Michels, O’Connor Top Contenders at Arcadia Meet

Thirty-five athletes will represent Orange County in the 29th Arcadia Invitational track and field meet Saturday at Arcadia High. Field events begin at 5 p.m. and running events at 6.

Brethren Christian’s Steve Michels (pole vault) and Esperanza’s Kelly O’Connor (triple jump) are top-seeded participants in their events. Michels has vaulted 16 feet 2 inches this year, and O’Connor, the defending state champion, leaped 40-5 1/2 this season.

Marina’s Stephanie Heup and Katie Rorem, Foothill’s Erika Hoernig and Woodbridge’s Jennifer Thompson will vie for the girls’ pole vault title beginning at 6:30. Rorem recently broke the county record by vaulting 10-4 1/2.

Garden Grove’s Kevin Griswold will compete in the 100- and 200-meter races and run a leg on the Argonauts’ 400- and 1,600 relay teams. Tustin’s Dominique DeGrammont will participate in the 110 high hurdles and the 300 intermediate hurdles.

Edison’s Marie Philman (shotput and discus) and Kerry O’Bric (triple jump and shot) and Marina’s Sonya Bryant (shot and discus) are scheduled to compete, as is Woodbridge’s Erin Stovall in the long jump and 100.

Preceding the invitational portion of the meet is an open meet in which 1,500 athletes will compete from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.