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2008 Simplot Games

Idaho State University, Pocatello ID
February 14-16, 2008

DyeStat on-site with Rich Gonzalez, Dave Devine
Mike Kennedy, Marc Davis and John and Donna Dye


Girls Previews

Outstanding showdowns in pole vault and hurdles.


By Mike Kennedy

60 METERS

This event brings together the top two sprinters in the nation at 55 Meters. Brianna Hubbard Mundys Mill (Jonesboro, Ga.) has run the top two times in the nation, 6.90 and 9.93, at the Ed Temple Invitational. Hubbard has also run 7.48 for 60 meters in winning the KTC Invitation in Kentucky to rank No. 4 in the nation. She lost the latter part of her high school season last year but came back to win the USA JO Intermediate division in 11.53. Sophomore Ashton Purvis (St. Elizabeth, Oakland, Ca.) won the MLK Run for the Dream meet in Fresno at 6.94 after running 6.93 in the prelims to rank No. 2 in the nation. She has also run 7.50 for 60 meters in finishing second in the Washington Open and ranks No. 5 in the nation. Last year she won the State meet in 11.41 and then went on to place seventh in the World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. She will get a chance to move up next year as she will be eligible for the World Youth Championships in Italy in 2009. She was also the State champ in the 200 in a wind-aided 23.24. Her legal best was 23.43. A name to keep an eye on is Aaliyah Brown, a seventh grader from Illinois. She has already run 7.18 for 55 meters and last year won the AAU JO Midget Division 100 in 12.10 and the 200 in 24.63. Also watch for Akawkaw Ndipagbor of Poly (Long Beach), who ran 7.24 for 55 meters in the MLK Run for the Dream. She was the USA JO Youth champion in 11.98 and 24.21 as an eight grader. Loudia Learman of Canada has run 7.48 for 60 meters and should contend for a medal. Dahlys Marshall of Valley Christian (San Jose) has run 7.67 for 60 meters and last year ran 11.96.

200 METERS

Last year sophomore Ashton Purvis of St. Elizabeth (Oakland) was fourth here in 24.05 and then went on to set the freshman indoor record of 23.55 in New York. Outdoors, she won the State meet in a wind-aided 23.24 and set a personal legal best of 23.43. In the Summer she placed fifth in the World Youth Championships in 23.89. This year she won the Washington Open indoor meet in nation-leading 24.05. on an oversize track. Nyosha Bryant of Harding (Charlotte, N.C.) has run 24.81 to win the KTC Invitational in Kentucky on an oversized track. Outdoors, she was second in the State 4A at 24.15 and had a best of 23.88 with no wind gage. Brianna Hubbard of Mundys Mill (Jonesboro, Ga.) has not run an indoor 200 but last year after not running in the State 5A final she was fourth in the USA JO Intermediate Division in 24.23. Freshman Akawkaw Ndipagbor of Poly (Long Beach) has not run an indoor 200 but last year won the USA JO Youth Division 200 in 24.21. Last year Angele Cooper of Wilson (Long Beach, Ca.) was third in the Moore League finals with a personal best of 24.29. Aaliyah Brown, the seventh grader from Illinois, has run 25.37 indoors but last year won the AAU JO Midget Division outdoors with a 24.63. Atiya Harvey, an eighth grader from Union City (Ca.), was third in the USA Nat. JO Youth Division last year with a 24.63.

400 METERS

Like the Boys event, this race should cook. Jasmine Joseph of Poly (Long Beach) was the 2007 State champion in 53.15, to make her No. 5 in the nation. However, she had not been on the boards this year. Natalie Stewart of Spanish Fork (Ut.) was third here last year in 54.92 and was second in the State 5A meet in 55.21. Two weeks later she was second in the Great Southwest Invitational at 53.77. Natalie Stewart’s sister, Nachelle, won the State 5A meet in 54.78. Junior Angelica Weaver of Rancho Cucamonga (Ca.), who has amazing versatility running quality times from the 800 down in all events, was sixth here last year. She was also sixth in the State meet in 54.96 and then won the USA JO Intermediate Division in 54.36. Angele Cooper of Wilson (Long Beach) was fourth here last year before finishing third in the State meet in 54.50. Two other runners to watch are Kristen Houp of Valley Christian (San Jose), who was second in the Central Coast Section meet in 55.82, and Kellie Schueler of Summit (Bend, Or.), who was the Oregon State 5A champion in the 100, 200 and 400, where she had a best of 56.06.

800 METERS

Sophomore Jordan Diaz of Leigh (San Jose) was second last year with a 2:16.01 but she faces a real battle if she is to match that performance this year. She placed eighth in the state meet in 2:13.03 and had a best of 2:11.97 in 2007. Anja DiSiena of Fountain Valley (Ca.) has not raced indoors but was third in the State meet in 2:09.54. Brazile Clark of Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland), another runner without board experience, could not get to the State final despite running 2:13.32 in the prelims but came back the next week to win the Open race at Golden West in 2:11.75. One runner with extensive board experience is Charlene Lipsey of Hempstead (N.Y.) she has run 1:32.82 for 600 meters and 2:12.40 for 800. Here best mark outdoors in 2007 was 56.78 for 400 meters. Chloe Calton of Ogden (Ut.) was second in the State 3A meet at 2:14.17 and had a best of 2:13.86. Danielle Kendall of Canada, who was seventh her last year, has a best of 2:14.76. Senior Carli Blankenship of Cody (Wy.) was third here last year and ran 2:15.90 to win the 4A State meet in 2007.

