Cavemen add to legacy with 16:47.66 performance in 4x1,600 relay, No. 2 in U.S. prep history behind only American Fork’s 16:41.30 national record at the same meet in 2017; San Clemente edges JSerra in thrilling 4x800 finish by a 7:50.22 to 7:50.28 margin, with Steadman producing first sub-9 of weekend in 3,200

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

ARCADIA, Calif. – When the American Fork boys 4x1,600-meter relay team toed the start line Friday night at Arcadia High School’s Salter Stadium, they were chasing both history and their own remarkable standard.

Seven years since the Cavemen posted a national record of 16 minutes, 41.30 seconds at the same exact meet, the 2024 team looked to seize a moment where they could lower that standard on a chilly, calm night at the 56th Arcadia Invitational in Southern California.

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Rest assured, the 2017 group remains at the top, but the 2024 team is a close second.

The team of Noah Nielson, Ben Bradshaw, Ben Jaster and Daniel Simmons posted a U.S. No. 2 all-time effort of 16:47.66 to win the boys invitational section on opening night of the two-day competition.

Nielson split 4:13.85 on the first leg to open it up for the Cavemen, with Bradshaw at 4:14.53 on the second leg, Jaster at 4:09.21 on the third leg and Simmons at 4:10.06 on the final leg.

Bradshaw, Jaster and Simmons returned from last year’s winning 4xMile relay team at Arcadia, with Nielson being the newcomer this year having transferred in from Northwood High in North Carolina.

“I think sometimes we definitely expect perfection,” Nielson said. “Coming into this program, I think we’ve all learned to stop taking things for granted. This is such an incredible experience to have…I’m just so grateful to be here. These guys, they push me to be better every day.”

American Fork’s depth showed during the race as well with its “B” team of Austin Plewe, Ryker Bement, Maxwell Orr and Kaden Evans finishing third in 17:25.39. 

Marist High of Georgia, featuring Ian Gaffney, Andrew Stricklin, Liam Hanemann and Tommy Latham, ran a Georgia state all-time best 17:19.45 to finish second overall, with Latham running 4:12.94 on the anchor leg to eclipse the 2010 mark of 17:20.26 by Brookwood High.

Jonah Dawson, Rodney Sermons, Jeremiah Brown and Cameron Sermons of Rancho Cucamonga High of California ran 1:27.48 to outlast Parkland High of North Carolina in the boys 4x200 relay.

Brett Ephraim held off Alden Morales the final few meters to give San Clemente High the win over California rival JSerra in the boys 4x800 relay by a 7:50.22 to 7:50.28 margin. 

Long Beach Poly High of California, featuring Jaylen McNeil, Benjamin Harris, Julius Johnson and Xai Ricks, cruised to a 1:30.99 effort to win the boys 800 sprint medley relay.

Long Beach Wilson High of California clocked 3:27.72 to pull away from Mount Miguel High of California in the boys 1,600 sprint medley relay, with Andrew Johnson, Ky'zir Burroughs, Kaedyn Burroughs and J.T. Kraemer securing victory for the Bruins.

Jack Sebald, Darius Alberty, Cree Thomas and Will DeSpong from Brophy College Prep of Arizona dominated the boys 4x110-meter shuttle hurdle relay with a 1:01.76 effort.

In the lone individual event of the night, William Steadman of Herriman High of Utah ran the first sub-9 3,200 performance of the meet, winning section three of the boys open competition in 8:59.01.

Day one of the decathlon schedule concluded with Brevin Egbert of Sky View High in Utah in first with 3,374 points, featuring wins in the 100 (11.38) and long jump (21-1.25).