Dynamic dozen shine at Arcadia Invitational

ARCADIA, Calif. - Reporters tried their best to get Sarah Baxter to crack, but much like her performance on the Arcadia High School track moments earlier, the Simi Valley (Calif.) freshman wouldn't budge.

One by one, skilled scribes attempted to pull the bashful, soft-spoken and certainly overwhelmed 14-year-old out, to get her to reveal how she felt about her national season best 10 minute, 14.11-second performance in the 3,200 meters, and a 5.68-second victory over an impressive field at the 44th annual Arcadia Invitational on Saturday.

"Great," she said.

What was her race strategy?



"Try my hardest."

Can she break 10 minutes this year?

"Maybe."

Has she heard comparison between herself and former national national cross-country and six-time state track and field champion Jordan Hasay?

"Yes."

Can you live up to them?



"I hope so."

Finally, a local reporter, who had learned that Baxter's interest in distance runner stemmed from watching the 2008 battle between Hasay and Christine Babcock at the Arcadia Invitational, asked her how this compared.

"This doesn't compare at all," Baxter said with a long distinctive pause. "This is way better."

Once again, the Arcadia Invitational topped its own lofty reputation by tying or breaking 12 national season-best marks on Saturday night alone.

The weather – chilly and breezy – didn't help the athletes, who weren't deterred as they put on another dazzling display for the estimated 5,000 fans packed tightly around the historic and intimate facility.

Though no national records were set – the event has boasted 24 over the years – the meet no doubt featured multiple future Olympians, adding to the count of 125 already who have participated over the past five decades.



No one broached that topic with Baxter, who shattered the previous national best heading into the week by almost 10 seconds. Three others beat the previous mark of 10:24 – Albuquerque Academy (N.M.) senior Julia Foster (10:19.70), Glacier Peak (Wash.) sophomore Amy-Eloise Neale (10:20.84) and Rancho Bernardo (San Diego, Calif.) senior Molly Grabill (10:22.71).

Foster is one of the most decorated runners in New Mexico history. Neale earlier in the meet won the mile in a nation's best time of 4:48.01. Grabill is the defending California 3,200 state champion.

Baxter broke loose from the All-Star distance squad at about lap six and no one could catch her. Not even close.

Her time was fifth all-time on the Arcadia list – two at the top held by Hasay (10:03.07 and 10:03.56) and No. 3 by Babcock (10:04.03). The duo were multiple national prep record-holders now starring in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Baxter, who indeed resembles Hasay in terms of compact size and deflective demeanor, said she was indeed surprised by the pace.

"I didn't think we'd all be going that fast," she said. "I was pushed by the pace so that was good. I was hurting for sure but just didn't try to think of the pain. I tried to get out of the big pack with a big surge and it all worked out."



Here are nine others who it worked out for. (Note all schools California unless noted)

{PAGEBREAK} 2. Sunnyside up (Johnathan Cabral, hurdles)
The Agoura senior made a scintillating debut to his invitational season by posting not one but two national best times, taking the 110 high hurdles in 13.43 and the 300 hurdles in 36.42.

The Oregon-bound standout already had the nation's top 110 time of 13.64 and took off almost a half-second from the previous 300 time of 36.87 from Canyon (Texas) senior Michael Stigler (36.87).

Cabral recorded the No. 2 (110s) and No. 6 time (300s) in Arcadia history.

The soft-spoken and gracious double-winner gave it up to his dad – his full-time coach – his competitors and a big breakfast for the big performance.

"What made this race so fast is the others in the field got out fast and pushed me," Cabral said.



His breakfast included five eggs, 10 strips of bacon smashed within a couple of sandwiches.

Complete story.

{PAGEBREAK}3. Hometown hero (Ammar Moussa, 3,200)
The local boy didn't just make good, he made great.

Arcadia senior Ammar Moussa led a remarkable eight-lap contingent by shattering the nation's top 2011 time with a personal best of 8:49.59. The previous best was 8:55.10 by Craig Lutz of Marcus, Texas.

Matthew Jablonski (Loyola Blake, Md.) and Carmel (Ind.) senior Chris Walden also blew up that mark with times of 8:50.80 and 8:51.59, respectively, but neither could surpass the determined Moussa who finished her second a year ago.

This time on his home track, Moussa took home the top prize from a field that boasted a remarkable 10 runners who broke nine minutes.



"To throw it down with a great group of guys on my home track is the greatest feeling ever," Moussa said.

