By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Here is an event-by-event breakdown of what to look for in these girls track events Friday and Saturday at the 97th CIF State Championships:

100-meter dash
Favorite: Rio Mesa's Zaria Francis. The junior has wind-legal and wind-aided times faster than anyone in the field of 11.24 and 11.41, but ran only 11.59 at the Southern Section Masters meet. She could produce a state title for Rio Mesa in a fourth consecutive decade, following Angela Burnham, Marion Jones and Valexsia Droughn.
Other contenders: Oaks Christian's Lauren Rain Williams. She defeated Francis at the Southern Section Masters meet and has split four head-to-head meetings this year. No Oaks Christian girl has won a state track title, but this could be one of many for Williams.
Sleeper: Mission Hills' Suzie Acolatse. The UCLA signee a wind-aided mark of 11.46 and wind-legal time of 11.53 and is the top returning athlete after a third-place finish last year.

200 meters
Favorite: Oaks Christian's Lauren Rain Williams. Undefeated at this distance all season, including a wind-aided 22.69 at the Southern Section finals, she is looking to produce a wind-legal effort under 23 seconds on her way to a championship.
Other contenders: Rio Mesa's Zaria Francis. How well Francis runs the curve will determine if she can keep up with Williams down the straightaway. Has a wind-aided best of 23.31 and a wind-legal PR of 23.60.
Sleeper: St. Bonaventure's Celera Barnes. A training partner of Francis, she could final in the 100 and 200, and will be a threat to make the podium, along with Mission Hills' Suzie Acolatse and Oaks Christian's Schuyler Moore.

400 meters
Favorite: Buchanan's Hannah Waller. The junior standout has been the state leader since running 53.57 at the Arcadia Invitational, but expect her to reach another level in the final after capturing four gold medals at the Central Section Masters.
Other contenders: Santa Rosa's Kirsten Carter. The talented freshman ascended to No. 2 in the state with her come-from-behind victory in 54.24 at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions, edging Deer Valley senior Briana Guillory.
Sleeper: Roosevelt's Taylor Smith. Instrumental in the success of the Mustangs' 4 x 400 all season, Smith ran a personal-best 54.46 to win the Southern Section Masters meet.

800 meters
Favorite: Clovis North's Mikaela Smith. The USC signee is looking to become the first Central Section athlete to win three straight titles in this event and the fourth female in state history to accomplish the feat. Has been the state leader since she ran 2:08.44 at the Arcadia Invitational.
Other contenders: Buchanan's Hannah Benoit-Bucher. The Arizona State-bound star is the most familiar with Smith, having placed third in last year's state final, in addition to competing against her three times in the past month.
Sleeper: Golden Valley's Bianca Tinoco. Along with Rancho Bernardo's Nia Akins, both juniors have demonstrated the ability to close well, they just can't let the leaders get away on the first lap.

1,600 meters
Favorite: Great Oak's Destiny Collins. Her combination of strength and speed speaks for itself, having run 4:23.85 for 1,500 meters at the Steve Scott Invitational and 4:40.34 in the 1,600 at Southern Section Masters. Has some unfinished business in this race after placing second in the state final last year.
Other contenders: Tesoro's Amanda Gehrich. Has put together one of the most consistent seasons of any runner in the state, ranking first or second in the 1,500, 1,600 and mile, but will need to match Destiny Collins' early pace to have a shot on the final lap.
Sleeper: Palisades' Marissa Williams. The L.A. City Section record holder hasn't been in a competitive field since the Mt. SAC Relays, but won't back down from a fast early pace. Has the leg speed to deliver a strong kick at the end.

3,200 meters
Favorite: Davis Senior's Fiona O'Keeffe. Ran the second-fastest time in the country this year with a 10:00.85 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters and will look to challenge school record of 9:52.51 run by Laurynne Chetelat at the 2008 state final.
Other contenders: Great Oak's Destiny Collins. Clocked an impressive 10:11.64 at the Southern Section Masters and will finally get to square off against Fiona O'Keeffe in a race that could produce two girls under 10 minutes for only the second time in state history.
Sleeper: Campolindo's Brighie Leach. Depending on the pace of the race, the senior has demonstrated she can negative split the second 1,600 and finish in impressive fashion like she did to run 10:20.36 at the Arcadia Invitational, right behind Saugus' Samantha Ortega (10:20.25).

100-meter hurdles
Favorite: Roosevelt's Jasmyne Graham. Has been the national leader since running a wind-legal 13.21 at the Arcadia Invitational and has plenty of motivation after finishing second last year.
Other contenders: Dublin's Mecca McGlaston. The defending state champion missed the majority of the regular season with injuries, but has continued to progress throughout the postseason, running a wind-legal 13.72 at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions.
Sleeper: Agoura's Tara Davis. Has the best wind-legal time in the field aside from Graham and McGlaston at 13.73 and could medal in three events, along with the long jump and triple jump.

300-meter hurdles
Favorite: Vacaville's Jurnee Woodward. Produced the No. 2 time in the country at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters meet with her 41.10, the second-fastest effort by a sophomore in state history.
Other contenders: Bakersfield Liberty's Morganne Hill. The Washington signee was fourth in last year's state final and held the state lead with her 41.76 at the Central Section Masters and has a victory at the Arcadia Invitational, a race that included Woodward.
Sleeper: Roosevelt's Jasmyne Graham. Although she is much more comfortable in the 100 hurdles, the USC-bound talent is also unbeaten this season in the 300 hurdles and has run 41.92 at the Mt. SAC Relays.

4 x 100 relay
Favorite: Oaks Christian. The state leader and U.S. No. 2 at 45.47, the Lions have been dominant this season and are a significant favorite to capture the title, which would give Oaks Christian both boys and girls 4 x 100 championships, having won the former in 2011.
Other contenders: Upland. Has continued to drop time this season and boasts the No. 3 mark in the state at 46.06, but will need to establish a lead over Oaks Christian before the anchor leg to hold off Lauren Rain Williams.
Sleeper: Serra. With Jaela Williams and Jasmin Reed, the Cavaliers shouldn't be overlooked, especially after a season-best 46.27 at the Southern Section Masters meet.

4 x 400 relay
Favorite: St. Mary's Berkeley. Produced a state-leading and U.S. No. 7 3:43.97 at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions and will rely on UCLA-bound Chloe Jenkins on the anchor in an attempt to bring home its first state relay title.
Other contenders: Oaks Christian and Roosevelt. Both have been state leaders and feature impressive anchor legs, which could square off in a thrilling finale. Oaks Christian's Lauren Rain Williams could be pursuing four gold medals and the state team title could also be decided in this race.
Sleeper: Carondelet. Has been the state leader this season and has run under 3:47 twice, so along with host Buchanan, expect them to be in medal contention.