TRACK AND FIELD: Day 1 of Arcadia Invitational

By Keith Lair, Staff Writer
ARCADIA - It was all about getting a personal best on the first day of the 41st annual Arcadia Invitational on Friday at Arcadia High School.
El Rancho's Natalie Galvan went into the long jump fresh off her personal best. She jumped 17 feet, 3 inches in a Del Rio League dual meet against Whittier on Thursday.
"I was hoping to do 17-5 or better," the junior said. "I think I've done pretty well. It's just exciting to be here."
Galvan didn't quite hit her goal. She finished fifth at 16 feet, 11 1/4 inches and was plagued by three fouls.
"I really love the long jump," she said. "I guess because I've been doing it since my freshman year."
Galvan also competes in both hurdle events but was not on the track Friday.
Except for field events and 3,200-meter races, Friday's events were relays. The meet resumes today with winning teams advancing to today's morning/afternoon meet, and winners of the morning/afternoon session receive a berth in tonight's main event.
Area victories came in the four-mile and shuttle hurdle relays. El Rancho easily won its seeded four-mile relay. Muir's girls took the invitational race in 1:05.45. Rowland's boys rated team of Derrick Mecate, Chris Smith Royce Wong and Kevin Chung won in 1:06.91.
"It was a nice win," Chung said. "We hit our marks."
The only other area finishers on a podium were Walnut's Richelle Najera and South Pasadena's 1,600 sprint relay team. Najera tied for third in the shot put at 37-5. Olivia Adriana of Hercules won with a throw of 38-7.
South Pasadena's Chloe Fata gave the Tigers an inspiring finish in the girls seeded sprint medley by nearly catching Claremont's Kori Carter. The Tigers, also with Aubrey Thurman, Catherine Messana and Stacy Lee, finished second in 4:13.06 to Claremont's 4:12.75.
In the girls seeded 3,200 relay, the Rowland team of Krystina Francis, Victoria Francis, Priscilla Lopez and Vanessa Lopez finished seventh out of 15 schools in 9:54.93. Arcadia's Kirsten Frank, Caitlin Kelly, Giselle Sorial and Adriann Maldonado finished 11th in 10:05.63. In the boys seeded 3,200 relay, Muir's Estevan Zarazua, Christian Kooshain, Cesar Espadas and Richard Zarazua finished 13th in 8:28.40.