Simplot Games Event Update

Idaho - Simplot Games 2013
Jackson Lander
<p> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;">Back In&nbsp;</span><u style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;">1978</u><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;">, Simplot Games was a small, regional meet with 600 athletes from six, Western states. Today,&nbsp;</span><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">thirty-five years later</strong></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;">, participation includes approximately 2,000 athletes from all over the United States and Canada. Here&#39;s a taste of what to see at this years Simplot Games.</span></p>

 

Saturday at Simplot…

The officials are dressed in Red Blazers, spikes are allowed on the track today and the final heats are set from yesterday’s prelims!!  New National marks were set today in several events (Alexa Harmon-Thomas, Lawrence KS just tied the National Record in the Girls High Jump with a 5’-10” jump!), and many TOP 5, TOP 10 marks were set!! (MileSplit Elites).  Here's a quick recap of some of the races;

60m Dash
Girls: Marybeth Sant ran a top 5 time in the nation with a 7:42!  It was close, as second place finish was 7:45 and a tie for 3rd between Ky Westbrook and Zainab Zanni at 7:47!
Boys: Taylor Tatum runs an impressive 6.73 which places him 3rd fastest in the nation today!  Off to ASU next year, he hopes to run a 10.20 this year outdoor!

60m Hurdles
Girls: Sashsa Wallace from Oakland CA runs a great 8.33 for the win.
Boys; Junior Tony Brown of Beaumont TX sets a new meet record, but moreso sets a top national mark of 7.76 in the 60H! 

200m
Girls: Finals:  Gabriella Cantrell ran a strong 24.52 to win the girls 200m.  Coming off ankle surgery, she’s healed and ready for outdoor!  Heat 1: winner Imai Pearson of Long Beach finished easily with a 25.74.  Heat 2: winner Emily Romo of Centennial, Auora CO shaved off over a second from yesterday’s prelims outkicking her opponents on turn 3.
Boys: Finals:  Alexander Mead ran a 21.70 placing him top 5 in the nation today!  Heat 1: winner Isaiah Bernard from the New Image Training Group of LA had a great run at 22.32 unofficially.  In Heat 2: Daniel Tellier ran a 22.88 (also from New Image), with a 22.88.  Levi Hagen of Team Idaho finished 3rd with a 22.97.

400m
Boys: Finals: Josh Wallin ran a strong race with a PR of 48.49, which ties him for 6th in the Nation.  Heat 1: Ronny Hall finished with a 49.95 over a second better than yesterday and in Heat 2:, Clay Lambourne from Riverton, UT outkicked Jayln Mars with 75m to go to win with a 50.15.

Girls: Finals: Chimere Ezumah ran a 56.18. Heat 1: Gertrude Martin from Gardena Core Speed shaved almost 2 seconds off yesterday’s time with a 59.68.  Heat 2: winner Ellie Heiden from Kennewick, WA finished 58.77 easily outkicking the nearest competitor.

 

800m
Boys: Finals:  Favorite Tyler Smith from Canada went out fast and Jordon Wallin followed and made it a two horse race!!  Wallin held on for 650m, then Tyler pulled away finishing in 1:51.46 (Wallin PR’d with a 1:56.26).  Heat 2: winner Michael Quick from Canada got off to an early lead.  Behind him lots of pushing was going on and the field eventually spread-out.
Girls:  Shea Martinez of Davis Track ran a fantastic National Best mark of 2:09.14!

4x800
Girls: Top of Utah ran a 9:36.16 to win the girls.  Heat 1: The Girls at Leduc Track Club easily won the girls 4x800 in 9:51.51 (2nd place Cody, Wy came in at 10:08). 
Boys: Leduc Track Club ran a fast 8:03.23 easily defeating Ric Rojas Running with an 8:06.93

Girls Pole Vault: Megan McCabe from Centennial, Auroa CO won with a height of 11’-9”.  Team Idaho’s Aleksei Dingle (Boise ) Allison Jeffries  (Eagle) both cleared a height of 10’-9” to take 4th/6th respectively.  NOTE:  Aleksei is a first year pole vaulter!

1600m
Girls: Finals:  Sarah Feeny easily won with a 4:56.26.  Heat 1: winner Alyssa Snyder from Coalville, UT won easily with a 5:11.57.  Cheryn Trapp from Canyon Track  Club, Nampa, ID finished 2nd with a 5:21.75.  Heat 2: winner Sophie Baird from American Fork UT won with a 5:16.77.  Louisa Serpe and Sara Christianson from Team Idaho finished 4th and 8th respectively.
Boys: Finals:  Ricky Faure ran a 4:20.22 and just edged out Jake Heslington of Orem UT with a final kick.  Heat 1: winner Owen Gardner from Springville, Utah ran a 4:31.78 shaving 6 seconds from Thursdays prelims.  Heat 2: winner Ephraim Tadesse from Maple Ridge, BC won with a 4:27.69 just ahead of Skylar Williams from Davis Track Club.

1600 Sprint Medley (400m, 200m, 200m, 800m)
Girls: Warrior Express ran well with a 4:13.25 and Team Idaho finished well in 4th with a come from behind from Dana Snell  with a 4:23.43.
Boys: After a disappointing finish last year (2nd place), Team Idaho (Josh Wallin, Levi Hagen, Kade Ready, Conner Larson) won hands down with a 3:33.34! 

3200m
Boys: Tough race but Ben Saarel (UT - 9:00.62) outkicked Elijah Armstrong (ID - 9:11.48)!  Ben's finish is a top 3 in the nation!!  
Girls: Another strong finish by UT with Summer Harper winning with an 11:03.21 time.

 

High Jump
Girls: Alexa Harmon-Thomas of Lawrence KS is tied the national current mark with a 5’-10” jump!  She bested a previous jump of 5’-8” to become co-national leader!
Boys: Ben Mancuso won clearing 6‘-07”.