2026 Arcadia Invitational Preview: Stars, Storylines, and Records to Watch

The Arcadia Invitational returns in 2026 with one of its deepest fields ever, headlined by Olympic gold medalist Quincy Wilson and a national lineup loaded with record-breaking potential.

Quincy Wilson anchors Team USA during the Paris 2024 Olympics, entering the 2026 Arcadia Invitational as one of the most decorated high school track athletes in the nation. | Andrew Nelles-Imagn Images

Each spring, the Arcadia Invitational transforms the usually tranquil campus of Arcadia High School into a cauldron of anticipation and performance. With more than 3,900 athletes from across the United States and overseas, the meet has earned the moniker “The Home of National Records”. The 2025 edition produced one national record, eleven meet records, two state records and 18 performances that topped national leaderboards. As the 2026 edition approaches, the stakes feel even higher. Cut points were “extremely tough” this year and there are no alternates in the distance races, underscoring that only the nation’s best have been invited. The meet schedule once again features a relay‑heavy Friday evening followed by a packed day of field and distance events on Saturday.

Apr 6, 2019; Arcadia, CA, USA; Nico Young of Newbury Park (left) defeats Cole Sprout of Valor Christian to win the 3200m, 8:40.00 to 8:40.73, during the 52nd Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In this preview, we examine the athletes and teams who could define the 2026 Arcadia Invitational. The event has historically been a launching pad for future Olympians and collegiate stars; last year’s meet alone saw five‑star football recruit Brandon Arrington break Noah Lyles’ 200‑meter record (20.35 seconds), Servite’s sprinters sweep the short relays and the 57th edition produce feats that rippled through the high‑school season. Our 2026 preview will highlight several marquee athletes — including Quincy Wilson, Natalie Dumas, Jackson Spencer, Marcelo Mantecon, Jaslene Massey and Yevhen Zhmailo — as well as powerhouse programs such as Servite, American Fork and Niwot. We’ll also explore storylines surrounding defending champions and record chasers.

Why Arcadia Matters

The Arcadia Invitational is not just another invitational — it is a proving ground. High school athletes representing 39 states, plus Canada, England and New Zealand competed in 2025, highlighting the event’s global reach. The meet’s depth is legendary: in the 2024 3200m final, 69 athletes broke nine minutes while American Fork’s Daniel Simmons ran 8:34.96 to claim victory. In 2025, more than 650 schools earned acceptance out of over 823 that registered. The combination of quality and quantity ensures that winning at Arcadia resonates far beyond California.

For athletes like Quincy Wilson, who already holds national records and an Olympic gold medal from running on the qualifying relay team in Paris, Arcadia offers a stage to prepare for international competition. For distance runners like Jackson Spencer, the meet provides race‑sharpness ahead of the championship season. For teams like Servite and Niwot, Arcadia is a chance to cement legacies or build new ones. And for athletes like Yevhen Zhmailo, breaking a decades‑old record at Arcadia could signal readiness for the world stage.

Meet Schedule Overview

Friday Night Relays and Field Events

Friday night at Arcadia is built around relays, with the meet opening in full sprint from the first gun. The schedule is headlined by 4x200 and 4x800 relays, along with sprint medleys and shuttle hurdle relays, before transitioning into late-night distance races including multiple sections of the 3200 and the 4x1600 relays. With no prelims and limited entries, every race is a final—placing a premium on execution in one of the most competitive relay environments in the country.

Saturday’s Marathon of Events

Saturday brings a marathon of events. Field competitions such as shot put, discus, long jump and triple jump begin in the morning. Distance events follow, with the steeplechase, 800 m, mile/1,600 m and the coveted 3200 m races. There are no alternates in the distance races and scratches must be reported by coaches via email, illustrating the cut‑throat nature of the lineup. The 2025 meet saw Joseph Socarras clock a 1:47.66 800 m to set a meet record, while Niwot’s Ben Jaster finished fifth in the 2024 3200 m at 8:38.34 — benchmarks the 2026 entrants will chase.

