CA's Top Throwers Headline Mt. SAC Saturday Lineup

Girls Invitational 400 meters (3:15 pm)
Making her way to the West Coast from Washington D.C., Georgetown Day's Ziyah Holman is a strong favorite against a talented field.   She was fifth at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 2018 with a 53.59.  She is currently fourth in the United States, after her 53.84 performance last weekend.  On both sides of her are returning California State Meet qualifiers from a year ago in Corona's Egbe Ndip-agbor (55.08 seasonal best) and Iman Babineaux (55.27) of Quartz Hill.  Respectively, they are third and fifth in California.  But, Murrieta Mesa's Chioma Okonkwo held off Ndip-Agbor (pictured at left above in Scott Padgett photo) last weekend a 55.20 victory, moving up to the fourth best in California.  Chaminade's Bailey Umans was the SS-Div. 3 champion and moved on to finish seventh at the 2018 State Meet with a 55.40.  She has run 56.03 this season.  Roosevelt's Naomi Johnson was right behind those two and brings a 55.59 seasonal best to the track.  She is the second fastest in the state and fifth best in the nation amongst freshmen.   It took a 56.50 to get into the invitational heat. 

Girls Invitational 200 meters (4:50 pm)
Five of California's current top nine in this event will look to chase down one of the East Coast's finest.  Georgetown Day's Ziyah Holman makes the trip out west and brings her 24.18 lifetime best to the Mt. SAC Relays.  Jazmyne Frost of Serra was third at the 2018 California State Meet and ended the season with a 23.65 wind-legal best.   Exploding with a huge wind-legal best of 24.19, Murrieta Mesa's Chioma Okonkwo continues to improve and is now third in the state after holding off Corona's Egbe Ndip-agbor at the Inland Empire Championships.  The junior from Corona is currently seventh in California with a 24.34.  Madison's Aysha Shaheed improved with 24.46 effort at Arcadia while Nia Mosby of Archer School for the Girls was right behind her at 24.54.  Kennedy Brace of Centennial, Nevada comes in with a 24.62 best from several weeks ago. 

Boys Invitational 200 Meters (4:56 pm)
Kenan Christon of Madison was sixth at last year's State Championships.  In that same final, he crossed in a wind-legal 21.51.  Timed with a 21.32 best from 2019 currently places him as the state's sixth-fastest under all conditions.  Coming into the race, ranked fourth under all conditions with a 21.28 is Upland's Caleb Roberson.   The defending state champion in the 300 Hurdles will focus here this weekend.  Serra's Mekhi Mays rolled to a wind-aided 21.44 at Arcadia two weeks ago.  That time places him 11^th in California for all-conditions.  One of Nevada's best, Cervontez White out of Liberty High impressed three weeks back with a 21.61.  Maranatha's Brendan Fong (21.88 wind-legal best) and Harvard Westlake's Joshua Johnson (21.91) look to keep up with those in the middle of the track. 

Girls Invitational Distance Medley Relay (6:10 pm)

Great Oak has three teams entered in this event, one of the few distance races not on the Friday night schedule. The Wolfpack 'A' team is scheduled to line up with Fatima Cortes, Sami Bollinger, Aubrie Nex and Arianna Griffiths. Great Oak ran 11:55.78 for third at the Arcadia Invitational (U.S. No. 5) and undoubtedly is gunning for Mission Viejo's CA-best 11:47.98 (U.S. No. 2), also from Arcadia, if not the national-leading time of 11:44.02 by Sarasota Springs (NY). Great Oak's 'B' team includes Brianna Weidler with Audrey Dang scheduled to anchor. And the 'C' lineup has standout Kendall Harrison scheduled to anchor. Granada Hills Charter is scheduled to anchor with frosh sensation Sofia Abrego, Harvard Westlake's lineup includes Daniela Quintero on first leg and Natalia Quintero on anchor, the Danville Monte Vista team has Kelli Wilson on anchor and the Foothill Technology team of Lauren Kearney, Cameron Becker, Gretchen Scherrei and Brooke Secreto is not to be discounted. FT went 12:07.66 at Arcadia, which ranks CA No. 7. 

Boys Invitational Distance Medley Relay (6:30 pm)

One of the best groups in the nation could rewrite the national lists once the dust settles on this one!  The lineup scripted for La Costa Canyon is one that can break 10:10 for the event which would supplant the national leading time of 10:12.05.   Great Oak will improve upon their 10:21.64 posted at Arcadia two weeks ago.  Meanwhile, watch for Claremont and West Torrance.  Both have the talent to also cross before that 10:20 along with the aforementioned squads.  Those five squads would move up into the national Top ten list!  Meanwhile, Saugus will impress along with Great Oak's 'B' squad (which features two boys under 4:25 for the 1600 meters along with a 1:57 leg on the 800 meters!) 

Girls Invitational 4x400 Relay (7:05 pm)
Concluding the meet for the girls, California state leader, Roosevelt takes to the stage with a 3:48.18 seasonal best.  Even if they do not run their 'A' squad, they have enough depth to remain one of the favorites.  Dana Hills and their 3:51.64 are currently sixth in the state.  Quartz Hill and their consistent development of 400-meter athletes bring a 3:53.73 on board and are currently seventh in the state.  Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Mira Costa and St. Mary's Academy look to cross under four minutes as well.

Boys Invitational 4x400 Relay (7:15 pm)
Harvard Westlake comes onto the invite with a 3:18.94, which is currently fourth in California.  The squad still has great upside and is one of the favorites for the state title in this event next month.  Upland's 3:21.47 is sixth while Roosevelt is seventh with a 3:22.56.  Dana Hills is coming off a 3:23.10 performance at the Orange County Championships last weekend while Centennial crossed with a 3:23.97 at Arcadia two weeks ago.  The Bulldogs from Las Vegas are Nevada's defending champions.  Most of these squads have yet to 'let loose' with their best efforts.