Arcadia Mile Previews
By Aron Taylor
The Arcadia Invitational stands as the Home of National Records. One of the prestigious outdoor track & field meets of the season. Among the accolades for the prep miler the Arcadia mile title is as sought after as Millrose or Boston.
Defending champion Elias Gedyon highlights a perfect storm for the boy’s mile. A super fast field featuring four 1:50 800 meter runners, including Indoor National Champion Anthony Kostelac from Virginia. Gedyon looks to be for a fast race which could dip into the all-time lists. Prediction - 4:06
Led by senior and top returnee Jacque Taylor the girl’s race has drawn one of the most competitive fields in recent history. The best of the best have always raced at Arcadia with the winning times under 4:46. There are six girls with the potential of winning and posting the nation’s top mark of the season.
Girls Pre-Race Favorites
Alli Billmeyer, JR, Torrey Pines: Junior from San Diego is coming off an impressive cross campaign in which she placed 5th at the CIF Championships and 14th at Foot Locker West. Pops US#2 1600m 4:50.10 to open the outdoor season claiming victory at the Asics Mt. Carmel Invitational.
Baylee Mires, SO, Mead: Super-sophomore out of the GSL gets back to what she loves… the track. Ending 2009 as double state winner in the 1600m and 800m Mires has come into 2010 stronger than ever. Personal best of 4:56 and 2:11 from 09’ state meet has potential to dip under 4:50 this season.
Lyndsy Mull, SO, Redondo Union,: Breakout performance of the meet at the APU/Arroyo Meet of Champions Distance Classic when she doubled 800/1600m respectably. Personal bests of 4:53.49 to claim victory in 1600m and 2:15.33 in the 800m are indicators of state champion ability…breakout star of the season?
Jacque Taylor, SR, Casa Grande: State cross country champion has personal bests of 4:49.63 for 1600m. Taylor recently opened season with a 5:00.79 mile victory at the Stanford Invitational over Marine Academy junior Lucy McCullough.
Maddie Meyers, SO, The Northwest: Jumped into the national spotlight at Nike Indoor Nationals with a 4:51.05 mile placing 5th. The super-sophomore is looking to make another impact on possibly the grandest stage of them all in the girls Arcadia Mile.
Lucy McCullough, JR, Marin Academy: In a clash of state cross country champions Lucy finished a close second to Jacque Taylor at Stanford in 5:01.19. McCullough has rarely lost in the past two seasons, with a personal best 4:54.82 for 1600m.
Kat Delaney, JR, JSerra Catholic: Finished 2009 off with personal best of 4:51.75 in the 1600 meters. Delaney has started 2010 off with a bang with 2nd place at Irvine invitational and recently victory at Great Oak Distance Festival.
Boys One Mile Run Invitational
Boys Pre-Race Favorites
Travis Edwards, SR, Royal: Edwards has a personal best of 4:11.73 for 1600m and touts 11.73 100m speed. In a final kick it would be difficult to overtake Edwards.
Sean Krinik, SR, Valencia: Opened eyes with an impressive 1:50.16 800m at the APU/Arroyo Meet of Champions. Doubled back with a 4:16.32 1600m, possesses impressive speed who could be the dark horse.
Greg Dotson, SR, Burbank: Close second to Krinik at APU/Arroyo Meet of Champions with impressive 1:50.49 800m. Dotson has personal best of 4:18.80 for 1600 meters.
Anthony Kostelac, SR, Albemarle: The Virginia native is the defending Indoor National Champion over 800 meters. Ran a US#6 all-time 1:50.96 in the championship effort. Kostelac has personal best of 4:10.73 for 1600 meters with potential to break into sub 4:08 range. Kostelac has dodged no one as he has competed at Millrose and now seeks to add an Arcadia Championship to his resume.
Elias Gedyon, SR, Loyola: Opened the season with a 4:12.15 showing over 1600m to claim victory at Asics Mt. Carmel Inv. The national cross country phenom has a personal best of 4:07.26 for 1600m. With 1:50 800 meter speed and a much improved game from 2009 look for Gedyon to challenge 4:08.
Phil MacQuitty, SR, Palo Alto: A 4:13 mile victory at Stanford with 1:50 800 speed and a solid cross season behind him Phil MacQuitty has stepped into his own. Has a personal goal of breaking 4:10, with the nation’s best in attendance it looks as though MacQuitty may get his shot.
Colin Barker, SR, Bishop Kenny: Florida native travels across country to the west coast super meet Arcadia. Top talent lures Barker, a 4:13 miler to a showdown in the sunshine state. A solid two-miler drops down to compete.