ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA-- When the lights come on the stars truly do come out. This weekend, a handful of Florida's greatest headed west to compete in the 37th Arcadia Invitational to battle a field loaded with All-Americans, national record holders, and possible future Olympians.
Saturday's action began with Port Charlotte senior, Wes Stockbarger competing in the discus. Over the years, the discus has become one of the highest-flying events at Arcadia. Stockbarger, the top seed in the event, went on to place 4th throwing 196'7".
"I felt like my practice throws were where they should have been, but every time I got a good throw in I'd step out of the circle and scratch," Stockbarger explained. "I also I had one that I scratched on that my dad said was around 210'."
Stockbarger also went on to throw 60'10" in the shot put, good enough for a 5th place finish.
On the track, Pope John Paul's Nicole Schappert set the Arcadia track on fire with two new personal records.
"I felt really good. That was the most fun race I've ever run in my whole life. It was great running with Zoe Nelson and Katelyn Kaltenbach. It was really cool." Schappert said of her 10:27 2-mile.
The Eagle's junior also went on to run 3:36 for 1,200 for her 2nd place DMR squad. "The DMR was fun! In the beginning of the season we knew we'd have a good DMR with Jackie and me and a good second and third leg." Schappert said.
Schappert wasn't the only surprise for Pope John Paul's DMR squad. Sophomore standout, Jackie Areson split a 4:53 for a new personal record.
"We were really psyched about the DMR", explained Areson.
Heading to the boys' side of the distance events, the invitational 2-mile checked in with their usual jaw-dropping times. The Florida spotlight however, shined on much anticipated duel between Tampa Jesuit's Andy Biladeau, widely regarded as the states top distance runner, and Episcopal upstart Tim McLeod, who recently prominence with an impressive Florida Relays 2-mile victory.
Biladeau made his mark early, going straight to the front of the crowded race and pacing the star-studded field through the mile. However it was McLeod who stole the spotlight in the end.
The Episcopal junior even-splitted his way to a 9:06.77 and a 13th placing among the nations best.
"The race was pretty good. It was a big PR, so I was happy with it" says McLeod. "That's about what we thought I'd run….The first lap I was supposed to be in last and then each lap I would pass at least one person."
Not only is McLeod's time a personal best but lists his performance as 11th all-time on Florida's 3,200 list.
Biladeau, however, paid the price for his early aggression fading in the final 2 laps and turning in a 9:24.36.
ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA-- When the lights come on the stars truly do come out. This weekend, a handful of Florida's greatest headed west to compete in the 37th Arcadia Invitational to battle a field loaded with All-Americans, national record holders, and possible future Olympians.
Saturday's action began with Port Charlotte senior, Wes Stockbarger competing in the discus. Over the years, the discus has become one of the highest-flying events at Arcadia. Stockbarger, the top seed in the event, went on to place 4th throwing 196'7".
"I felt like my practice throws were where they should have been, but every time I got a good throw in I'd step out of the circle and scratch," Stockbarger explained. "I also I had one that I scratched on that my dad said was around 210'."
Stockbarger also went on to throw 60'10" in the shot put, good enough for a 5th place finish.