Cameron Sermons of Rancho Cucamonga runs the final leg and wins the 4×100 meter relay Invitational with time of 41:32 as Robert Gardner of Servite finished fifth during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
ARCADIA — Wearing sunglasses and a bright pink uniform, Keelan Wright was easy to spot when she stepped onto the track at Arcadia High School.
And plenty of eyes remained fixated on the standout junior sprinter from Chaparral High School as she stormed toward the finish line.
Chaparral’s Keelan Wright swept the girls invitational division sprint titles at the Arcadia Invitational on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Eric-Paul Johnson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Wright swept the girls invitational division sprint titles at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational on Saturday night, claiming the titles in 100 meters and 200 meters behind personal-best times. Wright won the 100 in a wind-legal time of 11.54 seconds, the fastest time in the state this season, and she later completed the sweep by taking the crown in the 200 in a wind-legal time of 23.97 seconds, the No. 3 time in the state.
Wright had to sit out the first 30 days of the season after transferring from Vista Murrieta. Her first meet was the Stanford Invitational on March 29, and Wright won the championship in the 100 meters in 11.61 seconds. Saturday’s two sprint finals did lose a lot of star power when Mia Brahe-Pedersen of Lake Oswego (Oregon) scratched because of injury. Brahe-Pedersen swept the titles at Arcadia last season and won both events at the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals. However, the field in 100 meters still included last season’s California state champion.
Niya Clayton of Oaks Christian got out of the blocks fast and grabbed the early lead. But just as she did at the Stanford Invitational, Wright switched into a higher gear at the end and reached the finish line before Mayen Usoro of Arizona’s Cesar Chavez (11.63) and Clayton (11.67).
“Those last 20 meters or so, I just pushed a little bit harder,” Wright said moments after capturing the title in the 100 meters.
“I went into this race a little blind, but being able to win here at Arcadia definitely will give me even more confidence going forward.”
Wright originally was scheduled to run in the seeded division at 200 meters, but she was moved into the invitational race after multiple runners scratched. And Wright had no problems bringing home her second Arcadia Invitational gold medal, as she beat Usoro by 0.22 seconds to win the race.
Rancho Cucamonga stole the show in the boys invitational division sprint relays. Friday evening, the quartet of Jonah Dawson, Rodney Sermons, Jeremiah Brown and Cameron Sermons won the 4 x 200 relay title in a season-best time of 1 minute, 27.48 seconds. And Saturday, Dawson and the Sermons brothers teamed up with Trey Wilson to win the 4 x 100 relay title in a time of 41.32, lowering the squad’s state-leading time by 0.05 seconds.
Rancho Cucamonga won Saturday’s 400 relay by .007 seconds, as Cameron Sermons final lean helped give the Cougars a win over Parkland (Texas).
“I turned my head to the left just a little bit and could see him in my peripheral vision,” Sermons said about Parkland’s anchor runner in Lane 3. “I knew I had to keep pushing to hold him off. I knew I had to time it (the lean) perfectly. If I didn’t, we probably would have lost.”
Vista Murrieta’s Alyssa Alumbres joined her former teammate as the only other Inland athlete to win an invitational division championship. Alumbres won the girls triple jump title with a wind-legal and personal-best leap of 39 feet, 9 3/4 inches, which is the top mark in the state this season.
