Liam Anderson, Matt Strangio expected to clash in the 3,200 meters, highlighting largest prep distance meet in the country

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 12th annual Dublin Distance Fiesta, the largest high school distance meet in the country, features two of the country’s elite talents scheduled to compete Saturday in the boys 3,200 meters at Dublin High.

Redwood Larkspur CA senior Liam Anderson, the defending state 1,600 champion, is expected to make his season debut competing in both the 800 and 3,200. Jesuit CA junior Matt Strangio, the reigning state 3,200 champion, has already competed three times this month.

Anderson, the Nike Cross Nationals winner, and Strangio – also a two-time NXN All-American – will both be chasing the 2016 meet record of 8 minutes, 56.07 seconds produced by St. Joseph Notre Dame CA graduate and Oregon sophomore Cooper Teare.

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With 118 schools and more than 2,600 athletes scheduled to race in the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and distance medley relay, the meet features several top programs and individuals from throughout California.

The top two finishers in each event qualify to compete April 5-6 at the Arcadia Invitational.

A pair of Foot Locker national cross country finalists, Gabrielle Peterson of Healdsburg CA and Granada CA senior Colleen McCandless, are scheduled to compete in the girls 3,200.

The girls 800 features three returning California state finalists with Concord senior Rayna Stanziano, Menlo junior Charlotte Tomkinson and Trinity senior Lauren Harper.

The girls 1,600 includes Monte Vista junior Kelli Wilson, Miramonte senior Cassy Haskell, Oakland Skyline junior Eleanor Wikstrom and Los Altos senior Naomi Donovan.

The leading contenders in the boys 1,600 are expected to be Marina senior Christopher Plascencia, Los Altos sophomore Kevin Andrews, Windsor senior Lucas Chung and San Lorenzo Valley senior Chris Anderson.

Armijo senior Nixon McKenzie, a returning California state finalist, highlights the boys 800 field, which also includes Jesuit junior Chase Gordon, Sir Francis Drake senior Nicco Pompili and Westmont junior Garrett MacQuiddy.

The top two teams in both the boys and girls DMR will also earn entry to compete at the Arcadia Invitational.

In the girls DMR, St. Francis Sacramento will be challenged by Monte Vista, Foothill Tech and Gregori.

Bellarmine Prep, which features one of the most impressive sophomore classes in the country, is expected to be a leading contender in the boys DMR, along with Mission San Jose, Foothill Tech, Heritage and Campolindo.