Kratzberg fourth at Arcadia Invitational

Competitors in the Saturday night invitational section of the 49th annual Arcadia Invitational track and field meet received the coveted Nike meet backpack.

This year, only Newport Harbor senior Emma Kratzberg and junior Cole Smith competed under the lights Saturday night representing Newport-Mesa in the prestigious meet. They certainly earned the slick backpack, having to deal with the slick and rainy conditions.

The Sailors were honored before the night meet even began, as longtime throws Coach Tony Ciarelli was inducted into the Arcadia Invitational Coaches Hall of Fame. After that, Kratzberg and Smith took the spotlight.

Kratzberg finished fourth in the girls’ 300-meter hurdles invitational race, in 43.59. The time was just 0.21 seconds off her personal-best set earlier this season at the Beach Cities Invitational. State leader Jurnee Woodward of Vacaville won the race in 41.29.

Kratzberg, a Colorado State commit, also finished sixth in the seeded 100 hurdles race in 14.67 seconds.

Smith was 12th in the shot put. After two fouls to start, he unleased a distance of 53-11 on his final throw. He also finished 11th in the discus, throwing 163-08.

Several local athletes also competed at Arcadia earlier Saturday for the afternoon meet. Sage Hill School senior Chance Kuehnel was a strong fourth place among 35 athletes in the 110 hurdles. Kuehnel finished second in his heat in 14.71 seconds.

Corona del Mar junior Amanda Cooper was sixth in the girls’ discus with her throw of 124 feet. The Newport Harbor distance medley relay quartet of freshman Alexis Garcia, seniors Sawyer Farmer and Erik Herrera and junior Mark Field finished 14th out of 55 teams, in 10:41.62.

Newport Harbor junior Mike Jarboe was 17th in the boys’ shot put with his throw of 48-1 1/2.

Newport-Mesa athletes also fared well in the Friday night competition. Sage Hill junior Alex Escelera tied for second in the pole vault with his clearance of 14-02, while Costa Mesa sophomore Felicia Crenshaw medaled and took third place in the discus with a heave of 127-1.

CdM’s Mason Crane, a junior, was third in the boys’ discus with a throw of 155-2. Costa Mesa junior Elliot Hachac was 30th in one of three races of the 3,200 meter open run, crossing the line in 9:53.94.

— Compiled by Matt Szabo