Local sprinters excited to showcase speed
The Arcadia Invitational is the nation's biggest stage for high school track and field. Many of the best prep athletes from across the U.S. will be on display. The strongest, the most athletic and the fastest.
The event, hosted by Arcadia High School, started Thursday and finishes with an all-day schedule today. It is open to the public.
Among the local athletes competing today are a trio of talented athletes — Simi Valley's Jaelon Barbarin, Chaminade's Patrick Ize-Iyamu and Granada Hills' Dijon Stanley. Barbarin holds California's fastest 100-meter time (10.37 seconds) this season. IzeIyamu's 10.53 is the 10thbest time.
“I'm excited to compete against the top sprinters in the state,” said Barbarian, a junior who is also competing in the 200 and 4x100 seeded relay at Arcadia.
Barbarin's 200 time is 21.43, the ninth-best mark in the state.
“I'm betting on multiple super-fast times,” he said.
Ize-Iyamu, an Oregon commit, won the 100 at last year's Arcadia Invitational with 10.47. He's hoping to defend the crown.
“I'm excited. I live for these races,” he said. “Competing against the best guys in the state will let
Patrick Ize-Iyamu of Chaminade, second from left, won last year's 100meters during the Arcadia Invitational. He's back for a second try this year.
me know how far I am in my training. I haven't put up a crazy time this season, but I'm confident I'll run a PR. I won last year, so I know what it takes to get the job done.”
Ize-Iyamu's best time this season is 10.53, a mark he set March 26 at the Simi Valley Invitational.
“I need to stay calm and
enjoy the moment,” IzeIyamu added. “There's a lot of pressure on the race, but at the same time, I want to have fun.”
Stanley is the L.A. City Section's fastest sprinter this season. He has the best time in the 100 (10.76), the 200 (21.30), and the 400 (47.56). He's also part of Granada Hills' 4x100
and 4x400 relay teams, both have the fastest times in the section at 42.12 and 3:29.13, respectively.
Stanley, who is a standout junior football player with multiple NCAA Division I offers, will compete in the 400 Invitational race and the 200 Open race.
“I feel great,” Stanley said. “I think I'll have to
go a little faster (than his current best time) to win.”
Stanley's 47.56 time in the 400 is fourth-best in California.
Other local athletes to watch today
(season best times/mark in parentheses)
Some of the best longdistance
runners in the state reside locally.
Newbury Park's Colin Sahlman has the best 800 time in California at 1:48.84 and 3,200 time at 8:33.32.
Teammate Leo Young has the state's best time in the 1,600 (3:59.32). Both are just running in the 3,200 invitational.