Kayla McBride, center, of Ayala finished fifth with a time of 55.11 women’s 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kayla McBride of Ayala finished fifth with a time of 55.11 women’s 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rylee Blade, left, of Santiago finished seventh with a time of 10:06.93 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rylee Blade, left, of Santiago finished seventh with a time of 10:06.93 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rancho Cucamonga competes in the 4×400 meter relay during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cameron Sermons, right, of Rancho Cucamonga runs the final leg and wins the 4×100 meter relay Invitational with time of 41:32 as Robert Gardner of Servite finished fifth and Dylan Riley of Rancho Verde finished eighth as Travon flournoy of Roosevelt finished seventh during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cameron Sermons, right, of Rancho Cucamonga runs the final leg and wins the 4×100 meter relay Invitational with time of 41:32 as Robert Gardner of Servite finished fifth and Dylan Riley of Rancho Verde finished eighth during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cameron Sermons, right, of Rancho Cucamonga runs the final leg and wins the 4×100 meter relay Invitational with time of 41:32 as Robert Gardner of Servite finished fifth and Dylan Riley of Rancho Verde finished eighth during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cameron Sermons, right, of Rancho Cucamonga runs the final leg and wins the 4×100 meter relay Invitational with time of 41:32 as Robert Gardner of Servite finished fifth and Dylan Riley of Rancho Verde finished eighth during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cayden Roberson of Roosevelt finished fifth with a time of 38.48 in the 300 meter hurdles seeded during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dylan Ochoa of Northview finished second in the 200 meter dash open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Isaac Shires of Glendora competes in the 200 Meter Dash Open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dylan Ochoa of Northview finished second in the 200 meter dash open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Nevaeh Lewis of Long Beach Poly competes in the 200 meter dash Open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mia Coleman of Redondo competes in the 200 meter dash Open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mia Coleman of Redondo competes in the 200 meter dash Open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Erick Rush of Arcadia competes in the 4×400 meter relay open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sean Grier of Cathedral competes in the 4×400 meter relay open during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Julius Johnson of Poly (Long Beach) finished fourth with a time of 41.74 in the 4×100 meter relay Invitational as Antwan Hughes Jr of Parkland finished second with a time of 41.32 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ani Brown, Sophia Harutunian, Gabriella Caldwell and Keira Wyatt of Granda Hills smiles pose for pictures after winning the 4×100 meter relay seeded with a time of 46.84 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kobe Mack of Parkland prepares to run in the 4×100 meter relay Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Athletes wait to run the 4×100 meter relay during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Cameron Sermons of Rancho Cucamonga runs the final leg and wins the 4×100 meter relay Invitational with time of 41:32 as Robert Gardner of Servite finished fifth during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kobe Mack of Parkland prepares to run in the 4×100 meter relay Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mia Holden of South Pasadena finished fourth in the 100 meter hurdles seeded during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Benjamin Harris, right, wins the 100 meter dash Invitational with a time of 10.38 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Athletes compete in the 100 meter seeded race during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mia Holden of South Pasadena finished second with a time of 43.82 in the 300 meter hurdles seeded during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mia Holden of South Pasadena finished second with a time of 43.82 in the 300 meter hurdles seeded during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Keeran Murray, center, of South Pasadena finished third with a time of 1:53.91 in the 800 meter run seeded during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
L’Mio Edwards of Claremont finished second with a time of 2:10.09 in the women’s 800 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Benjamin Harris rects after winning the 100 meter dash Invitational with a time of 10.38 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sierra Cornett of Buchanan runs the last leg and wins the Women’s Distance Medley Invitational with a time of 11:52.07 as Marley McCullough of Newport Harbor finished second with a time of 11:52.09 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sierra Cornett of Buchanan runs the last leg and wins the Women’s Distance Medley Invitational with a time of 11:52.07 as Marley McCullough of Newport Harbor finished second with a time of 11:52.09 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sierra Cornett of Buchanan runs the last leg and wins the Women’s Distance Medley Invitational with a time of 11:52.07 as Marley McCullough of Newport Harbor finished second with a time of 11:52.09 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Holley of Serra competes in the Women’s Distance Medley Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sierra Cornett of Buchanan runs the last leg and wins the Women’s Distance Medley Invitational with a time of 11:52.07 as Marley McCullough of Newport Harbor finished second with a time of 11:52.09 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sierra Cornett of Buchanan runs the last leg and wins the Women’s Distance Medley Invitational with a time of 11:52.07 as Marley McCullough of Newport Harbor finished second with a time of 11:52.09 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Niya Clayton of Oaks Christian finished third with a time of 11.67 in the 100 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Vance Nilsson of Gilbert reacts after winning the 110 meter hurdles Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Georgia Jeanneret of JSerra finished fifth with a time of 2:11.33 in the women’s 800 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Benjamin Harris, center, wins the 100 meter dash Invitational with a time of 10.38 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A athlete walks back after competing in the 100 meter hurdles Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Portola senior Rider Cooper shows off his medal for finishing second in the 400 meters at the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet Saturday. (Photo by Steve Fryer,
Orange County Register/SCNG)
Isabel Allori of Liberty Common wins with a time of 9:58.08 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Zach Hillhouse of Pleasant Grove finished second with a time of 4:07.29 in the 1 mile run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura wins the women’s 1 mile run Invitational with a time of 4:34.31 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills finished second with a time of 10:02.52 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Isabel Allori of Liberty Common wins with a time of 9:58.08 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills finished second with a time of 10:02.52 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura wins the women’s 1 mile run Invitational with a time of 4:34.31 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Corbin Coombs, right, of Organ Mountain wins the 1 mile run Invitational with a time of 4:07.15 as Zach Hillhouse
of Pleasant Grove finished second with a time of 4:07.29 during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills finished second with a time of 10:02.52 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills finished second with a time of 10:02.52 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Maya DeBrouwer of La Canada finished tenth with a time of 10:09.86 in the women’s 3200 meter run Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Heritage senior Andreese Ortiz had a pair of Top 5 finishes in girls invitational division throwing events. Ortiz finished second in the discus, improving her personal best to 146 feet, 4 inches. She also placed fifth in the shot put Saturday with a mark of 42 feet. 2 1/4 inches.