{PAGEBREAK} 4. Jumping Jacks (Marquis Dendy, Kasen Williams and Javon Cunningham)

The cross-country trip for the nation's premier jumper turned out to be a painful one.

Marquis Dendy sprained his already tender ankles multiple times in the triple jump and despite a gallant effort to please the fans, he finished second behind upstart Jovon Cunningham, of little known Enterprise (Redding).

Dendy, who fouled twice but still won the long jump with a wind-aided mark of 24 feet, 9¾ inches, recorded an opening triple of 48-7¾. He re-injured his right ankle that was first sustained in Kentucky last month and on his next attempt, writhed in pain for almost 10 minutes.

He limped badly to the trainer's table about 400 meters away and was treated. He made one last attempt, but couldn't continue though it was hard for the Florida-bound standout to walk away. Literally and figuratively.



Dendy was leading the triple jump until the fifth jump of Cunningham, the defending California state champion, who pulled off the winning jump under cool and blustery conditions.

"This was very discouraging because I wanted to come away with two (meet) records, not just two gold medals," Dendy said. (The meet records are 25-3¾ and 51-7½). "I'm not big on getting first place any more. It's more about getting records. I felt like a lot of people down.

"But I can't beat myself up too much. I'll just go out and train harder and get ready for the Penn Relays."

It was another outstanding win for Cunningham, who claimed the first state title for the Northern Section in recent memory with his 2010 championship. There he went 50-8¼ (wind-aided).

"I feel like I'm carrying the torch for the Northern Section so this feels great," Cunningham said. "I usually do my best in front of big crowds."

Another big-crowd and game performer is Williams (Skyline, Wash.), one of the nation's top football recruits who is headed to Washington.



Williams finished second in the long jump at 24-3½ - No. 3 in the country – after winning the high jump at 6-11. He was fourth in the triple jump (48-3).

"That guy is a heck of an athlete," Cunningham said of Williams. "They both are."

{PAGEBREAK}5. Hunted down (boys sprints)

Last season's surprise double sprint champion at the California state meet was Remontay McClain, of Covina.

On Saturday, he certainly proved he was no one-year fluke, recording times of 10.64 and 21.35 seconds. But in each race he was taken down by late-charging George Farmer (Serra, Gardena) and Jared Pickering (Rancho Bernardo, San Diego).

Farmer, one of the nation's top football recruits and a future USC receiver, clipped McClain at the 100 line in 10.62 seconds. Last year in the state finals McClain outleaned Farmer at the line and each recorded 10.45 times.



Farmer, who didn't even know who McClain was before the state finals, said he had no real extra incentive to beat McClain.

"This feels really good, but it's still awfully early in the season," Farmer said. "I have to keep working. It's about who is fastest at the end."

Said McClain, who won last year's state finals in 10.45 and 20.85: "It was a really good race, but he got me at the line. I'm not going to stress about it but just go back to work. Give (Farmer) all the credit."

In the 200, Pickering, a compact senior who finished eighth in the state 200 last season, pulled away from the pack in the final 60 meters to win in 21.13 over Washington D.C. standout Demetrius Lindo (21.34) and McClain (21.35).

Pickering placed third in the 100 earlier in the day at 10.67. Both his marks were personal bests. He was third in the 200 coming around the turn but seemed to have an extra gear.

"When I crossed the line the first thing that crossed my mind was ‘I just beat these guys. Yes!' It's been a long time coming."



Pickering doesn't see himself as now the state favorite heading down the stretch.

"I'm happy with the win but I wanted to finally break 21 seconds," Pickering said. "To get those goals I have to improve my start in the 100 and continue to push myself in the 200."

{PAGEBREAK}6. Practice makes perfect (Trinity Wilson, 100 hurdles)

The St. Mary's (Berkeley) junior recorded Arcadia's all-time best mark in the event at 13.51, blowing away the field with an absolutely clean performance.

Wilson, who finished second here and at state to current Stanford freshman Kori Carter, led at the first hurdle and never relinquished it, winning handily over Long Beach Poly's Melia Cox (13.83).

Wilson may not have beat Carter last year, but she bettered Arcadia's All-Time mark of 13.55. She also beat the best mark of the year previously held by Georgia sensation Kendall Williams (13.66).



"Everything I practiced on this week I was able to pull all together today and that feels really, really good," Wilson said. "Practice makes perfect, so it was all good."

