Glenbard West IL sophomore runs spectacular 3,200, Brewer repeats and Brown delivers again, joining Lester, Russell, Sloan with big victories

By Landon Negri for DyeStat

Katelynne Hart knows how to make an impression.

And the bright-eyed, soft-spoken sophomore from the Midwest led an out-of-state onslaught Saturday at the 51st Arcadia Invitational.

Hart’s startling victory in the 3,200-meter invitational race highlighted a big day for non-California athletes. Her victory, in 10 minutes, 2.56 seconds, was one of nine girls winners in 17 events from outside of California at the annual invite at Arcadia High.

Bullis School MD senior Masai Russell ran a national-leading time in the 300 hurdles in 41.28, in addition to leading her team to wins in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Emily Sloan from Rock Canyon CO took the 100 hurdles in 13.43, the No. 2 national time and No. 4 mark in meet history, along with placing second in the 300 hurdles in 42.25.

Hart’s consistency made her stand out. She ran her first 1,600 meters in 5:00; the second in 5:02.

“I just knew (that) because I saved myself a little bit in the beginning,” Hart said, “that I would have a little bit more at the end to try to push through the 5-6-7 laps.”

She did just that, working with a large enough lead to easily hold off the most furious of charges by Saugus’ Mariah Castillo, who finished as the event runner-up in 10:09.12 – after running 4:59 in the second 1,600 – for the fastest time by a state runner this year. Both girls were in the top four at last fall’s Nike Cross Nationals.

Of course, Hart missed running against Malibu CA junior Claudia Lane, a two-time Foot Locker cross country national champion who did not compete at Arcadia after winning March 31 at Stanford in 10:24.72.

“Claudia is a good friend of mine,” Hart said. “I think, obviously, whatever decision she made to run here or not – she’s such a smart runner and such a nice girl, too, and I think she’s going to keep doing amazing things. I was bummed I didn’t get to see her.”

While East Coast-power Bullis made its outdoor debut with its three relay wins and Russell’s individual victory, Sloan edged out a standout field in the 100 hurdles, winning in 13.43 and defeating Upland CA senior Jada Hicks (13.54), Temecula Valley CA senior Danae Dyer (13.68) and Stockdale CA senior Aalyiah Wilson (13.81).

Sloan also ran the 300 hurdles, where only Russell prevented her from a sweep of both titles.

“I was very surprised because I didn’t feel that great during my race,” Sloan said of the 100 hurdles. “I had some catching up to do over the first two hurdles. Actually, I was super excited; it was one of my best season openers. Good things are coming in that race, too.”

Good things arrived in the 400, as well, in a race competitive and deep enough that it was about as close as you could get to a national final.

Marietta GA junior Sterling Lester edged Oakland Bishop O’Dowd CA senior Tierra Robinson-Jones by four-thousandths of a second in 53.366. It was Lester's second consecutive 400 Arcadia title, even as Robinson-Jones bettered her own state-leading mark. They’re now Nos. 2-3 in the country in the event, and this was run after Lester also won the heptathlon.

“I learned that I could do anything if I really put my mind to it,” Lester said. “It might be tiring at the end of the day, but I’m good.”

Rancho NV senior Gizelle Reid finished third with a personal-best 53.64, before later leading the 4x400 relay team to a runner-up finish to Bullis (3:44.58). Rancho’s 3:47.35 was good for a Nevada state record.

“It was pretty fun to compete,” Reid said. “I’ve been waiting so long to run an invitational at Arcadia.”

There were some standout performance by in-state athletes, as well. In the 800 meters, San Ramon California’s Alyssa Brewer was a repeat winner in 2:09.81.

“I just knew I had the energy left, and I saw the finish line there,” Brewer said. “I knew nobody was going to catch me in the last 50 of the race. I just sprinted it in. It was a great feeling.”

In the distance medley relay, Oak Ridge bounced back from a third-place finish at last week’s Stanford Invitational in what its girls called a “redemption race.”

The team of Abby Fletcher, Chloe Taylor, Elena Denner and Maddy Denner won in 11:42.85, a new national-leading time. Oak Ridge was beaten by both Santa Cruz and Great Oak last week; this time, Maddy Denner passed Great Oak’s Tori Gaitan on the final lap en route to the school’s second consecutive Arcadia DMR win.

“I just really wanted to get a fast split and run a fast time,” Maddy Denner said. “We shattered the time we ran last year, 11:49, and it’s cool to win twice in a row.”

Kali Hatcher of St. Mary’s Berkeley CA won the triple jump, outlasting three other 40-feet-plus marks with a leap of 42-3.25 (12.88m) in the third round. Lexi Ellis of Curtis WA took second at 42-1.25 (12.83m) with her third-round jump. Chandler AZ senior Jai Gruenwald prevailed in the long jump with a third-round leap of 19-4.50 (5.90m).

Long Beach Poly CA senior Ariyonna Augustine set a new state standard in the 100 by winning in 11.56, with Amador Valley CA junior Chinyere Okoro capturing the 200 in 24.08, in addition to a third-place finish in the 100 in 11.63.

And La Costa Canyon CA senior McKenna Brown won the mile in 4:49.63, similar to her rallying for a 1,600 victory March 31 at Stanford.

Makayla Kelby, a senior at Lees Summit West MO, repeated as discus throw champion with a first-round throw of 168-6 (51.35m). Fowler CA junior Jocelynn Budwig prevailed in the shot put with a sixth-round effort of 46-8.50 (14.23m).

Long Beach Wilson CA sophomore Rachel Glenn cleared 5-8 (1.72m) to win the invitational high jump, although Coronado CA junior Alysah Hickey achieved a 5-9 (1.75m) clearance in the morning open section.