Watered-Down Arcadia Invitational Reset for Today

The depth of talent won’t be as good as it was before and the meet will lack the national flavor it has had in the past, but the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet today at Arcadia High should still be a high-quality affair.

The evening portion of the meet, which starts with field events at 4 p.m. and running events at 6:10, was postponed two weeks ago because of rain.

The delay prevented many athletes from Northern California and other states from returning for the meet, but five individuals and two relay teams that won titles in the 1997 state championships will compete.

Senior Justin Fargas of Notre Dame, defending state champion in the boys’ 100 meters, and junior Bridget Pearson of Hoover, defending state champion in the girls’ pole vault, are two of the leading entries.

Fargas will compete in the 100 and 200 and run on Notre Dame’s 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

He’ll be pitted against Mission League rival Miguel Fletcher of Alemany in the 100 and 200, and Sultan McCullough of Pasadena Muir in the 200.

Fletcher, second to Fargas in the 100 in the state meet, is going for his third consecutive Arcadia title in that event.

McCullough ran a nation-leading 20.62 seconds in the 200 last year, but he’ll be doubling back from the 400 when he runs against Fargas and Fletcher tonight.

Matt Lea of Camarillo, who has run a state-leading 47.6, will face McCullough, who has clocked 47.85, in the 400.

Ryan Meuse of Simi Valley ran a career-best of 1:52.57 to finish second in the 800 at last year’s meet.

In the girls’ meet, freshman Schquay Brignac is undefeated in the high jump this season and will run on Cleveland’s 400 relay team.

Freshman Sierra Hauser-Price will compete in the 100 and 200 and run on Notre Dame’s 400 and 1,600 relays.

Freshman Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa will compete in the 100 and long jump.

Several of the region’s top competitors will miss the meet for various reasons.

Taft High, headed by seniors Larry Jones and Frances Santin, will be competing in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Distance runners Dusty Herman and Elaine Canchola of Nordhoff will be attending their school prom.

Lauren Fleshman of Canyon, who ran 2:11.87 to win the girls’ 800 in the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut last Saturday, has been sick and might not run.

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A Quick Look

* What: Arcadia Invitational track and field meet.

* Where: Arcadia High.

* When: 4 p.m.

* Why: To watch some of the state’s top high school track and field athletes compete in a meet that was postponed two weeks ago because of heavy rains.

* Tickets: $10 for adults. $5 for children 13 and under.

* Fast fact: Sixty athletes who competed in the Arcadia Invitational in high school have represented the U.S. in one or more of the past four Olympic Games. Olympic gold medalists Quincy Watts, Valerie Brisco and Steve Lewis all won events in the Arcadia Invitational when they were in high school.