Wilson, who was just off her personal best of 13.49, feels like she's on pace to reach her goal of 13.1 by the end of the season.

"All I know is I don't want to have that second-place feeling I had last year," she said.

{PAGEBREAK} 7. Better the second time (Jantzen Oshier, mile)

Already the national leader in the event and the defending champion, the Trabuco Hills senior won in a personal best of 4:06.81.

Oshier, whose previous best was 4:07.78 set just two weeks earlier, said recent 800 training helped him down the stretch to edge Torrey Pines senior Matt Carpowich (4:07.15). Carpowich appeared primed to make a pass in the final 75 meters, but Oshier found another gear to win going away. The rest of the field was well back.



"I could definitely feel (Carpowich) on my right and the crowd was going crazy, so I just had to push," Oshier said.
Oshier went 1:52 to win a local 800 dual meet on Wednesday.

"My coach told me to stop worrying bout numbers and just run," Oshier said.

Asked if he could possibly challenge the magic four-minute mile barrier and Oshier said: "Anyone can talk about breaking it, but it's all talk until you get it done."

As a freshman, Oshier came to his first Arcadia Invitational and was blown away by the competition and ambiance.

"I remember thinking how cool it would be to win here once," he said. "I never once imagined I'd have the opportunity to win here twice."

{PAGEBREAK}8. Brown Act (Aaliyah Brown, sprints)



The sophomore from Lincoln-Way East (Ill.) traveled halfway across the country to double up on the largely all-California field in both the 100 and 200.

Brown won an impressive double, taking the 100 in 11.59 and the 200 in 24.13, making the flight back home much more pleasurable.

"I think I'm most pleased with just how I executed both races," Brown said.

Brown had little trouble beating California's Kylie Price (11.77) and Carisma Lyday (11.90) and Washington freshman sensation Hannah Cunliffe (11.99).

She came back late in the meet to fight from behind and then hold off Long Beach Poly's talented Akawkaw Ndipagbor (24.36) in the 200.

{PAGEBREAK} 9. Two-lap frenzy (girls 800)



Poor Shea Martinez, of Davis (Utah).

The sophomore beat the best 800 time in the nation heading into the week, covering the two-lap race in 2:10.20.
Martinez finished fourth.

What figured was going to be a highly competitive and fast race, indeed fit the bill as Templeton's Savannah Camacho won in 2:08.30, followed by Long Beach Poly's Synasty Gammage (2:08.72) and Ladue Horton (Mo.) senior Samantha Levin (2:09.48).

All bettered the best time heading into the week of Gabrielle Scott (2:10.60).

{PAGEBREAK}10. Brown act II (Ma'a Brown, discus)

The senior from Paramount appears to be coming into his own after unleashing the nation's top mark with a toss of 201-4. His previous best was 195-11.



Brown joined the track team as a sophomore and learned to spin as a junior. He was understandably inconsistent, last year winning the Southern Section but fouling on three throws at the Master's Meet, meaning he didn't qualify for state.

On Saturday, Ma'a not only took over the national lead, but he recorded his most consistent series. All six of his marks were at least 193-0.

"Our goals aren't necessarily about distance at this point, but being consistency," said Paramount coach Christine Barboza, who was a NCAA finalist in the event for Cal State Los Angeles in 1989. "This should give Ma'a a lot of confidence heading into the postseason."

{PAGEBREAK}FINAL RESULTS

Boys
100 – George Farmer (Serra) 10.62, Remontay McClain (Covina) 10.64, Jared Pickering (Rancho Bernardo) 10.67.

200 – Pickering 21.13, Demtrius Lindo (Calvin Coolidge) 21.34, McClain 21.35.



400 – Bernard Quinn (Vista Murrieta) 47.71, Walfrido Rodriguez (Mt. Miguel) 48.21, Pete Lauderdale (Srra) 48.64.
800 – Myles Andrews (Long Beach Poly) 1:52.50, Shyan Vaziri (Scripps Ranch) 1:52.57, Josh Kingsland (Woodridge) 1:52.96.

Mile – Jantzen Oshier (Trabuco Hills) 4:06.81, Matt Carpowich (Torrey Pines) 4:07.15, Erik Harris (Twin Falls, Idaho) 4:13.90.

3,200 – Ammar Moussa (Arcadia) 8:49.59, Matthew Jablonski (Loyola Blake, Md.) 8:50.80, Chris Walden (Carmel, Ind.) 8:51.59.

