meters, Arrington has run 20.37 already this season at the Mt. Carmel Invitational on March 29. The junior is the defending champion and his sights are on Noah Lyles' meet record 20.48.

"I'm getting my mind right for this weekend," Arrington said. "I'm thinking about Noah Lyles' record there, so, it's all I'm thinking about."

Arrington swept the CIF titles in the 100 and 200 meters last June. 

Herbst Twins Set For Big Weekend

Carlsbad CA seniors Makenna and Morgan Herbst are both ranked US#2 in their respective events so far this season. 

Makenna Herbst, the 800 meters standout, ran 2:04.72 on March 22nd. 

Morgan Herbst, whose best event is the 300-meter hurdles, ran 40.51 on March 29. 

They both have big opportunities to race elite competition this weekend. 

"We're super excited. I always love the competition there and we always say last one, best one," said Morgan Herbst, who won the 300 hurdles last year in 41.45.

Morgan Herbst's main competition will be Jasmine Robinson from Cobb County GA, the No. 1-ranked long hurdler in the country. Robinson ran a time of 39.89 last year, the nation's best for 2024.

Makenna Herbst is likely to face Olivia Cieslak of Haverford Twp PA, Lily Alder of Timpview UT, Chloe Elbaz from J Serra CA and Boh Ritchie, coming all the way from New Zealand, who has run 2:03.68. The Kiwi athletes are at the tail end of their outdoor seasons, while the U.S. is just getting started. 

San Diego Siblings Shine In Hurdles

Senior Anisa Bowen-Fontenot and her freshman brother Jasir Fontenot have been dominant in their hurdles events so far this spring and that included huge performances at Texas Relays two weeks ago. 

Bowen-Fontenot ran a wind-aided time of 12.99 seconds in the 100 hurdles in Austin and owns a wind-legal best of 13.54. She also run 42.00 seconds in the 300 hurdles. 

Jasir Fontenot has run a freshman class record 13.76 in thee 110 hurdles and won the event with a wind-aided 13.47 at Texas Relays. 

Sister and brother are both undefeated so far this year in the straightaway hurdles. 

Big Potential in Boys Throws

Benjamin Shue from Bergen Catholic NJ swept the boys shot put and discus events last year at Arcadia and he is due back to defend those titles. 

Shue's personal best in the discus is 201-11 from 2024. It will likely take something farther to win this weekend because there are three 200-foot throwers in the field. 

Simon Rosselli from Mead WA broke the Oregon Relays record last weekend when he launched a new Washington all-time best with US#2 211-7. 

McKay Madsen from Clovis North CA is US#5 with 205-4. 

In the shot put, Shue will face Jace Cook from Syracuse UT, who is US#9 at 63-7, and Madsen, who is US#3 with 65-8.

Californians Are Top Seeds In Girls Throws

Su'Riah Williams of Redlands threw a season's best and US#1 173-3 in the discus and that was a personal best by more than 20 feet. 

In the girls shot put, Aliso Niguel CA junior Jaslene Massey is US#3 in the shot put at 50-7 and she has thrown over 150 feet in the discus three times. 

Victor Olesen Looks To Keep Soaring

The top entry in the boys pole vault, Victor Olesen of St. Christopher's VA, is coming from the East coast looking for his first 18-foot clearance. 

Olesen has a personal best of 17-9.50 from last year and his best height indoors was 17-7.75, which he cleared to win Nike Indoor Nationals. 

Olesen transitioned to the outdoor season by traveling to Texas Relays and winning there with 17-4.50.

The meet record is 18-2.50 by Sondre Guttormsen in 2018. 

Boys 400 Meters Shaping Up To Be Fast

With Californians Jack Stadlman of Temecula Valley and Noah Smith of Long Beach Poly both in the top 10 nationally, the boys 400 meters final promises to be fast.

Stadlman, a former JV basketball player, has realized he has stunning talent as a long sprinter. He is US#4 at 45.69, which he ran on March 1. 

Smith, a junior, ran a time of US#8 46.55 to win the 400 meters at the Chandler Rotary Invitational in Arizona. 

Friday's Relays Promise Entertaining Races

From sprint relays to distance relays and all varieties in between, Friday night's 'Burnin' Batons' session will showcase some of the top programs in the country. 

Servite (40.56) and Long Beach Poly (40.70) have both posted top 10 times in the boys 4x100 relay. 

Servite has also run US#6 3:12.79 in the 4x400 and Wilson (Long Beach) has run 3:13.79, good for US#10. 

No team has cracked Arcadia's all-time 10 in the 4x400 in 20 years and both of these teams could on Friday. 

The Wilson (Long Beach) girls are US#3 in the 4x400 at 3:39.60. 

Rylee Blade of Santiago (Corona) isn't running any individual events but may be in up to three relays. Her team will face Buchanan CA and Lone Peak UT in the 4x1600 relay. 

The distance medley and 4x1600s are loaded with powerful names from cross country season. The boys 4x1600, for instance, includes Utah distance powers American Fork and Herriman.