Tony's Take: Arcadia Invitational Opens Big Outdoor Season For IL Preps

Patrick Perrier (right photo) and several of his friendly distance rivals will look to restore IL supremacy in California

The outdoor season is here and so is the weather.  It is now time to put up or shut up for those who have continually complained about how the indoor season is not as important as the outdoor season. It is also time for those that say it’s too cold to perform well to hush it up and get it going.  With all of that being said I am extremely excited for the 2014 outdoor campaign!  Good luck and good vibes to everyone out there!

Arcadia Invitational part 1 kicks off with Maya Bear-

The first order of business that I would like to discuss would be the Arcadia Invitational. The prestigious Arcadia Invitational is a co-ed meet held at Arcadia High School which is approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.  The meet which enters its 46th year is home to 25 national records as well as produced 152 Olympians.

The meet will take place on April 11-12 but the multi-events (decathlon and heptathlon) will occur on the 10-11.

Friday Heat Sheet

Arcadia Invite Meet Page

Maya Neal, the junior standout from Naperville Neuqua Valley, will be competing in this high stakes competition.  Neal recently earned All-American honors in the pentathlon (5th place) at the New Balance Indoor Nationals held in New York.  I had an opportunity to build with her at the Illinois Top Times meet several weeks ago. We spoke about several things and how busy she is as a person. Aside from being a good student she is also an outstanding and all-round good kid with a big smile. She seemed a bit surprised when I brought up the subject of soccer. Soccer is a sport that Maya is equally adept in as she intends on playing at the next level at the University of Tennessee in two years. “My plan is to play both sports in college,” she said. By her demeanor and global outlook, I know that she will be just fine on the next level.

Missing in action like that plane in Malaysia-

“We are missing like that plane that went down in Malaysia,” said Lincoln-Way East Coach Angelo Brown referring to his team being more or less in a low-key role and staying under the track radar. “The only person that will be competing in Arcadia for us is Meghan Marias.” The team is healthy and they will be a threat by the time May rolls around. However, for the time being the defending state champions will stay in Illinois to hone their skills against the quality competition here.

Arcadia Invite Part 2-

Saturday Day Heat Sheet
Saturday Evening Heat Sheet

Here is the current list of Boys participants from Illinois:

Simon Thorpe (Sr., Dixon)- 1 mile run; Downers Grove North: Ryan Clevenger (Jr.)- 1 mile run; Zack Smith (Sr.)- Invitational mile run, Seeded 3200m; Tony Zea (Sr.)- 1 mile run, 800m; Patrick Perrier (Sr., O’Fallon)- Invitational 3200m; Zach Dale (Jr., Hoffman Estates Conant); Jesse Reiser (Jr., McHenry); Bryce Richards (Jr., Mundelein)- 800m; Dan Lathrop (Sr., Plainfield South)- seeded 3200m
 

3200s galore will lead the Illinois charge-

-The depth of the field is plentiful when it comes to the distance field. Several of the state’s head hunters will be in attendance with Reiser, Smith and Perrier. Perrier said of his goal:”just break 9:00.” Smith had a longer answer for his California aspirations. “I’m shooting for as close to 9:00 as possible, and sub-9:00 would be great,” said Smith. “The workouts have come around the past few weeks since indoor conference, so I’m feeling good about this one.”

Reiser also has sub-9:00 feelings on his mind. He indicated that anything less than 8:55 would be unacceptable in his book.

We will see if Bryce Richards can survive the meat grinder in the 800m. He was the 3A state runner-up last year.

Here is the current list of Girls participants from Illinois:

Lena Giger (Sr., Highland)- Shot Put; Meghan Marias (Sr.)- 100m, 200m; Brittny Ellis (Jr., Gurnee Warren)- 200m, 400m

-The Girls field is lighter than the boys but should pack some punch.  Lincoln-Way East as it was mentioned earlier will only have Marias in the field. Marias recently signed with the University of Michigan is primed and ready to show everyone that she is one of the best sprinters in Illinois regardless of classification.

Ellis had lured everyone to sleep during the indoor season with some lackluster performances, but all along she had bigger plans. Last weekend down in Miramar, Florida- which is outside of Miami, she strutted her stuff in the 200m (24.52w) and 400m (54.67) in the USATF US Select Youth trials. Will Ellis be in 'Tinsletown?' If so, will she put on a show similiar to the one witnessed in the Sunshine State? I guess we will have to standby and see.

Giger has proven to be one of the best in the United States when it comes to the shot put. If you recall, she set the state all-time indoor best with a 50-foot toss at the New Balance Indoor National Championships.  Giger has a goal of 52-feet sometime of this season and this may be the time set a new record and get revenge against new found friendly rivals Ashlie Blake (Liberty, NV) and Stamatia Scarvelis (Dos Pueblos, Ca).  Scarvelis is currently ranked #1 in the country at a startling 53'3.5".

Are you looking for something to do this summer? Maybe you should join a track club-

The Chicago Flyers Youth Track Club may be for you.

The mission of the Chicago Flyers is to develop a child’s passion for a lifetime of fitness through track/field, cross country and wise fitness choices.  Participation will encourage development of self-confidence, discipline, and athletic achievement while having fun through competitive sports.  Our team is open to youth, ages 6-18 for outdoor season and 10-18 for cross country season, interested and willing to strive to reach their potential, regardless of abilities.
 
We are a member of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAU) and USA Track and Field (USATF).  Kids may elect to run in community based events to the more competitive AAU/USATF competitions, district to nationals. Meet participation is encouraged.

Practices include instruction in technique, speed, agility, balance, core, specialized event training and lots and lots of games.  As practice times vary, please refer to calendar.  Parents are invited to participate as long as they behave.

Team members live in Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, La Grange,  Western Springs, Westmont and Darien.