Williams and Olsen at Their Best in Arcadia

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Running stride for stride with the strongest field she’d faced all season, Palisades High track runner Marissa Williams had a specific goal in mind at last Saturday’s 48th Arcadia Invitational: break 4:50 in the mile.

Despite entering as the state leader in both the 1,600 and 3,200, Williams wasn’t considered the favorite in either event – a testament to the quality of the  competition at one of the nation’s most prestigious prep meets – and although she didn’t cross the finish line first, Williams clocked a personal-best 4:49.23 to earn the fifth-place medal. Jordyn Colter of Cherry Creek, Colorado who will be Williams’ teammate at Cal in the fall, won in 4:45.24.

In an effort to speed up the meet, seeded and invitational runners were grouped together and Williams found herself amidst a large pack with no room to run for the first lap and a half.

“The first lap was really slow – I thought I was going to fall,” she said.

After giving her all in the mile, Williams decided not to run the 3,200, in which she achieved a personal-best 10:25.02 at Arcadia last spring.

“We were pushing each other and I didn’t want to separate too early but I felt strong at the end,” said Williams, who warmed up to the songs of Nirvana and Kings of Leon. “I really just wanted to break 4:50 so I guess I’m satisfied.”

One ecstatic spectator was Cal assistant track coach Chas Davis who watched two of his future stars in top form.

“I couldn’t be more happy – Marissa ran a very strategic race and  demonstrated the patience she’ll need at the next level,” Davis said. “You could tell she was familiar with the Californians. We return everyone and we may have one or two more girls coming in so I’m super excited.”

Williams bettered her 1,600 time of 4:50.77 at the Pasadena Games two weeks earlier and will likely compete at either Mt. SAC or the South Bay Invitational this weekend.

Pole vaulter Alex Olsen was on her way to the Coachella Music Festival when she found out a day before that she was entered in the Open Elite Division. She turned around, headed back, and despite twisting her ankle in warmups, cleared a personal-best 11 feet, one inch to tie for 13th place.

“I wanted to PR by more than I did, but this was last minute and it’s my first time here,” said Olsen, who trains two or three times a week with UCLA Coach Anthony Curran. “I’m hoping to do well at state and 12 feet is my goal.

Starting at 10-1, Olsen made 10-7, then cleared 11-1 on her third and last attempt. She came close on her third try at 11-7. Her previous best was 10-11.89 inches two weeks before when she won the Pasadena Games.

“Anthony has helped with everything, especially getting me to turn in the air more,” said Olsen, who wants to continue vaulting in college, her top choice being Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Olsen was introduced to the sport as a freshman at Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Arizona. “I was trying out for track and the coach asked ‘Do you want to try the pole vault?’ and I asked ‘What’s that?’”

Olsen cleared 10-6 to win the City Section title last season and is hoping to repeat.

“My goal is to win City again and break the school record this year,” Olsen said.

Winner Jenny Wilson of Clovis Buchanan and runner-up Sierra Emrick of Morro Bay both cleared 12-1 to match the Open Division record at Arcadia set by Robyn Morioka of West Torrance in 2010 and equaled by Palisades’ Jamie Greenberg in 2012.

Fairfax Relays

Palisades traveled to Fairfax last Thursday for the Western League Relays and posted impressive results.

Shane Brouwer won the boys varsity 2,000 meters in 6:06, Ben Hamer was second in 6:13 and Connor Smith and Jakob Pollack tied for third at 6:14. Gabe Fuligni and Finn Cawley (both 6:27) were second and third in the JV race and Jake Greanias was fourth in 6:29.

Palisades’ boys 4×100 varsity relay won in 43.5 seconds and the JV team took first place in 46.28. The boys varsity sprint medley relay was second in 3:42.2 and Christian Fong was fourth in the varsity boys 110 hurdles in 19.63.

Shannon Lee won the girls varsity 2,000 meters and Emma Ulfvengren was third in 7:41. In the JV race, Kimia Samandi took first place in 7:34, Ariel Pollack was second in 7:38 and Anna Bohuny was third in 7:58.

Kendal Lake won the girls varsity 300 hurdles in 43.66 and Sophia Rothenberg won the JV race in 51.30.

The girls varsity 4×100 relay was second in 52.55 and the JV was second in 57.16. sprint medley relay  was second in 4:28.62.

Palisades’ 8×200 relay took first in 3:24.4 and the 8×800 won in 19:16.9.