The Arcadia Invitational annually is the most prestigious meet of every high school track and field regular season.
It has the athletes to qualify for that title again this year.
The meet begins Friday and concludes Saturday at Arcadia High School. Last season’s Arcadia Invitational produced the nation’s No. 1 mark in 13 events.
Relay events dominate Friday’s schedule that begins at 5:30 p.m.. Saturday’s schedule starts at 9:30 a.m. and includes field events and various running events.
The athlete with the most pre-meet star appeal is Serra sprinter Rodrick Pleasant, who made his season debut last week at the Trabuco Hills Invitational with a state-leading, wind-legal time of 10.40 seconds in the 100 meters. Pleasant set the state record in the 100 last season with a 10.14 at the CIF-SS Masters Meet.
Pleasant’s competitors in the elite Invitational 100 at Arcadia include Los Alamitos sophomore Devin Bragg, who had an Orange County-leading time of 10.56 to finish second to Pleasant at Trabuco Hills.
Among the other Orange County boys athletes entered are Santa Margarita senior Roman Mendoza, the state leader in the 300 hurdles with a time of 37.91 and Dana Hills sophomore Evan Noonan, the county leader in the 1,600 who is scheduled to run the mile and the 3,200.
Also entered is Newport Harbor senior Kenny Wanlass, who is entered in the 3,200. He is the O.C. leader in that event this season. Mater Dei sophomore Brandon Gorski, the county leader in the high jump at 6 feet, 6 inches and the long jump at 22-10.5, is on the heat sheets for both events Saturday.
County girls entered at Arcadia include Mission Viejo multi-event standout Jada Gatlin, who is entered in the long jump and the triple jump. She is also is on the Mission Viejo 4×100 team that will race Saturday morning.
The girls O.C. leader in the 100 is Brooklyn Davis, a senior at Los Alamitos. She is entered in the Open 100, as is Corona del Mar junior Ava Simos. Simos is the county leader…
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