Local track and field fans have an opportunity to witness one of the top collegiate high jumpers in the nation and one of the favorites to bring home the 2019 NCAA high jump title during Saturday's Chico State Distance Carnival and Twilight Invitational. And he will be competing in a Chico State uniform.
 
Wildcats high jumper Tyler Arroyo is headed back to the NCAA Championships after clearing 2.17 meters and the NCAA's automatic qualification mark. He is also the California Collegiate Athletic Association Track and Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season and fourth time in his career.
 
The senior, who finished third at last season's NCAA Championships, matched his personal record at Saturday's Stanford Invitational and finished second to Tennessee's two-time All-American Darryl Sullivan.
 
Arroyo's mark (7-feet and 1.5 inches) is currently the best in the nation at the Division II level and eighth among all collegiate athletes. Only two other Division II athletes have cleared 2.15 meters, the automatic qualification threshold.
 
The 2018 CCAA Champion was down to his final attempt on two occasions Saturday. He missed his first two tries at 2.11 meters before getting over the bar, and again got over the next height (2.14 meters) on his final attempt.
 
That set up a showdown with the bar at 2.17 meters. No drama this time. Arroyo cleared that height on his first attempt before missing three straight tries at 2.20 meters, which would have set a new Chico State record. Arroyo already ranks second in Chico State history at 2.17 meters.
 
Arroyo currently leads the CCAA's second best in the event, Porte-Joie Tshiaba of Cal State LA, by 0.1 meters (four feet).
 
 
The Chico State Distance Carnival and Twilight Invitational men's high jump is scheduled to begin Saturday at 2 p.m. Outside of Friday's 2 p.m. hammer throw, all of the action will take place on Saturday. Field events are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and track events are set to begin at 11. The day's final event is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Admission is free.