10 STORYLINES TO WATCH FOR 36TH ASICS/CLOVIS INVITATIONAL

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

1. Who's No. 1?

For the first time this season, the state's top two female runners will square off when Great Oak's Destiny Collins and Davis' Fiona O'Keeffe compete at 8:55 a.m. in the championship race. Both were unbeaten this year until earlier this week when O'Keeffe took second Wednesday at the Delta League meet, but the reigning Division I state champion was no doubt conserving for the anticipated showdown of junior standouts.

2. Running into elite territory

O'Keeffe became only the sixth female in California prep history to eclipse the 17-minute barrier at Woodward Park when she won the Division I state title last year, running 16:59. Not only does she have an opportunity to improve on that mark and move closer to Sarah Baxter's 2012 course record of 16:39.7, but Collins could join her in the sub-17 sorority after clocking 17:09 at last year's state final.

3. On an accelerated course

Great Oak clocked 89:28 last year to win the Division I state title at Woodward Park, missing Saugus' 2010 course record by three seconds. Great Oak is highly motivated to take aim at that mark again, especially with favorable weather conditions for the championship race and Desi Stinger, Maiya Larsen and Kiyena Beatty joining Collins in returning from last year's state championship lineup.

4. Ready for primetime

After Collins and O'Keeffe, the girls championship race is filled with talented challengers, looking to establish themselves as legitimate all-state contenders in their test run on the Woodward Park course. Las Lomas' Chloe Hansel, Burbank's Candela Fernandez, Buchanan's Hannah Benoit-Bucher and Miranda Kennedy, Monte Vista's Brooke Starn, South Torrance's Kimberly Coscia and McKinleyville's Morgin Coonfield are among the athletes that are in contention to place in the top 10, along with Collins and O'Keeffe.

5. Going the extra mile
Several out-of-state talents have arrived at Woodward Park to challenge California's elite runners, most notably Elijah Armstrong of Pocatello (Idaho) and Kai Benedict of McQueen (Nevada) at 9:30 a.m. in the boys championship race. Central Catholic of Oregon and Southlake Carroll of Texas are also in the featured boys race. Douglas of Nevada, along with Southlake Carroll and Pocatello are entered in the girls championship race.

6. Fifteen minutes of fame

Arcadia's Phillip Rocha clocked 15:13 at last year's Clovis Invitational, but the junior has the potential to become the second Apaches runner -- joining Ammar Moussa -- to dip under 15 minutes. Rocha is among the favorites to win the boys championship race at 9:30 a.m. Rocha was third overall at last year's meet, but Stockdale's Blake Haney has graduated and Brea-Olinda's Austin Tamagno isn't competing this season at Clovis, giving Rocha the opportunity to secure his biggest win of the season.

7. Another sweep in store?

Great Oak has dominated its opponents to capture both boys and girls titles at both the Woodbridge Classic and Nike Pre-Nationals. The Wolfpack will be favored to do so again in the championship races at Clovis, with Madera South, Claremont, Central Catholic of Oregon, Southlake Carroll of Texas looking to derail Great Oak's boys -- led by Isaac Cortes and Spencer Dodds -- in pursuit of another daily double.

8. Graves, Grimes, Granada, Arroyo Grande get it rolling

Citrus Valley is competing in the large schools girls varsity race instead of the championship, which means Claire Graves -- the state's top sophomore this season -- will be the first to take the Woodward Park course at 7:15 a.m. Graves clocked 17:43 at last year's state meet to become one of the fastest freshmen in California history. The cutoff for the top 10 sophomores all-time at Woodward Park is 17:27. Granada's Megan McCandless, Arroyo Grande's Talley Hill and Beaumont's Kailie Grimes are also entered in the day's first race.

9. Measuring stick

Immanuel's Kasey Knevelbaard and La Jolla Country Day's Natalia LaSpada, two of the state's elite runners in Division V, are scheduled to compete in their respective championship races, looking to challenge themselves against athletes from the top three divisions. Nikki Iyer from Harker School and Alex Torres from Kingsburg are additional small-school stars entered in the championship races.

10. Small school supremacy

Mayfield edged Prep League rival Flintridge Prep by two points in their first showdown at the Stanford Invitational. With no regular-season league meets scheduled, their second matchup comes at 11:30 a.m. in the girls small school race. With Central Valley Christian competing in Division IV this season, expect Flintridge Prep and Mayfield to battle for the Division V state title Nov. 29 when they return to Woodward Park.