Star Athletes to Watch

Quincy Wilson, an Olympic gold medalist and national record holder, headlines a loaded 2026 Arcadia Invitational field featuring the nation’s top high school track and field stars. | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images

Quincy Wilson (Bullis School, Maryland)

Fresh off an indoor season where he broke his own national indoor 400 m record by running 45.37 s at the 2026 New Balance Nationals Indoor, Quincy Wilson arrives at Arcadia as the nation’s pre‑eminent quarter‑miler. He has won four straight national indoor titles and lowered the national record from 45.76 to 45.37 over the past two seasons. Wilson’s outdoor résumé is just as dazzling: he ran 44.20 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2024 to set an under‑18 world best and made Team USA, subsequently earning an Olympic gold medal for his contribution in the qualifying round of the 4×400 m relay in Paris.

Storyline: Wilson’s presence raises the possibility of a national high‑school record in the 400m. He rarely competes in high school events, so his appearance is a draw on its own. Given the high level at Arcadia, he could be tested by the depth sprinters at the meet, and would hope to improve off his season best 45.97 open 400m. Wilson might also anchor Bullis’s 4×400 m or 4×200 m relays, pitting the East Coast powerhouse against California’s Servite.

Natalie Dumas (Eastern Regional High School, New Jersey)

Few athletes in the country possess the range of Natalie Dumas. At the 2025 New Balance Nationals Outdoor, the New Jersey star completed a golden triple, winning the 400 m hurdles (55.99), 400 m (51.14 ) and 800 m (2:00.11). Those performances made her one of the five fastest high‑school women ever and broke state records previously held by Ajee Wilson and Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone. Dumas still considers the 400m her strongest event, but her 800m mark hints at world‑class potential.

Storyline: In the 200m and 300m hurdles, Dumas brings one of the most complete skill sets in the country, combining elite sprint speed with high-level hurdle efficiency in a double that could quietly become one of the meet’s most impactful.

Jackson Spencer (Herriman High School, Utah)

The reigning Nike Cross Nationals champion enters Arcadia after an undefeated 2025 cross‑country season that encompassed eight victories, including national titles at both the Brooks Cross‑Country Championships and Nike Cross Nationals. Spencer’s track credentials are strong as well: he sports personal bests of 1:52.23 in the 800m, 4:02.56 in the mile, and 8:51.26 in the 3200 m. His repeated success over 5 km shows that he can handle hot early splits and still finish strongly.

Storyline: Spencer enters Arcadia as the nation’s No. 1 3200m runner (8:46.04) and a central piece of Herriman’s distance attack, competing in the 3200, distance medley and 4x1600. His combination of national-leading fitness and championship experience makes him a factor in both individual and relay races, where he could dictate pace and anchor one of the meet’s most dangerous distance squads. Sad to see he won't be competing in the 1600 as he could have potentially broken the meet record of 4:01.81 set in 2001 set by Alan Webb of South Lakes High School (VA). But track is a very strategic sport, and at times one must sacrifice early performances for later success.

Marcelo Mantecon (Belen Jesuit Prep, Florida)

The 2025–26 Gatorade Florida Boys Cross Country Player of the Year comes to Arcadia with momentum. Mantecon finished second at the Brooks Cross Country Championships and fourth at Nike Cross Nationals, while capturing the Florida 3A state championship and setting the fastest prep 5km time in state history (14:33).

Marcelo Mantecon leads a tightly packed 3200-meter field during Florida’s state championships, entering the 2026 Arcadia Invitational as one of the nation’s top distance runners. | Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Storyline: Mantecon enters Arcadia as one of the nation’s top distance runners, highlighted by a No. 2 national ranking in the 3200 (8:50.26) after breaking 8:50 as a junior. He’ll look to translate that fitness across three events—the 3200, 4x800 and 4x400—giving him multiple opportunities to impact the meet both individually and as a key piece of Belen Jesuit’s relay squads.

