In the California youth club scene, the Pacific Coast Shockwaves Invitational is a big deal, and it continues to gain national momentum each year as more top young athletes and programs add it to their summer track and field schedule. 

In 2018, it stacks up comparably to other stalwart events such as the Hershey Junior Olympics, drawing more than 2,000 athletes across 5,000 entries. This year, the field expanded to welcome 110 teams from states as far away as Washington, Oregon, Texas, Nevada, and Arizona.  

Watch the 2018 Pacific Coast Shockwaves Invitational LIVE on FloTrack!

Starting today and running through Sunday, Cerritos College’s Falcon Stadium will welcome competitors from the 7-8 age group through 15-16, and among them will be several national age-group leaders and returning champions. 

Here are a few of the many talented athletes to watch:

Yamilet Lopez | Girls 9-10 Division

Pacific Coast Shockwaves, California

10-year-old Yamilet Lopez enters the meet as the only athlete to crack the five-minute barrier in the 1500m—an accomplishment she added to her resume just last weekend as she finished in 4:58.73 at the LA Jets 34th Invitational. She’ll also test her speed at this meet in the 400m, where she doesn’t own the top seed, but still ranks ninth out of 142 entrants. 

Noah Roberts | Boys 9-10 Division

Quicksilver Track Club, Arizona

After capturing gold in the 100m, 200m, and long jump competitions as an 8-and-under competitor at the Kansas Junior Olympics last summer, Noah Roberts, now 9, is aging up to the next division. He enters the meet ranked third in the long jump, third in the 400m, and sixth in the 100m. 

Reese Gentry | Girls 11-12 Division 

Valley United Track Club, California

In the 1500m racewalk, 12-year-old Reese Gentry’s seed—6:54.86—stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the competition, separating her from the next-closest entrant by nearly two minutes.  

Everett Capelle | Boys 11-12 Division

South Orange County Wildcats, California

Entered in the 3000m, 12-year-old Everett Capelle has fixed his gaze on the decade-old Pacific Coast Shockwaves Invitational meet record of 9:38.52, set by Chris Dominic in 1998. With a seed time of 9:44.97, he could very well do it with the right conditions.