Arcadia Highlights - Saturday Night

- The elite section got off to a hot start with the 4x100 relays and two new US#1s for Californian teams. Vista Murrieta's boys kept their momentum going with a national leading time of 40.68.  Then, Oaks Christian put together a seamless effort in running 45.57 in the girls race.

- Jordyn Colter, whose career at Cherry Creek CO has seen numerous ups and downs, blew away the girls mile field with a fine final sprint over the last 200 and won it in 4:45.24, with Amanda Gehrich of Tesoro CA second in 4:47.66. Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy CO was third in 4:47.85.

- Late in the afternoon, Matt Katnik from St. John Bosco CA scored a huge PR in the shot put with 71-3.50 for a US#1 and No. 3 in California state history.

- Kai Benedict of McQueen NV had the best kick in the final 100 and won the boys mile in 4:11.38.

- Chad Zallow of Ohio ran US#1 13.50 and tore away from the competition in the 110-meter hurdles. It's the second-fastest time ever at the Arcadia Invitational.

- Jasmyne Graham of Eleanor Roosevelt CA took advantage of a 1.9 tailwind (legal) to run a stunning 13.21 in the 100 hurdles. That's No. 6 all-time!

- Ian Mack of Green Valley NV sped to the win the 100 meters with 10.44 -- just .05 off the all-time state best for Nevada.

- In a battle featuring California's top two sprinters, it was Lauren Rain Williams pulling out a narrow win over Zaria Francis, 11.42 to 11.46. This one was wind-aided however (2.7w).

- Michael Slagowski from Rocky Mountain ID got the win the boys 800 with a personal best 1:51.85. 

- Mikaela Smith from Clovis North, 2-time CIF champion in the 800, was pushed on the homestretch but found something in reserve and won it in US#2 2:08.44. Colter returned and got third in 2:09.80.

- Hannah Waller of Buchanan ran to a big personal best in the 400 and took the win with US#2 53.57. 

- In one of the best matchups of the night, Michael Norman from Vista Murrieta rallied from behind to beat Rai Benjamin of Mt Vernon NY in the 400 meters. Norman posted a US#1 45.91!

- Chad Zallow completed the hurdles double by coming back with 37.06 in the 300 intermediates.

- Morganne Hill of Liberty won the girls 300 hurdles with 42.23 seconds. 

- Kaitlyn Merritt continued to go for bars over 14 feet but settled for a pole vault win with 13-7.

- Destiny Collins ran her third mile -- she led off in the 4x1600 Friday and competed in the invitational mile -- on the anchor of Great Oak's victory in the distance medley relay. The team ran a US#1 11:49.59.

- In the girls 3,200 meters, Fiona O'Keeffe laid down a fast early tempo and Dani Jones had to go after her. Jones used her kick to get away for a 10:09.58 victory and a new Arizona all-time state best.

- In the signature event of the meet, the boys 3,200 meters, Robert Brandt of Loyola CA took it out and tried to separate. But the in the final two laps the group behind him caught up. In the final 150 meters it was a mad scramble for supremacy and Jesse Reiser of Illinois came away with the win in 8:52. Including seeded race winner Jack Yearian WA there were 19 boys under 9 minutes.

- Dana Hills CA ran a US#1 10:06.73 to win the distance medley relay.

- Eleanor Roosevelt CA boys ran 3:14.41 to edge Vista Murrieta in the 4x400 relay to close out the meet.

- Nansemond River VA won the girls 4x400 relay with 3:45.80.

- Courtney Corrin of Harvard Westlake CA won the long jump with US#1 19-11.50.

- Malik McMorris of Mater Dei CA threw 194-8 in the discus for a US#1.

- Vashti Cunningham defended her high jump title with 6-0. The Bishop Gorman NV star has already jumped 6-2.50 this season.