Jaslene Massey (Aliso Niguel, California)

In March 2026, Jaslene Massey produced arguably the most remarkable double of any thrower this decade: she won the Nike Indoor Nationalse shot put title with a throw of 54 2¾ (16.53 m) — a California indoor state record and the sixth best throw in U.S. high‑school history — and less than 24 hours later threw 188'7" (57.48 m) in the discus at the Asics Irvine Invitational. That discus mark propelled her to No. 2 all‑time in California and made her the national leader. She is a national leader in both shot and discus and predicted she may soon reach 55 ft in the shot and 200 ft in the discus.

Storyline: Arcadia is often a launching pad for elite throwers; the meet’s discus record is 185' 5, while the shot put record is 52'1¼"(set by Stamatia Scarvelis in 2014). With her recent 188'7" discus throw and 54'2¾" shot put, Massey could threaten both marks. She is also a candidate to sweep the shot and discus, which would replicate her indoor/outdoor double and cement her status as one of the most versatile throwers in high‑school history.

Yevhen Zhmailo (Lake Washington High School, Washington)

In January 2026, Ukrainian immigrant Yevhen Zhmailo shattered a 38‑year‑old U.S. high‑school indoor triple jump record at the Spokane High School Invitational, leaping 52 9½ (16.09 m). The previous indoor record of 52 7½ had stood since 1988. Zhmailo, who emigrated to the United States in 2022, improved his top speed to 6.90 s in the 60 m dash and credits his performance to his coaches and a focus on technique. He also won the 2025 Nike Outdoor Nationals and has expressed interest in representing Ukraine at the World U20 Championships.

Storyline: Outdoor triple jump records at Arcadia (51' 7½") are within range. His indoor mark indicates the capacity to exceed the record that has been standing since 2009. With Arcadia’s long jumpers and triple jumpers often doubling, his presence could elevate both competitions. It will also be notable to see how he handles media attention; as an immigrant athlete who trains in Washington, Zhmailo brings an international flavor to Arcadia.

Powerhouse Teams

Servite Friars (Anaheim, California)

No discussion of Arcadia 2025 can omit Servite’s sprint supremacy, and the Friars return in 2026 with even more experience as reinging CIF State overall champions. At the 2025 Arcadia Invitational, their 4×100 m relay team clocked a blazing 40.00 s, breaking the California state record and ranking No. 1 nationally. The quartet of Jaelen Hunter, Benjamin Harris, Robert Gardner and Jorden Wells consisted of two freshmen and two sophomores. They also set the meet record in the 4×200 m (1:24.15, previously held by St. John Bosco) and ran 3:12.33 in the 4×400 m — the sixth fastest time in the nation and a freshman national record.

Benjamin Harris separately ran 10.33 for second place in the 100, the fourth fastest time in meet history, and 21.17 for third in the 200 m. Hunter won the seeded 400 m in 47.91 and has a 47.11  personal best. Their coach Brandon Thomas — a UCLA All‑American who competed alongside legendary sprinters — also mentors sister school Rosary Academy alongside with Jonathon Gilmer.

Storyline: For 2026, the Friars are no longer an underclass squad; the sophomores are juniors, and the freshmen are sophomores. They will aim to defend their 4×100 m title and may challenge the national high‑school record of 39.76 s. Their 4×400 m team, with all four legs now a year older, could break the meet record of 3:07.40. With Harris’s 10.33 and Hunter’s 47.74 PRs, individual titles in the 100m, 200m or 400m are within reach. Servite’s presence also sets up a potential showdown with Quincy Wilson in the sprint relays. Not to mention the speedy Wells twins and emerging footbal prospect and speedster Kamil Pelovello in the mix. There is no need for extra hands in the sprints department.

