After achieving all-time global mark with 411 sub-5 efforts in same meet last season, standard could increase dramatically based on competitors expected at two-day showcase this year, which features records with 197 schools, 3,822 student-athletes and 6,107 entries across five events in California

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The Dublin Distance Fiesta, already recognized as the largest distance-only high school invitational in the United States, added its to impressive legacy last year by achieving a world record with 411 male student-athletes eclipsing the 5-minute barrier in the 1,600 meters.

That global standard has the potential to be exceeded by a significant margin Saturday at Dublin High in California, as 593 scheduled competitors in the boys 1,600 have sub-5 entry marks.

And those aren’t the only statistics that continue to elevate the two-day event into one of the most respected – and unique – in the country.

Meet director Chris Williams, head coach at Dublin High, has 197 schools expected to participate, with 3,822 student-athletes signed up to compete, accounting for a total of 6,107 entries in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, as well as the 4x800 and distance medley relays.

By comparison, last year’s Dublin Distance Fiesta showcased 3,349 student-athletes from 170 schools, accounting for 5,160 total entries.

Ashlyn Boothby, a senior at Scotts Valley, won the 1,600 and 3,200 last year, and is looking to complete the Dublin Distance Fiesta triple crown by competing Saturday in the 800.

Boothby is the top entry at 2:09.03, with Vacaville’s Khloe DeLaTorre, Kayla Towne of St. Francis Sacramento, Prospect’s Kylie Hoornaert and Tamalpais’ Emma Gardner also scheduled to compete in the fastest section.

Gardner is the top returnee in the 800 from last season at Dublin, taking third in 2:18.01.

Alyssa Brewer of San Ramon California, has held the meet record of 2:08.99 since 2018.

Hanne Thomsen from Santa Rosa Montgomery, who produced the meet all-time performance of 10:14.46 in 2022, is scheduled to compete in both the 1,600 and 3,200. Thomsen, a junior, boasts the top entry marks in both events at 4:43.42 and 9:55.31.

Riley Chamberlain, a Del Oro High graduate and member of the NCAA Division 1 national championship DMR quartet at Brigham Young, set the meet record in the 1,600 by clocking 4:46.34 in 2022. 

Eleanor Raker of Galena High in Nevada, who was second last year in the 1,600 behind Boothby in 4:55.77, is also scheduled to compete in both races, along with Archbishop Mitty’s Evie Marheineke, Martinez Alhambra’s Renae Searls, Acalanes’ Olivia Williams and Amaya Aramini of Bishop Manogue in Nevada.

Shea Volkmer from Campolindo is scheduled to compete in the 3,200 and Hoornaert is also expected to race the 1,600. Searls is the top returnee in the 3,200 field after finishing runner-up last year in 10:32.89.

Albany’s Lucas Cohen is entered in the boys 1,600 and 3,200, boasting the top seeds in both events at 4:09.97 and 9:00.24. Cohen was second in last year’s 1,600 at 4:15.37.

Sonora’s Broen Holman is expected to compete in the 3,200, taking third last season in 9:03.11.

Matt Strangio from Carmichael Jesuit set the meet record in the 3,200 in 2019 by running 8:47.97.

Strangio’s former Jesuit teammate, Ajani Salcido, established the all-time meet effort in the 1,600 with his 4:09.95 performance in 2021.

In addition to Cohen and Holman, the fastest section of the boys 3,200 is scheduled to showcase Menlo School’s William Hauser, Dougherty Valley’s Arrin Sagiraju, Crystal Springs Uplands’ Benjamin Bouie, Oakdale’s Omar Alsaidi, Westmont’s Shane Dalziel, El Cerrito’s Niall Monteleone and Concord De La Salle’s Trey Caldwell III.

Cohen and Monteleone are scheduled to be in the top section of the 1,600, joined by San Jose Pioneer’s Carson Hedlund, Menlo School’s Landon Pretre and Eli Fitchen-Young from Santa Cruz.

Homestead’s Evan Gardner is the fastest entry in the boys 800 at 1:52.47, leading a field that includes Pleasant Valley’s Jackson Hein, San Domenico’s Joaquin Foster, Stockton Lincoln’s Jeffrey Overgaard, Livermore Granada’s Aleksandr Schade and Hedlund, who is the top returning competitor from last season after placing fourth in 1:55.36.

Yutaka Roberts from San Francisco El Camino produced the boys 800 meet record in 2022 with his 1:52.34 effort.

The addition last year of 4x800 relays to the meet schedule Friday night resulted in the Clayton Valley boys and Rio Americano girls being crowned the inaugural champions and achieving records of 7:57.44 and 9:50.15, respectively.

Los Gatos, Davis Senior and Crystal Springs Uplands are expected to compete for the boys 4x800 title, with Campolindo and Bay School of San Francisco among the leading entries in the girls 4x800 field.

The DMR competitions will again conclude Saturday night’s schedule, with Campolindo looking to repeat as girls champions after clocking 12:36.04 last year, and San Francisco University and Bay School of San Francisco also expected to race.

Santa Cruz still holds the girls DMR all-time mark of 12:07.58 from 2018.

Santa Cruz also triumphed in last year’s boys DMR in 10:37.09, and is scheduled to compete again Saturday, in addition to Matilda Torres, Scotts Valley, Yosemite and Jesuit.

Davis Senior holds the meet’s longest-standing record in any event with its 10:23.93 boys DMR performance from 2016.