110 HH – Johnathan Cabral (Agoura) 13.43, Lindo 14.02, Alan Williams (Bishop O'Dowd) 14.16.

300 H - Cabral 36.42, Jalen Craver (-oodbridge) 37.79, Sam Barkley (Mater Dei) 37.94.

400 relay – Rio Mesa (Marcus Alford, LaDarrin Roach, Blake Selig, Cameron Roach) 41.38, Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks 41.44, Serra 41.58.

1,600 relay – Serra-Gardena (Randall Bennett, Francisco Oliquii, Loyd Siscard, Pete Lauderdale) 3:16.59, Poly 3:18.66, Mater Dei 3:19.25.

HJ – Kasen Wiliams (Skyline, Wash.) 6-11, Brandon Ford (Mt. Carmel) 6-9, Deante Kemper (Serra) 6-9.

PV – Ian Rock (Davis) 16-1, Connor Stark (Oak Park) 16-1, Adam Bragg (El Toro) 16-1.



LJ – Marquis Dendy (Middletown, Delaware) 24-9¾, K. Williams 24-3½, Jadon Short (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) 23-7¾.

TJ – Jovon Cunningham (Enterprise) 49-3½, Dendy 48-7¾, Marquis Roberts (Otay Ranch) 48-6½.

SP – Nicholas Scarvelis (Dos Pueblos) 64-1¾, Steven Boals (Jesuit) 59-9, Ryan Andrews (Newpoart Harbor) 59-8.

Discus – Ma'a Brown (Paramount) 201-4, Will Parsons (La Habra) 190-0, James Kinloch (Granite Bay) 182-6.

{PAGEBREAK}Girls
100 - Aaliyah Brown (Lincolnway, Ill.) 11.59, Kylie Price (Bishop Amat) 11.77, Lyday Carisma (Long Beach Poly) 11.90.

200 – Brown 24.13, Akawkaw Ndipagbor (Poly) 24.36, Kelly Rhines (Los Osos) 24.67.



400 – Gabrielle Scott (Woodbridge) 55.01, Raena Rhone (Whitney Young) 55.70, Vanessa Jones (Etiwanda) 55.91.

800 – Savanah Camacho (Templeton) 2:08.30, Dynasty Gammage (Poly) 2:08.72, Samantha Levin (LaDue Horton, Mo.) 2:09.48.

Mile – Amy-Eloise Neale (Glacier Peak, Wash.) 4:48.01, Maddie Meyers (Northwest, Wash.) 4:50.52, Alli Billmeyer (Torrey Pines) 4:50.78.

3,200 – Sarah Baxter (Simi Valley) 10:14.11, Julie Foster (Albuquerque AC, N.M.) 10:19.79, Neale 10:20.84.

100 H – Trinity Wilson (St. Mary's) 13.51, Melia Cox (Poly) 13.83, Shanique Walker (Mt. Pleasant) 14.19.

300 IH – Alyssa Monteverde (Clovis West) 41.90, Jordie Munford (Rancho Cucamonga) 41.96, Gianna Woodruff (St. Mary's-SS) 43.24.



400 relay – Poly (Cox, Lyday, Ndipagbor, Traci Hicks) 45.96, Los Osos 47.49, Serra 47.76.

1,600 relay – Serra-Gardena (Megan George, Kayah Aquudo, Danielle Baucham, Chimere Ezumah) 3:47.12, St. Mary's Academy 3:48.59, Carson 3:52.42.

HJ – Zibby Boyer (Poly) 5-6, Joslyn Barnes (North Torrance) 5-6, Alexus Dalton (Poly) 5-6.

PV – Katie Zingheim (Granite Bay) 12-6¾, Anginae Monteverde (Clovis West) 12-2¾, Kayla Polcari (Ridgewood, N.J.) 12-2¾.

LJ – Abrianna Torres (San Luis Obispo) 18-10, Kylie Price (Bishop Amat) 18-9¾, Kari Heck (Sioux Falls, S.D.) 18-5¾.

TJ – Ciarra Brewer(James Logan) 40-9½, Cox 40-4¾, Kortni Smyers-Jones (Holy Names) 39-5¼.

SP – Avione Allgood (Legacy, Nev.) 45-6½, Lacie Rasley (Shafter) 44-11¾, Rebecca Hammar (Buhach Colony) 44-7½.

Discus – Alex Morgan (Ventura) 155-5, Okew Chukwunonso (Clovis West) 153-11, Alexa Evans (West Hills) 153-0.



All results.