Servite Track athletes pose with CIF state Track and field trophy after a dominant season, entering the 2026 Arcadia Invitational as one of the nation’s premier relay programs. | Karlie Carlson/Servite Athletic Director

Rosary Academy (Fullerton, California)

Servite’s sister school, Rosary Academy, is equally formidable. At Arcadia 2025, Rosary’s 4×100 m relay ran 45.57 s — fourth fastest in meet history — using a lineup anchored by junior Justine Wilson. Wilson posted personal bests of 11.62 s (100 m), 23.93 s (200 m) and 55.32 s (400 m), ranking among California’s top 10 in all three sprints. She finished sixth at the 2024 California state championships (54.95 s) and has grown stronger. Freshman Maliyah Collins (11.76 s, 24.18 s) and fellow freshman Tra’via Flournoy (12.34 s, 25.24 s) added depth.

Storyline: Rosary’s 4x100 returns with one of the deepest sprint cores in California, featuring multiple athletes ranked inside the state’s top 10 across both the 100 and 200. With Justine Wilson, Maliyah Collins and Tra’via Flournoy all proven at the state level, the Royals combine elite top-end speed with rare depth—positioning them as a serious threat not just to win, but to push toward all-time marks.

American Fork Cavemen (American Fork, Utah)

American Fork is known for its distance depth. The Cavemen dominated the 2024 Arcadia 3200 m, with BYU‑bound Daniel Simmons winning in 8:34.96 and 69 athletes going under nine minutes. At New Balance Nationals 2024, Simmons repeated as the 2‑mile champion with 8:38.49 (2‑mile) and placed 11th in the mile (4:07.52), according to DyeStat coverage on RunnerSpace. Teammate Ben Jaster finished fifth in the 2024 Arcadia 3200 m (8:38.34) and Noah Nielson placed second in the 2024 Arcadia 800 m (1:49.86), as reported by the same source.

The Cavemen are expected to field a strong 4×1600 m relay in 2026. They also have emerging talents to complement seasoned runner Ryker Bement, who has run 4:04 for the 1600 m. After seeing Herriman’s Jackson Spencer win cross‑country nationals, American Fork will be eager to reassert Utah dominance on the track.

Storyline: American Fork may pursue team victory in the distance relay and 3200 m events. The Cavemen will attempt to outpace Spencer and Mantecon while chasing times reminiscent of Simmons’s 8:34.96. If the meet is tactical, their depth could produce multiple finishers in the top five.

Niwot Cougars (Niwot, Colorado)

Niwot has evolved into a national distance powerhouse. The boys team made history at the 2025 Nike Cross Nationals by scoring 61 points — the lowest team score in NXN history — and winning by 36 points. Quinn Sullivan and Hunter Robbie finished fifth and sixth individually (15:09 and 15:11), with seniors Ryder Keeton, freshman Jude Ritzenhein (the younger brother of Addison) and Gabriel Marshal completing the scoring. This 1–5 spread of 56 seconds underscores their depth.

Niwot’s girls team nearly matched the boys, finishing second at NXN — just five points behind champion Wayzata. They were led by Addison Ritzenhein, who despite a fever gutted out a 32nd‑place finish in 17:59. Back home in Colorado, Addison won her third consecutive CHSAA 5A state cross‑country title in 17:08.5, the fastest all‑class time of the day, while leading the Cougars to the team title. The Gatorade Player of the Year article praises her dominance, noting that she broke the tape at the Desert Twilight Invitational and that she maintained a 4.35 GPA while serving in the school’s leadership academy.

Storyline: Niwot will likely enter the boys and girls 4×800 m or distance medley relays, as well as individual events for runners like Quinn Sullivan, Hunter Robbie, Jude Ritzenhein and Addison. The altitude‑trained Cougars excel at negative splits, which could play to their advantage if the early laps dawdle. A Niwot vs. American Fork duel in the distance relays would be compelling.

