The Arcadia Invitational is one of the nation’s top high school track and field meets, drawing the top athletes from across the country for a nighttime meet with major hardware and history on the line. The motto of the event is, “When the lights come on, the stars come out,” a motto that was particularly fitting for Long Beach track and field stars, who shone brightly at the event last weekend.
Long Beach Poly and Wilson had a number of top performers. The Jackrabbits boys’ team won the 4×200 with the third-fastest time in Arcadia Invitational history. Poly also won the 4×1600 boys’ relay, with Will Frankenfeld coming back the next night to take fifth in the invitational mile race with a time of 4:15. The Jackrabbit sprinters were also in effect with Queen Okoh taking second in the 100 and Kenyon Reed taking second in the 200.
Wilson got big performances from Rachel Glenn, as expected. Glenn took third in the 300 hurdles and helping to lead a sprint medley relay gold medal winner. The Wilson boys’ also won the SMR with Armando Bryson and Andrew Richards leading the way. Bryson had a great weekend, taking third in the invitational 800 in 1:53.16, the No. 6 time in the nation this year.
The evening ended with a pair of thrilling 4x400s, as the Poly girls finished second and Wilson took third. Glenn ran the best leg of any school in the event, taking the Bruins from seventh to first on the third leg. In the boys’ race, Poly took first thanks to an outstanding anchor leg from Everett Steward, while Wilson took third.
Millikan’s rising freshman star Samarra Monrroy had a third-place finish in the seeded 400 with a time of 55.88 and St. Anthony sophomore Asjah Atkinson took third in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.42.
There are still a few chances left to check out the city’s best spring sports athletes in action. Poly is hosting Wilson for what will be the fastest dual meet anywhere in the country on Wednesday, and Moore League finals are next Thursday, April 18, at Wilson. After that come the CIF-SS prelims at Trabuco Hills, the CIF-SS Finals and CIF-SS Masters Meet at El Camino College, and the CIF State championships in Fresno Memorial Day weekend.
