By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Here is a list of 10 of the most anticipated events Friday and Saturday at the 98th CIF State Championships:

Girls 100-Meter Dash (8:35 p.m. Saturday)

Since their showdown in last year’s state final, champion Zaria Francis of Rio Mesa and runner-up Lauren Rain Williams of Oaks Christian have sprinted side by side all throughout California, along with Idaho, New York and Washington. Francis has won in the 60-meter final at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, along with the Southern Section Masters Meet, with Williams prevailing at the Ventura County Championships. Williams has a lifetime-best with a wind-aided 11.17 and Francis has run a wind-aided 11.24. Francis is trying to join Angela Burnham and Marion Jones as the Spartans’ two-time state champions, with Williams trying to capture Oaks Christian’s first individual girls state title. St. Bonaventure’s Celera Barnes is looking duplicate the feat from New Balance Indoor Nationals by having the Ventura County standouts sweep the top three spots.

Boys 3200 Meters (10:25 p.m. Saturday)

The past two years, multiple athletes have eclipsed the 9-minute barrier and while this season might not approach the 13 individuals who achieved the feat in 2011, one of the most competitive finals in recent years should materialize. All 12 athletes who have run under 9 minutes this season are entered, with Madera South’s Eduardo “Lalo” Herrera the top returning finisher from last season after placing third in 9:02.09. Herrera has the state’s fastest time in the 3000 at 8:15.01, in addition to running 8:55.01 in the 3200, and is looking to cap an impressive career with a state individual title. St. Joseph Notre Dame’s Cooper Teare, Flintridge Prep’s Jack Van Scoter, San Luis Obispo’s Callum Bolger and Great Oak teammates Spencer Dodds and Cole Spencer are also expected to be in title contention, marking the 10^th year in a row a new champion will be crowned.

Girls 800 Meters (8:55 p.m. Saturday)

San Marcos’ Erica Schroeder is the defending state champion, but there are several challengers looking to prevent her from following Harvard-Westlake graduate Amy Weissenbach and former Clovis North standout Mikaela Smith by winning consecutive titles. Schroeder has the fastest personal best of any athlete competing with her 2:07.08 from last year’s final, but California High sophomore Alyssa Brewer ran 2:07.71 at the North Coast Section Tri-Valley Area meet and has emerged as a legitimate threat to become her section’s first 800 state winner since 1993. Schroeder, Corona Centennial’s Rylee Penn and Etiwanda’s Jacquelyn Hill – the top three finishers from last year – all return, so expect another thrilling battle.

Boys High Jump (8 p.m. Saturday)

Only once in the past six years has the champion cleared 7 feet and not since 1997 have multiple athletes produced 7-foot clearances at the state final, but that could change this season, with one of the deepest collection of jumpers qualifying for the meet. JW North’s Elijah Hughes and Oakmont’s Isaiah Holmes both cleared 7-1 at their respective section’s Masters Meet, with four other individuals all having cleared 7 feet in the past year. Mt. Pleasant’s Darius Carbin captured the bronze medal last summer at the World Youth Championships and won the New Balance Indoor National title, but returns as last year’s runner-up after tying with Trabuco Hills sophomore Sean Lee when they both cleared 6-9. Alemany’s Earnest Sears and St. Francis Mountain View’s Darius Thomas are also legitimate challengers, looking to equal the success of 1997 with four athletes clearing at least 7 feet in the state final.

Girls 400 Meters (8:05 p.m. Saturday)

The past two state champions are expected to square off in an eagerly anticipated rematch since the last time they faced one another at the Arcadia Invitational. When Kaelin Roberts won the title in 2014, she was representing Long Beach Poly, but after missing her sophomore year with injuries she is looking to secure another championship competing for Carson. Buchanan senior Hannah Waller, who finished third behind Roberts two years ago, captured the title last season and is looking to become the first repeat champion since Rancho Cucamonga’s Sa’de Williams in 2005-06 and only the second Central Section athlete to win multiple 400 titles. Roberts rallied to win their Arcadia showdown by a 53.47 to 53.62 margin, but expect both athletes to be closer to Roberts’ winning time of 52.52 as a freshman.