Event‑Specific Storylines

Sprint Showdowns

Arcadia’s sprint events are expected to produce fireworks. With Quincy Wilson in the 200 m/400 m and Servite’s Benjamin Harris and Jaelen Hunter in the 100 m/400 m, the sprint finals could feature an East‑West clash. Brandon Arrington’s 20.35 s meet record from 2025 sets a high bar for the 200m; Wilson’s personal best of 20.67 (outdoor) suggests he could break it. Harris’s 10.27 PR 100  from this year puts him just behind the meet record of 10.17 set by Noah Lyles in 1985.

Distance Duels

The men’s 3200 m is set up as a battle between the cross‑country titans. Jackson Spencer (Herriman), Marcelo Mantecon (Belen Jesuit), Jude Ritzenhein (Niwot) and American Fork’s top runners will vie for sub‑8:50 times. Spencer’s PR of 8:51.26 suggests he is ready to break 8:40. Mantecon, with a 14:33 5 km cross‑country PR, could be the dark horse. The women’s 1,600 m features Addison Ritzenhein, who has run 4:50 (conversion) and could challenge the meet record of 4:33.

Field and Throws

Yevhen Zhmailo’s triple jump will be one of the most anticipated field events. The outdoor national high‑school record is 53 11½; Zhmailo’s 52 9½ indoor jump indicates he could approach that mark. In the pole vault, Arcadia often produces 17‑foot clearances. Keep an eye on the high jump as well, where 7‑footers have become common.

In the throws, Jaslene Massey will attempt to double in shot and discus. On the boys side, Washington's Simon Rosselli set the U.S. No. 1 mark of 218' 7" (at the time) in the discus at Arcadia 2025. With over 30 state‑leading marks produced by California athletes in 2025, the 2026 throws could add to the record haul.

Off‑the‑Track Storylines

East vs. West Rivalries

Arcadia often becomes a battleground between athletes from the East Coast and West Coast. In 2025, JSerra (boys) almost broke the 4×800 m record and Florida’s Belen Jesuit contended for national leads. In 2026, Quincy Wilson (Maryland) and Natalie Dumas (New Jersey) will challenge California’s Servite and Rosary sprinters. Marcelo Mantecon (Florida) and Niwot’s Colorado distance contingent will test California’s distance dominance. The cross‑regional matchups provide a national championship feel.

International Flavor and Olympic Ambitions

Yevhen Zhmailo’s Ukrainian heritage and potential to represent his homeland at the World U20 Championships adds an international element to the meet. Quincy Wilson is an Olympic gold medallist via the 4×400 m relay at Paris 2024. Several athletes — such as Natalie Dumas and Jaslene Massey — project to compete in college and possibly in future Olympics. Arcadia serves as a preview for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, offering fans an early look at athletes who could be on the Olympic stage in two years.

Conclusion

The 2026 Arcadia Invitational promises to be a memorable showcase of high‑school track and field. With a schedule that prioritizes both relays and individual brilliance, the meet is poised to produce new national leaders, perhaps even national records. Athletes like Quincy Wilson and Natalie Dumas bring star power and world‑class times, while emerging talents like Jackson Spencer, Marcelo Mantecon, Jaslene Massey and Yevhen Zhmailo offer compelling narratives. Powerhouse programs Servite, Rosary, American Fork and Niwot will test each other across relays and distances.

Last year, the Arcadia Invitational produced 11 meet records and 30 California state‑leading marks. This year’s roster suggests those numbers could be eclipsed. Whether it’s a sprint duel between Wilson and Harris, a hurdles showdown featuring Dumas and Bowen‑Fontenot, or a distance battle between Spencer, Mantecon and the Niwot Cougars, the 2026 edition will deliver storylines that resonate long after the medals are awarded. For fans, coaches and athletes alike, Arcadia remains the ultimate proving ground — and on this weekend in April, the eyes of the high‑school track world will once again turn toward Southern California.