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 98th CIF State Championships:

100-meter dash

Favorite: Zaria Francis, Rio Mesa. Francis extended Rio Mesa’s legacy of producing a state 100 champion to four straight decades. Now she has a chance to join Angela Burnham and Marion Jones in winning back-to-back titles. But Williams has run a wind-aided 11.17 and will provide a significant challenge.

Other contenders: Lauren Rain Williams, Oaks Christian; Celera Barnes, St. Bonaventure. Along with Francis, Williams and Barnes helped sweep the top three spots in the 60-meter final at New Balance Indoor Nationals. They also swept the top three at the Ventura County Championships and Southern Section Masters.

Sleeper: Jackie Patterson, Rancho Bernardo. After placing eighth in last year’s state final, Patterson took a big toward making the podium by clocking 11.59 at the San Diego Section Division 1 final.

200 meters

Favorite: Lauren Rain Williams, Oaks Christian. Only two athletes in high school, Allyson Felix and Candace Hill, have run faster than Williams’ wind-aided 22.44 at the Southern Section Division 4 final. She followed it up with a wind-legal 22.80 at the Southern Section Masters Meet.

Other contenders: Zaria Francis, Rio Mesa; Celera Barnes, St. Bonaventure; Ariyonna Augustine, Long Beach Poly. Francis swept both the 100 and 200 last year, but any of these challengers will need to run a lifetime best in order to defeat Williams.

Sleeper: Kaelin Roberts, Carson. Has continued to improve in the event because of her 400 strength, so expect the junior to make the podium.

400 meters

Favorite: Kaelin Roberts, Carson. Returns to the site of her 52.52 performance to win the 2014 state title. Injuries prevented Roberts from defending her crown last year, but her victory at the Arcadia Invitational was an indication she’s ready to compete again for the championship.

Other contenders: Hannah Waller, Buchanan; Carolyn Wilson, Oaks Christian. Waller is the defending state champion and placed second to Roberts at the Arcadia Invitational, with Wilson finishing third.

Sleeper: Maliyah Medley, El Toro. Her 53.74 to win the Southern Section Masters elevated the sophomore among the best in Orange County history and into a podium challenger.

800 meters

Favorite: Alyssa Brewer, California. Made a significant statement with her 2:07.71 at the North Coast Section Tri-Valley Area meet and broke the section’s Meet of Champions record by clocking 2:08.47.

Other contenders: Erica Schroeder, San Marcos; Rylee Penn, Corona Centennial; Jacquelyn Hill, Etiwanda; Morgan Irish, Palos Verdes. Schroeder is the defending state champion, with Penn and Hill also placing in the top three. Irish has made major strides in the past month, capped by winning the Southern Section Masters in 2:08.32.

Sleeper: Cassie Durgy, Huntington Beach. Durgy won the APU/Arroyo Meet of Champions and placed second in the Arcadia Invitational, but following a false start in last year’s state final, she has been motivated to get another opportunity to compete for the title.

1600 meters

Favorite: Amanda Gehrich, Tesoro. The defending state champion ran a national-leading 4:41.39 to win the Southern Section Masters meet, giving her a chance to improve on her 4:39.33 from last year’s final.

Other contenders: Destiny Collins, Great Oak; Rylee Bowen, Sonoma Academy; Annie Boos, Claremont. Collins placed second as a sophomore and third last year, looking to add a 1600 title to her 3200 win last season. Bowen won the APU/Arroyo Meet of Champions, Mt. SAC Relays and North Coast Section Meet of Champions, with Boos running a lifetime-best 4:48.95 to take third at the Southern Section Masters Meet.

Sleeper: Gabby Satterlee, Central Valley Christian. The Central Section Masters champion ran 4:49.02 and if she can make her first state track final, could be a podium contender.

3200 meters

Favorite: Destiny Collins, Great Oak. Although it will be difficult to match her 9:53.79 from last year’s final, Collins could become the first 3200 state champion to repeat with consecutive performances under 10 minutes.

Other contenders: Fiona O’Keeffe, Davis Senior and Amanda Gehrich, Tesoro. O’Keeffe is not only looking to win her first state title, but challenge Laurynne Chetelat’s program record 9:52.51 from 2008. Gehrich ran a personal-best 10:23.96 at last year’s state final and, like Collins, will attempt to double.

Sleeper: Morgin Coonfield, McKinleyville. The state leader with a 9:44.43 in the 3000, Coonfield will look to improve on her personal-best 10:20.58 in the 3200 from the Arcadia Invitational.

100-meter hurdles

Favorite: Kaylah Robinson, El Cerrito. The state leader at 13.45 rebounded from setbacks at the Arcadia Invitational and Sacramento Meet of Champions to win the North Coast Section Meet of Champions, looking to improve on last year’s seventh-place state finish.

Other contenders: Jurnee Woodward, Vacaville; Tara Davis, Agoura; Kara Awakoaiye, Bishop O’Dowd. All three have run faster than 13.85, with Woodward boasting a victory over Robinson in 13.52 at the Sacramento Meet of Champions. Davis’ toughest challenge toward capturing three state titles will be in this event.

Sleeper: Mecca McGlaston, Dublin. The 2014 state champion and last year’s runner-up has only run five 100 hurdles races after rehabilitating from surgery, but can’t be overlooked after running 13.85 at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions.

300-meter hurdles

Favorite: Jurnee Woodward, Vacaville. Placed second to Roosevelt’s Jasmyne Graham last year and has run 41.01 this season, looking to become the 14^th athlete in state history to dip under 41 seconds.

Other contenders: Breanna Bernard-Joseph, Roosevelt; Emma Kratzberg, Newport Harbor. The top two finishers from the Southern Section Masters Meet both broke 42 seconds for the first time and will look to drop again challenging Woodward.

Sleeper: Tajanique Bell, Steele Canyon. Enjoyed a huge breakthrough at the San Diego Section Division 1 final with her 41.99 and has the potential to make the podium.

4 x 100 relay

Favorite: Carson. Already set the L.A. City Section record by clocking 45.42, now has its sights set on becoming the first quartet since Long Beach Poly in 2013 to eclipse the 45-second barrier in the finals.

Other contenders: Serra. Has been waiting for the opportunity to compete against South Bay rival Carson all year and is motivated to capture the title after placing second to Oaks Christian last year.

Sleepers: El Camino Real, Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. Barring any unforeseen obstacles, each team should make the podium and could capitalize if the leading challengers make a mistake.

4 x 400 relay

Favorite: Vacaville. Delivered an impressive effort to win the Sac-Joaquin Masters title in 3:44.59. Title would be even more impressive after not qualifying for the state meet last season and just being edged for the win at the Arcadia Invitational by Oaks Christian.

Other contenders: St. Francis Sacramento, Carondelet and Mission Viejo. The other three lineups to have run under 3:47.50, all have the potential to win a championship in a balanced field.

Sleeper: Carson. Hasn’t run faster than 3:50.84 since March, but if a state team championship is at stake, with Kaelin Roberts on the anchor, expect the Colts to be in contention.