54TH ARCADIA INVITATIONAL - SPRINTS/HURDLES RECAP
Max Thomas was a double winner in the invitational sprints at the Arcadia Invitational. (Raymond Tran photos)
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This is one in a series of event-group recaps from the 54th Arcadia Invitational. Check back for updates.
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ARCADIA -- Servite's Max Thomas wasn't worried about times, which is rare for a sprinter headed to USC.
His goals in the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the Arcadia Invitational Saturday night were pretty simple and could be summed up in a single word: Win.
"I came to win and now I can move on," said Thomas, who captured the 100 in 10.40-seconds, equaling his wind-legal personal best before coming back to complete the sweep going 20.97 in the 200m.
"For the 100 I was nervous and in the 200 I really didn't feel good," Thomas said. "My body felt super tight after the 100. Winning both of the sprints was the same, just winning. In the 200 I know I could have run faster but I can't complain."
Thomas' double was it for the Golden State boys in the sprints/hurdles, while the girls' lone victory in the short races came from Takiya Cenci of Clovis North (CS) in a .14-second victory over Eastvale Roosevelt (SS) senior Naomi Johnson in 54.15 seconds-well off her PR of 53.19.
Johnson's 54.29 was closer than most expected but still off her best of 54.17.
But the large crowd at Arcadia High, which celebrated the return of high school track and field full time with boisterous support, clearly enjoyed Thomas' performances.
"My first 40 in the 100 was fine and so was my finish," said the 18-year-old senior. "I looked up and saw that the race was really close and once I got to my top speed, the race was over."
Pushing Thomas in the century was St. John Bosco senior Rayshon Luke, who was second in 10.45, in front of two favorites -- Jaelon Barbarin of Simi Valley (10.50) and Gardena Serra's Rodrick Pleasant (10.51).
Barbarin beat Thomas a month ago at Redondo as both ran 10.37 with a 3.8 mps aiding wind while Pleasant has run 10.39 and won the Texas Clyde Littlefield Relays.
You can bet Thomas and Luke will square off a few more times in the Trinity League.
"Those are all good runners, I know what they're capable of," said Thomas. "I wasn't looking to avenge that loss; we're all cool. At Redondo, I'd run a 48.4 in the 400 20 minutes before the 100."
As for the 200, again he beat the favorites with a 20.97. Second was Long Beach Poly's Jaelen Knox who clocked a 21.15. Canada's Daniel Kidd was third in 21.19.
Just a week ago Thomas edged Knox at the Trabuco Invitational, running 20.78.
Cenci has been virtually unbeatable in the 400 this season but she needed all her speed to top Johnson. Her 54.15 was almost a full second off her best of 53.19.
Out-of-state visitors dominated the other events as Andre Korbmacher of Squalicum High in Bellingham, WA ran 13.83 in the 110-highs to stun California state leader Jadyn Marshall of Stockton St. Mary's, who was out-leaned at the tape in 13.87.
Marshall came in with a 13.35 with a scant but unallowable 2.2 mps breeze.
The 300 hurdles went to Arizona's Van Vazquez (pictured), who lowered his best time from 36.66 at the Chandler Rotary Invitational to 36.40.
Another Arizonan, Avaunt Ortiz of McClintock High in Tempe, had just enough left at 47.22 to nip Granada Hills junior Dijon Stanley, who took over the state lead at 47.26. La Mesa Helix's Adren Parker, the previous state leader, placed third in 47.36, another PR.
On the girls' front, Autumn Wilson, out of St. Dominic Savio Catholic in Austin, Tex. was as unbeatable in her sprints as Thomas was for the boys, winning the 100 in 11.49 and the 200 in 23.68.
Both times she had to beat Lake Oswego, Ore. speedster Mia Brahe-Pedersen, who clocked an 11.59 and a PR in the 200 of 23.78.
Westlake of Georgia's Jasmine Harman (pictured at left) just edged San Diego Scripps Ranch's Aaliyah McCormick (pictured in center) in the 100-meter hurdles, running 13.78 to McCormick 13.82. McCormick lowered her own San Diego Section record of 13.85 from last year.
Phoenix North Canyon's Joy Moorer dipped under 42 seconds to win the girls' 300 hurdles, clocking a 41.99 to better her 42.38. Second place Kapiolani Coleman of Cathedral Catholic also improved, going from 42.88 to 42.19.
Steve Brand is a freelance writer and a regular contributor to MileSplit.
Photos by Raymond Tran