By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 13th Dublin Distance Fiesta, the largest distance-only high school track meet in the nation, is scheduled for Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at Dublin High in California.

LIVE RESULTS

Here are 10 storylines to follow at one of the most prestigious prep events in the country:

Too big for just one day

After showcasing three editions of the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta last year in order to accommodate all interested schools and student-athletes while adhering to county restrictions and guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gaels coach Chris Williams knew the registration would be substantial this season.

So much so that even a schedule approaching 14 consecutive hours of competition Saturday wasn’t going to be enough to showcase 149 high schools and 2,946 student-athletes in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, as well as the distance medley relay. Those totals are increased from the 118 schools and 2,633 student-athletes that participated at the 2019 event.

As a result, for the first time in meet history, the largest distance-only high school competition in the country will be held over two days at Dublin High – site of the meet since 2009 – with the first six sections of the girls 3,200 and opening seven races in the boys 3,200 being contested Friday.

The remaining three sections of the girls 3,200 and 11 races in the boys 3,200 will be part of the Saturday schedule, which begins at 8 a.m. PDT and concludes following the boys DMR around 10 p.m.

There are 23 scheduled sections of the girls 1,600, followed by 37 races in the boys 1,600. There are expected to be 26 sections in the girls 800 and 43 in the boys 800, with two heats in each gender of the DMR to close out the schedule after the remaining 3,200 races not held Friday will be completed.

Ayers looks to add sub-9 to resume

Zach Ayers of Davis Senior, an Air Force Academy commit and an Eastbay Cross Country national finalist, produced the best performance of his prep track career in July when he clocked 9 minutes, 2.32 seconds for a full 2-mile race to finish fourth at The Outdoor Nationals Presented by Nike at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Ayers doesn’t yet officially have sub-9 credentials to his credit, but he is hoping the opportunity to square off Saturday night under the lights against three competitors who have already eclipsed the impressive barrier in the 3,200 meters will help fuel him in his pursuit.

Braden King of Jesuit, a Yale commit, clocked 8:56.89 in May to finish 10th in the 3,200 at the Arcadia Invitational, with Sean Lacey of Bella Vista right behind him in 8:57.13.

Karl Winter of Stockton St. Mary’s placed 14th at Arcadia in 8:58.02, adding even more depth to the 18th and final section of the event Saturday.

Ajani Salcido of Jesuit (8:56.57) and Galen Topper of Bellarmine Prep (8:59.29) were the only individuals at the three editions of the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta last year to produce sub-9 efforts.

The 2019 installment of the Dublin Distance Fiesta showcased the meet record from Jesuit graduate Matt Strangio, who clocked 8:47.97 to prevail against former Larkspur Redwood standout Liam Anderson (8:56.88).

The 2016 meet showcased the only occasion in meet history when three competitors all ran sub-9 performances, with Cooper Teare of St. Joseph Notre Dame (8:56.07) holding off Michael Vernau of Davis Senior (8:57.70) and Luis Grijalva of Armijo (8:59.98).

Nordenholz back with big ambitions

Perhaps the only disappointing aspect of the success achieved last year by Albany star Sophia Nordenholz at the final Dublin Social Distance Fiesta was that more people weren’t allowed to be there to appreciate her record-setting double.

Nordenholz produced meet records by clocking 4:53.26 in the 1,600 meters and 10:24.23 in the 3,200 meters in May and the Washington commit returns to defend both titles against strong challengers in each race.

The last female athlete to win twice in the Dublin Distance Fiesta 1,600 was former Sonora standout Cassi Land in 2015 and again in 2018.

Maryann Gong of Granada was the last female competitor to triumph in consecutive years in the 1,600 in 2012-13.

Monte Vista graduate Brooke Starn was the last female competitor to win multiple times in the 3,200 at the meet, securing back-to-back titles in 2013-14.

Nordenholz ran 10:05.91 at the Arcadia Invitational last year, but her only three career sub-5 performances in the 1,600 have come at the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta events last season.