“I’m super proud of myself,” Ortiz said. “I remember when I was a sophomore and junior, just wishing I could throw as far as some of these other girls and be in those final groups… It took a lot of training and reps to get better, but I have finally reached that point.”
A handful of additional Inland athletes and relay teams posted Top 5 finishes in invitational division events either Friday or Saturday.
Claremont’s L’Mio Edwards placed second in the girls 800 meters, finishing in a time of 2:10.09. Ayala’s Kayla McBride was fifth in the girls 400 with a time of 55.11. Santiago’s quartet of Braelyn Combe, Staci Cheatham, Taylor Davis and Audrey Buckley finished third in the 4,000-meter distance medley relay (12:06.16), while Ayala’s quartet of Isabella Salazar, Obioma Emechete, Sophia Dinh and McBride was fourth in the 4 x 400 relay (3:50.98).
Yucaipa’s Benjamin Lingenfelter had a personal-best throw of 183 feet, 9 inches to finish fourth in the boys discus. Lingenfelter also placed second in the open division shot put competition with another personal best of 53-11. Roosevelt’s Caleb Roberson was fifth in the 300 hurdles (38.48), while Vista Murrieta’s Kosi Nwafor was fifth in the triple jump (46-7 3/4).
Great Oak placed third in the boys 4 x 800 relay, as the team of Jacob Brown, Marco Franco, Jake Paradise and Gabriel Rodriguez posted a time of 7:51.54. Paradise joined forces with Westin Brown, Kai Marotta and Ethan Magdaleno to finish third in the distance medley relay (10:15.05).
Vista Murrieta’s Riley Hauser, Roosevelt Wilkins, Isaiah Dawson and Joab Vela were third in the boys 440 shuttle hurdles relay (1:07.54).
Taylor Searle of American Leadership Academy (Arizona) cruised to the individual title in the boys pole vault with a top mark of 17-0. Michael Cullen of Redlands was 1 of 7 vaulters behind Searle who cleared 15-9. Cullen ended up sixth after tiebreakers, but he improved his personal best by 10 inches.
Murrieta Mesa’s William Isaiah Bright and Arthur Celestine brought home titles in boys hurdling events. Bright won the seeded division title in the 110 hurdles with a wind-aided time of 14.16, and Celestine won the open division championship in the 300 hurdles with a time of 37.94.
“It’s great, You know what they say about iron sharpening iron,” Bright said about training with Celestine at practice on a daily basis.
Temescal Canyon’s Megan Crum finished second in the girls seeded division 3,200 meters with a PR of 10:27.64, and she also placed second in the open division 1,600 meters with another PR of 4:57.08. Valley View’s Amara Thomas shared the title in the girls open division high jump with a mark of 5-5, and Riverside Poly’s Kylani Gaines was second in the girls open division 100 hurdles with a PR of 14.59.
Claremont placed second in the girls seeded division 4 x 800 relay, with Isla Bulmer, Kaitlyn Smith, Jie Yi Denise Chen and Edwards posting a time of 9:33.60. Chino Hills was second in the girls seeded 400 shuttle relay event, as the quartet of Taylor Garcia, Makena Bailey, Jamacyn Rogers and Samantha Vargas finished in 1:06.39.
