The 78th Chandler Rotary Track and Field meet graces Chandler's Austin Field again this weekend -- Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24 - to be precise.

Meet director Dave Shapiro's most recent facts and figures indicate more than 3,800 athletes, representing 160 schools will be on hand. 

Competiton opens Friday March 23 at 9 a.m. with the open invitational portion of the meet that encompasses the entire day. On Saturday March 24 two sessions are on tap. Beginning at 9:15 a.m. is the seeded invitational, which continues through late afternoon. The meet closes with the elite invitational beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m. with the top athletes from all schools and all events competing. That's where meet records are most likely to fall.

A few of the top male athletes to watch from Arizona in the elite meet per Shapiro:

Desert Edge thrower Tyson Jones, who recently cleared 70 feet in the shot to set a state record and become only the 29th U.S. high school athlete ever to clear 70 feet, is certainly one to watch. Salpointe pole vaulter Andrew Ference; Snowflake high jumper Dylan Kay; Westwood hurdler James Smith and Marcos de Niza's Carlan Naisant in the javelin deserve a long look as well.

Out of state male athletes to watch: Asani Hampton, Yucaipa, CA, top 10 nationally in the 100 meters and 200 with times of 10.40 and 20.91, respectively. The 1,600 has an array of standouts in James Lee of Silver Creek CO;Tristan Forsyth, Winchester-Thurston PA; Jericho Clevelan, Volcano Vista, NM and Kashon Harrison from Kirtland Central, NM., in the 3,200. 

The top male events considering depth of field are long jump and distances.

For the girls, top Arizona athletes are:

Liberty sprinter Asiah Fields, Queen Creek hurdler Myreanna Bebe and Chandler's Jai Gruenwald in the long jump and hurdles. 

Leading the way for girls from out of state: Tierra Robinson-Jones, Bishop O'Dowd, CA, top 10 nationally in the 400 with a time of 53.24; Ariyonna Augustine of Long Beach Poly, one of California's top sprinters in the 100; Bryn Morley of Bigfork, MT in the 1,600, has a time of 4:47 and Breanna Bernard-Joseph of East Roosevelt, CA, one of the nation's top hurdlers.

Best events to watch are the 300 hurdles, 800 and 1,600 relay.

More information on the meet can be found by going to the meet website www.chandlerrotarytm.com and to find teams go to athletic.net