The Sacred Heart Cathedral track and field program returned from a three-night trip to Los Angeles for the Acadia Invitational and Tiger Invitational with 13 total medals, several school records, and many more personal bests. Twenty-nine student-athletes traveled to Southern California, with 14 athletes competing at Arcadia, the country's most prestigious high school meet.

At the Tiger Invitational in South Pasadena High School, three boys ran under 11.21 seconds in the 100-meter dash, and 400-meter runner Cory Wong '26 ran a 50.38. Still, the highlight on the boys' side was a school record 42.34 4x100 meter relay that featured impressive legs from Wong, O'Bryan Flanigan '25, Keyon Tanksley '25 and Jasaun Mabrey '25. On the girls' side, Rell Gentzler '25, Maya Pfalzer '27 and Annabel Chung '28 each ran an amazing 800 meters, setting up the Irish's 4x800 relay to make some noise in the postseason.

SHC had athletes in six events at Arcadia, including Miles Cook '25 in the invitational mile, one of the top races of the meet. The boys' 4x800 meter relay finished sixth in their heat, running a 7:57.54 with an impressive 1:52.65 closing leg for Cook. The Irish girls' sprint medley relay was 7th out of 16 teams, with a team of Natalia Petkovic '26, Beya Maxfield '28, Ava Lindner '28 and Tessa Wehrle '26. Linder and Maxfield were two freshmen competing on a big stage for the first time in their high school careers.

The girls' 4x400 relay was headlined by Wehrle, who ran a 58.37 closing leg to give the SHC a fourth-place finish in their heat.

Cook's invitational mile was the last race of the trip for the Irish, and it was packed with some of the best high school runners in the country. Cook took 5th place in the race, running a 4:11.13.

The two meets were a resounding success for head coach Andy Chan, who described the trip as a storybook.

"The whole trip was like out of a storybook," Chan said. "The trip doesn't happen without our talented athletes." 

The Irish will be back in action next Wednesday, April 23, for their final dual meet of the season against Saint Ignatius at Kezar Stadium at 4pm. Come out and support the team!

GO IRISH!!