Distance stars ready to shine under lights

Several California standouts, along with elite athletes from Colorado and New Mexico scheduled to compete at 26th annual event at Azusa Pacific University

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The New Balance Azusa Meet of Champions Distance Classic annually showcases some of the best talent from California and across the country and the 26th edition of the meet is again one of the nation’s best.

Highlighted by invitational races for boys and girls in the 800 and 3,200 meters, along with the mile, the night session starting at 7 p.m. PDT Saturday at Azusa Pacific University includes 18 races. The marquee events will be the Running Warehouse Legends Invitational boys and girls mile races, which will also have a separate camera to include 1,600-meter splits.

Among the girls entries, Foot Locker cross country national champion Claudia Lane of Malibu is entered in the girls mile and 3,200, but it is uncertain if the sophomore will compete in both races, which are scheduled an hour apart.

Senior Niki Iyer of The Harker School and Saugus junior Mariah Castillo are also entered in both races.

Claremont senior Annie Boos, Capistrano Valley junior Haley Herberg, St. Joseph Notre Dame senior Kiera Marshall, Martin Luther King sophomore Lauren Peurifoy and Walnut sophomore Chloe Arriaga are also scheduled to compete in the girls mile.

After running a national-leading 9:00.90 in the 3,200 at the 10th annual Dublin Distance Fiesta on Saturday at Dublin High, San Luis Obispo senior Callum Bolger leads a quality field in the boys mile.

Bolger will be joined by Claremont seniors Ryan Renken and Owen Bishop, Paso Robles senior Trad Berti, Great Oak senior Solomon Fountain, Redondo Union senior Ethan Comeaux, Bonita senior Dillon Beckum, Atherton Menlo junior Robert Miranda and junior Harrison Smith of El Dorado NM.

Along with potential entries Lane, Iyer and Castillo, the girls 3,200 is scheduled to include Great Oak teammates Evelyn Mandel, Nicole Rice and Sandra Pflughoft, Buchanan teammates Meagen Lowe and Corie Smith, Mira Costa senior Melia Chittenden, Citrus Valley senior Claire Graves, El Toro senior Hannah Tobin and Bishop Amat senior Trinity Ruelas.

The boys 3,200 features Fresno senior Evert Silva, Madera South senior Miguel Villar, Ayala senior Steven Khan, Arroyo Grande senior Christian Ricketts, El Camino Real junior Justin Hazell, Foothill Technology senior Jared Rodriguez and West Ranch teammates Jack Arnold and Preston Pope, along with Harrison Scudamore of Denver East CO.

The girls 800 includes returning California state finalist Jacquelyn Hill of Etiwanda, along with Oaks Christian senior Carolyn Wilson, Carlsbad senior Kiley McCarthy, Dana Hills senior Jennifer Daly and Riverside Poly junior Kalea Ibarra.

The boys 800 doesn’t have a returning athlete from last year’s invitational race, with Tesoro junior Ryan Bush moving up after placing second in the rated race. Bush is expected to be joined by Glendora senior Jacob Lamb, Foothill senior David Hulme, West Ranch senior Justin Sherfey, Monroe senior Carlos Martin Del Campo and Palos Verdes junior Ian Irish.