Granada Hills, Dijon Stanley shine on national stage Rich Gonzalez helps elevate at Arcadia Invitational
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Arcadia Invitational meet director Rich Gonzalez stood with his arms crossed and his stance slightly wide as he scanned the stands at Arcadia High. It was obvious to see what he was taking in.
“I’m definitely proud of it,” he said.
Once again, Gonzalez delivered one of the nation’s best high school track and field meets Friday and Saturday, and it was bigger and possibly better than ever, as it hosted a record 690 schools that represented 36 different states.
Heading into this year’s meet, the Arcadia Invitational was home to 33 national records and the starting point for 203 athletes who went on to be U.S. Olympians.
Once again, Rich Gonzalez delivers the best high school track and field event in the country – The Arcadia Invitational.
He picked a good day, too. Beautiful weather. pic.twitter.com/UgPCpm6ET4
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) April 8, 2023
The meet started in 1967 as a “San Gabriel Valley all-star meet,” according to Gonzalez, before growing into a regional attraction.
“It was the first major meet on an all-weather track,” Gonzalez said. “It was also the first meet in high schools that introduced female competition, so it was a pioneering event in its early years.”
Gonzalez has been the meet’s director since 2001. He made the Arcadia Invitational into a two-day event in 2003. The change allowed for out-of-state athletes and schools to make the trip to Arcadia more worth their while, and created an element that sets the event apart.
“That’s when it exploded things,” he said. “In a typical year, the out-of-state teams account for 30 to 40% of total schools here. Obviously, that’s very abnormal, but pretty neat.”
There are still some states, like Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas and Iowa, that don’t allow their high school sports teams to cross state lines for competitions, but if they did, the event could potentially be more jam-packed with talent. Of all things, that’s what Gonzalez is most proud of. The standard of the Arcadia Invitational.
“We have such a high standard,” Gonzalez said. “We don’t lower, so people know they need to meet that standard, which means they need to raise their game on everything, especially the requirements. In reality, we turn away several thousand every year. This event could be three or four days if we wanted to, but we’re happy the way it is and we want to keep up that high quality (of competition).”
DIJON STANLEY SETS TOP MARK IN 400
Granada Hills’ Dijon Stanley was one of the tops athletes at the Arcadia meet Saturday and competed in the 200 and 400 meters and in 4×100 relay.
The senior, who has signed to play football at Utah, set the nation’s best time — 45.92 seconds — this season in the 400.
There he goes. Granada Hills’ Dijon Stanley. 45.92 seconds in the 400 meter, a national best and 12th fastest in CA history. pic.twitter.com/mNFWUKyXnD
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) April 9, 2023
He joined teammates Jordan Coleman, Kanye Martin and Jayden Smith on the 4×100 relay team and they set the best mark in California by winning the invitational race in 40.28. The mark is third-fastest in state history and third-best in the country this season.
Coleman won the 200 in a personal-best 21.01, edging Stanley. However, Stanley still holds the fastest 200 time in the state at 20.86.
Oaks Christian’s Chase Farrell finished second in the 100 with a personal best 10.42. Newbury Park’s Aaron Sahlman won the 800 in 1:49.07.
On the girls side, Notre Dame’s April Fontenette won the discus with a toss of 153 feet and 1 inch and Castaic’s Meagan Humphries won the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 39-9.5.
Granada Hills boys 4×100 relay gets it done in 40.28 seconds, a new state best, beating its previous mark of 41.13. Jordan Coleman, Dijon Stanley, Kanye Martin and Jayden Smith. pic.twitter.com/mW3JS8bTQ9
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) April 9, 2023
We didn’t get to see Rodrick Pleasant (scratch) vs. Dijon Stanley, but Granada Hills’ Jordan Coleman wins the 200 meter in 21.01 (PR) at the Arcadia Invitational. Stanley still holds CA-best mark with 20.86. pic.twitter.com/0u5yLJcssb
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) April 9, 2023