Roberts ready to roll

Although Yutaka Roberts didn’t achieve the fastest 800-meter time in any of his three appearances last year at the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta, the El Camino of San Francisco standout showcased significant strides on his way to running 1:53.32 at the Central Coast Section finals in June.

Roberts continued to demonstrate his development Jan. 29 by clocking 1:19.53 to capture the 600-meter title at the California Winter Outdoor Championships at Arcadia High, followed by a lifetime-best 1:51.94 on Feb. 19 at a Berkeley All-Comers meet hosted by Cal at Edwards Stadium.

The 2017 meet record of 1:53.27 in the 800 established by former Bellarmine Prep star Alex Scales is well within reach for Roberts, who will also be running the 1,600 to open his schedule.

Roberts has shown impressive range from one lap to four trips around the oval, and a personal-best effort in the fastest section of the 1,600 could be all the momentum he needs in order to secure the 800 record.

One of the most underrated doubles of the entire California prep track and field season last year was Roberts winning both the 400 and 800 championships at the Central Section finals, clocking 49.56 and 1:53.32 less than 20 minutes apart.

Thomsen trying another tough triple

Hanne Thomsen, a freshman at Santa Rosa Montgomery, has already completed an 800, 1,600 and 3,200 triple earlier this month and is scheduled to tackle all three events once more Saturday.

The reigning Division 3 state cross country champion completed the trifecta March 5 at the Big Cat Invitational at Santa Rosa High, clocking 2:18.12, 4:53.59 and 10:40.67.

The spacing of the schedule would provide Thomsen approximately five hours following the 1,600 to prepare for the 800, as well as another three hours to get ready for the 3,200.

Thomsen will be tested throughout the day, but her opportunity to compete in a fast 800 against Monte Vista junior Cate Peters, who boasts unique range from 100 to 800 meters including a 2:13.49 performance in June at the NorCal Championships at Clayton Valley High, could bring out the best of the talented ninth-grader.

Peters, who prevailed in 2:17.91 in May at the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta, is looking to become the first female competitor to repeat in the 800 since current USC standout Alyssa Brewer of California (San Ramon) achieved the feat in 2017-18, setting the meet record 2:08.99 four years ago in defending her title.

Carney aims to bolster credentials

It didn’t take long for Tamalpais senior Caden Carney to showcase his strength on the track, producing a personal-best 9:09.87 in the 3,200 meters March 5 at the Dan Gabor Invitational at Amador Valley High.

The defending Division 3 state cross country champion will look to deliver a similar performance in the 1,600 in his opening race Saturday, before attempting to challenge the 9-minute barrier at night in the 3,200.

Carney clocked 4:16.80 last season, but an opportunity to match up against Mateo Malko-Allen of St. Mary’s Berkeley, Sean Morello of Albany, Yutaka Roberts from El Camino of San Francisco, Adrian Hipolito of Madera South, Oscar Gomez of Concord De La Salle, Elijah Sullivan of Stockton St. Mary’s and rising freshman Carson Hedlund of Pioneer could bring him much closer to joining a rare group of seven sub-4:15 competitors in meet history.

Ajani Salcido of Jesuit ran 4:09.95 to produce the meet record in April, with the top three finishers all eclipsing the 4:15 barrier. Salcido clocked 4:10.51 in May, leading four competitors under 4:15.

Erik Olson of Novato had established the all-time mark of 4:17.28 in 2009, but now ranks as the No. 8 performer in meet history following last season.

McNatt primed to make big impact

Anna McNatt, a junior at McClatchy and an Eastbay Cross Country national finalist, finally dipped under the 5-minute barrier in the 1,600 meters March 5 at Sacramento State High School Classic, and it could only mark the beginning for the reigning Division 1 state cross country champion.

McNatt boasts a personal-best 10:42.89 in the 3,200 meters from last year at the Arcadia Invitational.

But her performances at two of the Dublin Social Distance Fiesta events last year didn’t provide an indication of the potential McNatt is capable of on the track.

