Mt. SAC Relays (CA)
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The marquee event of the 2015 Mt. SAC Relays is the Invitational 800m, in which the winner will earn an auto bid to the
Brooks PR Invitational 800m in June.
- Invitational Boys 800m - US #1 Connor Ross (McQueen, NV) and US #2 Carlton Orange (Memphis, TN) will rematch for the first time since the 2014 Arcadia Invitational. Orange came away with the narrow victory in that race, 1:54.21 to 1:54.58, but Ross owns the top time in the nation this year at 1:50.75.
- Invitational Girls 800m - Dani Jones (Desert Vista, AZ) enters after rolling to a US #2 10:09.58 3,200m win at the Arcadia Invitational. She also ranks US #2 4:46.17 in the Mile and US #4 2:09.94 in the 800m. The New Balance Nationals Indoor 3rd placer in the Mile will face US #6 Cassie Durgy (Huntington Beach, CA), 2:10.10 this year, and US #10Jacquelyn Hill (Etiwanda, CA), who has raced 2:10.34 this season. Also in the hunt is Destiny Collins (Great Oak, CA), who ran three standout miles to lead a Great Oaks, CA sweep of the distance relays at Arcadia, as well as clock her own US #13 4:53.08 Mile. A sub-4:50 miler must always be considered a threat, as US #7 ranked Marissa Williams (Palisades, CA) will look for the bid in her senior year.
- Invitational Girls 4x1,600m Relay - National Record Attempt, Take 2: Great Oak (CA) will run away with the win in the 4x1600m relay, but they still might lose. The only competitor that can beat them is the clock. Coach Doug Soles is priming his runner-up squad from NXN this past fall for not just the victory but another stab at the National Record of 19:49. Last week at Arcadia, these ladies ran 19:58.71 to not only set the California State Record but they ran the third fastest outdoor 4x1600m/4xMile in high school history. Considering the Wolfpack won't have competition as stiff as Desert Vista, like the did at Arcadia, perhaps they will leave the stick in the hands of their leader Destiny Collins and have her give it a go against the most cutthroat, unforgiving competitor in Southern California (and beyond), Mr. Clock.
It will be exciting to see what team Campolindo draws up as they boast the likes of Brighie Leach and Toni Finnane, who helped the girls set US #1 in the DMR before Great Oak took their mark down at Arcadia. - Invitational Girls 100m and 200m - Round 2... fight: The girls short sprints will see a repeat matchup from Arcadia Invite last weekend. All-conditions US #1 in the 100m and 200m, Lauren Rain Williams will seek to leave Mt. SAC with two individual golds, just like she did at Arcadia. If anyone is going to stop her though, it will be Zaria Francis, who just fell short of sophomore Williams in the Arcadia 100m by .04. After being handed the loss from Williams, Francis said, "[Williams] won round 1, but the boxing gloves are on." Don't be surprised if the 18-year-old 100m HS Meet Record of 11.40 falls this weekend.
- Invitational Girls 100m Hurdles - Big Magnet = no bust: If you saw this week's Who's #1? video entitled, "Who's #1? Girls: Find out who gets life sized magnet?" you would have seen that that honor belongs to Jasmyne Graham. Rightfully so, because after dropping a 13.21 to win Arcadia last weekend, Graham is showing that she can give New Balance Nationals Indoor champion and runner-up, Sydney McLaughlin (NJ) and Anna Cockrell (NC), a run for their money this spring. Stanford Invite champ, Jurnee Woodward of Vacaville, CA could also mix it up.
- Invitational Girls 4x100m Relay - Why not lower?: As good as Lauren Rain Williams is in the 100m, her Oaks Christian (CA) 4x100m relay team might be more impressive as they will try to lower their own US #1 time this weekend of 45.57
- Invitational Girls High Jump - Randall who?: Randall Cunningham is the man and all, but how about his daughter! Vashti Cunnighman (NV) currently leads the nation in the high jump and will look to up her PR of 6' 2''
- Invitational Girls Long Jump - Springs in Spring: A lot of California's best don't compete indoors, including current US #1 Courtney Corrin. The Harvard West gal will look to eclipse the 20' mark this season in the long jump, something she has done a few times before, but not yet this season.
Boys - Invitational Boys 100m and 200m - Gator Chomp: If the Green Valley (NV) Gator scares you, then wait until you meet their best sprinter, Ian Mack. The Arcadia 100m champ is anxious for back to back straightaway wins, but Dominic Davis, who false started at Arcadia, wants to prevent that. They will also be in the 200m
- Invitational Boys Mile - I simply don't know who will win: Some of California's finest XC runners will battle in the Mile run including Caleb Webb (3rd at NXN), Robert Brandt (8:53 from Arcadia), and Philip Rocha (Division 1 California XC State Champ). Throw in the likes of Kai Benedict (NV), the Arcadia Mile Champ, and we have a party!
- Invitational Boys 4xMile - Enough of the Shadows: The Great Oak boys often live in the shadow of the stellar girls team. It can't be forgotten what a tremendous squad the GO boys are and continue to become, especially when it comes to the 4xMile. On paper this team makes the national record of 17:06 look very possibly, but after last week's loss to Dana Hills (CA) at Arcadia, Great Oak guys have something to prove. With a 4:08miler in Isaac Cortes, who knows what is possible. Venture (10th at NXN this past fall) will also be in the mix.
- Relays galoreThere will be some great battles in the sprint relays. As the 3:14Roosevelt squad will try to keep their victory train rolling after winning at Arcadia last weekend. The Cathedral boys with 47-point Isaiah Jewett have different plans though after falling short to the Roosevelt boys last week. We also have the Davis brothers representing Alemany in the 4x100m, James Logan, Davis, & Great Oak in the 4x800m, the list goes on!
- Invitational Boys Shot Put - TOP 10 ALL-TIME?: Matt Katnik may be the best high school athlete competing at the Mt. SAC Relays. He won Arcadia last weekend with a 71' 3.5''. There have only been 8 athletes who have throw 72' or further in the outdoor shot put.
Preview by Jimmy "WhamSauce" Stevenson with contributions by Johanna Gretschel
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