Boys 300 Hurdles (9:25 p.m. Saturday)

For the 11^th consecutive year, there will be a different champion, following the graduation of Carson’s Justin Collins and one of the most balanced fields in recent years is ready to contend for the title. Buchanan’s Paramveer Chohan was fourth in last year’s final and is looking to become the first Central Section winner since 2002, but another state finalist returns in Concord De La Salle’s Jonathan Harvey looking to follow former teammate Marquis Morris, who won the championship in 2014. La Quinta’s Koty Burton, Pleasant Grove’s MacLean Conner, Rancho Verde’s Cameron Samuel, St. Francis’ Jasher Foster, Cosumnes Oaks’ Derrick Griffith and Upland’s Joseph Anderson could all factor in the title chase.

Girls Pole Vault (6:15 p.m. Saturday)

The top two prep vaulters in the country and two of the top three in state history will finally square off, with Anaheim Canyon junior Rachel Baxter competing against Pacific Collegiate senior Erika Malaspina. Baxter set the state record by clearing 14-2 at the Arcadia Invitational, then elevated that mark to 14-3 at the Orange County Championships, a height that is the second-best 17-under clearance in the world this year. Malaspina set the Central Coast Section finals record by clearing 13-9, improving to No. 3 in state history behind Baxter and Castilleja’s Tori Anthony, who set the state finals record of 14-1 in 2007. Never before at any U.S. high school state meet have two female vaulters cleared 14 feet in the same competition. Baxter was second and Malaspina placed fourth at last year’s finals.

Boys Long Jump (8 p.m. Saturday)

Not since 2009 have two athletes eclipsed the 25-foot barrier in the final, but a spectacular showdown involving Oakmont’s Isaiah Holmes and Bakersfield Ridgeview’s Lawrence White could energize the crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Holmes became one of the top 10 performers under all conditions in state history with his wind-aided 25-11.5 at the Sac-Joaquin Masters and now he’ll face the challenges of several Central Section stars, including White, Bakersfield Liberty’s Dennis Hicks and Bakersfield’s Felix Cooper Adamo. Kingsburg’s Emmett Brooks, second last year with a leap of 24-1, also returns, but only has a season best of 23-5.

Girls 4 x 400 Meter Relay (10:40 p.m. Saturday)

With the state team title likely hanging in the balance, several scenarios could unfold with Carson, Vacaville and Buchanan all potentially in contention and competing in the race, with St. Francis Sacramento, Mission Viejo, Carondelet and Calabasas trying to steal the spotlight. St. Mary’s Berkeley is also looking to defend its title following a third-place finish at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions. Vacaville ran a state-leading 3:44.59 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters and is looking to become the first team from its section to capture the state title in this relay. The North Coast Section swept the top three spots with St. Mary’s, Deer Valley and Carondelet at last year’s final, ending a run of dominance for Long Beach Poly and Serra, who combined to win six titles from 2008-14.

Boys Discus Throw (6:30 p.m. Saturday)

Although defending champion Charles Lenford of Oceanside will be competing at the state meet, it will be in the shot put and not the discus, assuring a fifth athlete will win the title in as many years. Not since Clovis East’s Willy Irwin in 2010 has the champion surpassed 200 feet, but there are several potential candidates this season. Esperanza’s Bronson Osborn and Westlake’s Kyle Carrillo have already achieved the feat, with Great Oak’s Seth Knowlton and Buchanan’s Jacob Wilson nearing the milestone. Osborn won the Mt. SAC Relays, Carrillo prevailed at the Southern Section Masters, Wilson secured the Central Section Masters title and Knowlton was the top California athlete at the Arcadia Invitational. At last year’s state final, Osborn was third, Carrillo placed sixth and Wilson finished 11^th.