The Battle of the Beach Invitational, hosted by Cal State Long Beach, is attracting some of the country's top sprint powerhouses: LSU, the University of Oregon, USC, and Grand Canyon University (GCU).
To kick off the meet, USC’s Madison Whyte and Samirah Moody will line up in the women’s 4x100m and return later for the 100m, joined by teammate Christine Mallard, currently ranked 6th in the nation for D1. Whyte and Moody are ranked 1st and 3rd in the country, respectively, making this one of the most competitive sprint events of the day. LSU, ranked 4th nationally in the men’s 4x100m, is also entered.
In the 1500m, Edna Chepkemoi comes in with the fastest seed time. She holds personal bests of 4:49 in the mile and 15:39 in the 5k. NCAA Champion and World U20 bronze medalist in the 800m, Michaela Rose, is stepping down in distance to race the 400m.
The men’s 400m hurdles will be a showdown between GCU’s Daviciea McCartney, ranked 8th in D1, and USC’s Yougendy Mauricette, ranked 6th. GCU, currently ranked 9th in the nation in the men’s 4x400m, is also set to compete in that event.
USC’s Ezra French, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, will be in the long jump, while teammate Racquil Broderick, ranked 3rd nationally in the men’s discus, will compete in the throws.
In the pole vault, Johanna Duplantis, sister of world record holder Mondo Duplantis, will compete.
– Demi Marine