McNatt is scheduled to square off against loaded fields in both the 1,600 and 3,200, including Brigham Young commit Riley Chamberlain of Del Oro, Washington signee Sophia Nordenholz of Albany, as well as sophomore Olivia Williams of Acalanes and freshman Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery, among many others.

Nordenholz was ninth, Williams finished 17th and McNatt placed 27th on Dec. 11 at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego at Eastbay Nationals. This will mark their first opportunity to compete head to head since.

Silver State star seeks higher stakes

Along with athletes representing the Central, Central Coast, North Coast, Oakland, Sac-Joaquin and San Francisco sections in California, one of the top competitors from Nevada is also scheduled to compete Saturday in the boys 800 and 1,600.

Kyle Ortega-Gammill, a senior at Reno High, has already demonstrated significant improvement this spring, and looks to benefit from racing several established Northern California competitors in a pair of deep middle-distance fields.

Ortega-Gammill has already lowered his fastest 800 performance by more than four seconds from last season. He has improved his strongest 1,600 effort by more than five seconds.

With Luca Bucciachio of Damonte Ranch, along with Zander Simone and Matthew Gordon of Galena, having all graduated, Ortega-Gammill has shown he can be a top competitor in Nevada Class 5A this spring.

The opportunity to race against several Northern California standouts will be beneficial for Ortega-Gammill, not only in his pursuit of personal-best performances, but also when it comes to gaining valuable experience for the postseason.

Decorated DMRs on display

The JSerra girls distance medley relay is seeking competition from up north in April at the Arcadia Invitational and a pair of potential challengers could emerge from the second girls section, with Campolindo and Monte Vista both scheduled to race.

Santa Cruz boasts the meet record of 12:07.58 from 2018 and remains the only quartet in meet history to run under 12:10, with a group highlighted by current Oregon State All-American Mari Friedman.

Monte Vista triumphed in 12:16.21 in 2016, with a lineup that included Heidi Fuhriman and Brooke Starn on its final two legs, and is seeking its first DMR victory at the meet since then. The Mustangs also prevailed in the DMR in 2013.

Sally Binder, Cate Peters, Peyton Dolan and Kinsey Pogue ran 12:21.87 for Monte Vista on Feb. 26 at the Stocking Super 7 Invitational at Ygnacio Valley High, the second-fastest time in the state this season.

Binder is entered in the 800 and 1,600, with Dolan and Pogue only scheduled to compete in the 1,600 and Pogue racing just the 3,200 before the DMR. 

Campolindo has junior Ellie Buckley and Shea Volkmer only entered in the 3,200, which should give them more than two hours in an effort to reset for the DMR.

The Cougars, who continued to demonstrate their depth by winning the Division 3 state cross country title in November, are seeking their first DMR title at Dublin since running 12:39.66 in 2012.

The boys DMR features past champions in 2019 top competitor Archie Williams, 2015 and 2017 winner Bellarmine Prep, along with Miramonte from 2013.

But the quick turnaround time from the last sections of the boys 3,200 make the potential lineups always uncertain, with it being a significant challenge for any school to approach the 2016 meet record of 10:23.93 produced by Davis Senior.

Searching for significant sombreros

The winner of the top section of all eight competitions will not only be awarded the usual commemorative sombreros from the meet, but they will also receive entry into the elite sections at the Arcadia Invitational on April 8-9 at Arcadia High, with the second-, third- and fourth-place DMR finishers all securing berths in at least the open section, but in many cases their performances could also be in consideration for the fastest races as well.

In the fast 1,600 sections, only the second- and third-place finishers will gain automatic entry to be able to race at Arcadia, along with the champions.

In the top 800 sections, just the runner-up will join the winners in earning automatic entries to compete at Arcadia.

The elite 3,200 sections Saturday will award automatic entry into the invitational races at Arcadia, with the second-, third- and fourth-place performers securing, at minimum, berths in the seeded sections in April.