Track and Field: Costa Mesa’s Crenshaw makes presence felt at Arcadia Invitational

ARCADIA – High school track and field athletes may only get a handful of opportunities to compete under the lights in their career.

For distance runners, there is the Woodbridge Invitational during the cross-country season.

As for everyone else, the Arcadia Invitational is one of the few chances they will get, and that is only if they are made of the right stuff to qualify.

Costa Mesa junior Felicia Crenshaw remembered being timid the first time that she competed at the exclusive meet, which brings together elite athletes from all over the country.

“When I came my first year, I was nervous,” Crenshaw said. “I didn’t know what to think. I just felt really nervous. I was scared. I was like, ‘These girls are the best of the best that I am going up against here.’”

Crenshaw was honored to be able to compete with them on that day. That feeling remained the same, but it was one of the few things that did in her second appearance at the meet.

The emerging star set a personal record of 149 feet, 4 inches to take fourth place in the discus in the prestigious night session at Arcadia High on Saturday.

She hit the 149-foot mark twice – on her first and last throws of the evening. Her new lifetime best is 22 feet ahead of where she was at this point in the season last year.

Crenshaw said she didn’t let the atmosphere affect her as much, and she hopes that there is much more in store for the current campaign.

“I didn’t block them out, but I was just really zoned in,” Crenshaw said of the crowd. “I knew what I needed to do.

“All I can expect is progress from here. My goal is 170 this year, and hopefully that is what I can hit.”

Crenshaw added a third-place showing in shot put (39-6) in the day-time meet. Her twin sister, Tayla, competed in both events. She produced throws of 35-5 in shot put and 119-6 in discus.

Others were competing in the invitational session for the first time, including Edison’s Michael Chadwick. The senior pole vaulter tied for seventh at 15 feet, 4 inches. He was enthralled with the engagement of the crowd, which responded well to the call for slow claps by athletes in the field.

“I definitely do better with the more energy that is there,” Chadwick said. “That’s just amazing to have everyone watching and cheering. That is where I have the most fun is when everyone is involved together.”

Sage Hill’s Alex Escalera tied for fourth at 15 feet, 8 inches. Marina’s Michael Magula placed 10th (15-0).

Huntington Beach’s Jack Wiseman was also a first-time invitational participant. The sophomore had been pleasantly surprised to be invited to compete in the night meet.

“I’m super proud,” Wiseman said. “To get into the invite was huge for me. I wasn’t thinking that I was going to get it this year. I’m just super happy to be considered that kind of an elite athlete.”

Wiseman is training with Dwight Stones. He cleared 6 feet, 3 inches in high jump on Saturday, but his personal best was 6-6 at the Irvine Invitational.

The Saturday Open session began with three strong 1,600-meter times by local athletes. Huntington Beach’s Lars Mitchel topped them all with a third-place showing in the Rising Stars Mile.

The sophomore ran 4:23 to finish third in the race, beating All-Orange County cross-country selections Anthony Grover (JSerra, 4:24) and Alexis Garcia (Newport Harbor, 4:27).

“It was nice to place well in a fast and prestigious race such as the Rising Stars Mile, but as far as beating certain people, I don’t necessarily look to beat any one person,” Mitchel said. “I almost always try to race the clock.”

Leif Hellgren also ran a sub-4:30 mile, coming in at 4:26 for Corona del Mar.

Marina thrower Jake Arnold continued his comeback from a foot injury. The senior tested his full range of motion for the first time after throwing in a stand-still position at the Trabuco Hills Invitational.

“I wasn’t expecting to spin today, but I talked to my coaches and my mom, and they said I should try it out just to see how it goes,” Arnold said. “It felt good, though. I hit all my points on all my positions. It just felt good.”

Arnold said he experienced trepidation with his first throw in the discus, unsure of whether or not he would feel any pain. With each successive throw, he picked up speed.

He said that he would refrain from going full strength until he receives another set of X-rays on April 19, the Wednesday prior to the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High.

Fountain Valley’s Nathan Willoughby took second in both of his hurdles heats. His time of 39.19 seconds in the 300 intermediate hurdles was seventh in the Open Division day meet.

A Rio Olympian provided the most outstanding performance of the meet. Union Catholic’s Sydney McLaughlin obliterated the national record in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 38.90 seconds.

The record had belonged to Long Beach Wilson’s Lashinda Demus (39.98) since 2001.

The state of New Jersey contests the 400 hurdles, so McLaughlin was running the 300 hurdles for the first time in her high school career.

Before the rain came late Friday night, the Ocean View quartet of Hector Arteaga, David Brito, Edwin Montes, and Ryan St. Pierre averaged a 4:30 mile time in the mile relay.

Montes ran the fastest leg at 4:24.17.

The Seahawks completed the race in 18 minutes-even, taking 17th out of 31 teams in the “Burnin’ Batons” relay session. They were also third among seven Orange County schools running.

American Fork of Utah set a national record in the event at 16:41, topping a state rival in Highland Lone Peak by 50 seconds.

Newport Harbor was 23rd in 18:07. Ben Wilson, Mikael Campo, Mark Field, and Garcia made up the legs.