Get ready for excitement at Arcadia Invitational

This is the weekend high faculty observe and area takes heart stage in Southern California. Quincy Wilson, who gained a gold medal at the age of 16 at the 2024 Olympic Games, is coming from Maryland to compete in the 400 and two relays at the Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High on Saturday.

“I’m so fired up,” Servite coach Brandon Thomas said.

And Thomas isn’t operating.

Servite’s 4×100 and 4×400 relay groups could have to deal with Bullis High and Wilson operating the anchor leg in races that ought to have followers standing on their toes while listening to the oohs and aahs.

“From a competitive standpoint, they’re excited to compete against the country’s best,” Thomas said.

Servite’s 4×100 relay staff despatched a message on Saturday, changing into the first to break 40 seconds in California historical past, profitable in 39.82 at Trabuco Hills.

It’s all a good setup, from the environment to the stiff competitors, to put together for next month’s part and state championships.

There’s two Loyola High athletes, sprinter Zion Phelps and 400 runner Ejam Yohannes, who hope to use Arcadia as a springboard to continue their early success this season.

Phelps is in his first yr of observe after being a defensive back and receiver for the soccer staff. He and Loyola’s new coach, Sharaud Moore, have been having conversions during the autumn.

“He swore up and down he was the fastest kid in the school,” Moore said. “Yeah, put your money where your mouth is.”

Said Phelps: “I told him, ‘Just wait.’ I knew I had that speed and wanted to prove it.”

He ran a wind-aided 100-meter time of 10.39 seconds this spring. Last week in a Mission League twin meet against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, he gained with a time of 10.56.

Said Moore: “I was his harshest critic on the field. We’re going back and forth and he was right. He’s s really fast.”

Showing his velocity is reliable will help with his soccer recruiting going into his senior yr in the autumn.

“Definitely this year has pushed my recruitment out there with my track times,” Phelps said. “I wanted to show I’m dedicated to this and being a multi-sport athlete. It will translate a lot.”

Yohannes, set to face Wilson in the 400, has an equally compelling story. He never performed organized sports activities until becoming a member of the observe staff as a freshman. His dad and mom got here right here from the small African nation of Eritrea. His first identify is Ethiopian.

He ran the 400 in 52.48 seconds as a freshman, centered more on having enjoyable. Sophomore season he dropped to 50.75 and said to himself, “Wow, I’m fast.” He began getting severe.

“Now I wanted to be better,” he said.

An injury in January of last yr didn’t let him get the muse to run as fast as he hoped. He dropped to 47.69. Then Moore grew to become coach, and Yohannes finally put in months of training to construct a basis.

“He comes in and kills me,” Yohannes said.

Then got here the reward — 46.11 on March 21. In his ultimate tuneup on Saturday, he ran 47.17 at the Red Rock Running Invitational.

“He’s a student and studies racing, training, race plans, athletes, programs,” Moore said.

As for going through Wilson, Yohannes’ angle is convey him on.

“I’m excited to go out there,” he said. “It’s great competition. If I don’t believe I can win, nobody else can. If I don’t believe in myself, it’s over. I’m going to give my best. I might be crazy to saying this, but I think I have chance. He’s world class already in high school. He’s top of the line talent, It’s whoever wins on that given day. This is going to be unreal pressure knowing if I win, my name is out there. That puts me on the map. I can dream.”