1,600 METERS

Junior Candace Eddy of Davis (Kaysville, Ut.) was second last year in 4:58.77 and then went on to finish third at Arcadia in 4:49.77 for a mile and win the State 5A title with a 4:54.38. She also won the State 3,200 in 11:07.54. Freshman Cindy Huang of Lynbrook (San Jose) had best of 2:14.61 for 800 and 4:48.73 for 1,500 meters in 2007. Sarah Yingling of Mountain View (Orem, Ut.) finished fourth here last year.

3,200 METERS

Elizabeth Briasco of Queens Science (Jamaica, N.Y.) was second last year and should again face solid competition. This year she has run 4:43.06 for 1,500 in the Colgate Games and last year she ran 10:12.84 to win in the 3,000 USA JO Intermediate Division. Her main competition should come from: Sarah Callister of Ogden (Ut.), who ran 4:48.10 to place seventh in the Great Southwest and 11:07.55 to place second in the State 3A race; Junior Nicole Nielsen of Borah (Idaho Falls, Id.), who was the State 5A champion and had a best of 5:00.73 and also win the 3,200 in 11:07.98; Caitlin Stone of Sentinel (Missoula, Mt.), who has run 5:02.63 for Seeley-Swan (Seeley Lake, Mt.) last year; and Natalie Haws of Davis (Kaysville, Ut.), who ran 11:04.91 at Arcadia last year.

60-METER HURDLES

An outstanding event on the track with the top three outdoor hurdles in the nation entered.. Senior Jacquelyn Coward of set the nation indoor record of 8.17 for 60 meters at the KTC meet in Kentucky last year and also ran 7.67 for 55 meters to rank her third on the all-time list. She is the national leader in both event this year at 7.81 and 8.35. She then was third in the U.S.A. Junior Nations in a wind-aided13.17 but earlier had run a legal 13.17 to rank equal No. 4 on the all-time list. Vashti Thomas of Mt. Pleasant (San Jose) ranks No. 2 in the nation in the 55 hurdles at 7.87 and No. 3 in the 60 hurdles at 8:52. Outdoors last year, on a magical evening at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento she won the State meet in 13.03 to set a national high school federation record in the 100 hurdles and rank No. 2 on the all-time list. She placed fifth in the U.S.A. Junior nationals in 13.42. Julian Purvis of St. Elizabeth (Oakland) won the Washington Open in 8.50 to rank No. 2 in the nation over the 60-meter hurdles and was second in the MLK Run for the Dream in 7.91 to rank No. 3. Outdoors, she ran 13.32 to place second in the State meet and rank No. 3 in the nation and rank equal No. 12 on the all-time list. Then in the Summer she won the World Youth Championship 100-meter low hurdles in 13.41. Dahlys Marshall of Valley Christian (San Jose) ranks No. 5 in the nation in the 55 hurdles with her 7.67 at the Washington Open. Last year she ran 13.66 to in the State meet to rank No. 7 in the nation. Two surprises could come from Lauren Simpson of Canada has a best of 8.54 over the 60 hurdles and Brianna Patton of Eaglecrest (Aurora, Co.), who won the Joe Davies 60-meter invitational in 8.63.

HIGH JUMP

Both Tara Richmond of Poly (Long Beach) and Camilla Dencer of West Valley Christian (North Hills, Ca.) are entered at 5-8. Richmond best win came in placing second at the USA JO Intermediate Division and Dencer had her best effort in placing fourth at the State meet. Both cleared 5-7. Kaycee Brunel of Nampa Christian, Nampa, Id.) has done 5-7 and both Danielle O’Donnell of Canada and Aziza Baker of St. Mary’s (Stockton) are entered at 5-6.

POLE VAULT

Junior Shade Weygandt of Mansfield (Tx.) and senior Rachel Laurent of Vanderbilt Catholic (Houma, La.) have been playing ‘can you top this’ as they both move up the all-time indoor list. Weygandt, who was the winner here last year in a national freshman indoor record of 12-9, opened up with a 13-7 at the Vault summit to improve her indoor best by one inch and remain No. 4 on the all-time list. Laurent then cleared 13-7 ¼ to win the State qualifier meet and move into fourth all-time. Weygandt answered with a 13-8 clearance at the Trojan Games in Enid (Ok.) to retake fourth on the all-time list. Elizabeth Stover of Longmont (Co.), a gymnast who had just taken up the event when she place third here last year at 11-9, improved all the way to 12-9 ½ outdoor in placing third in the USA JO Young Womens Division at Walnut. She has a best of 12-1 this indoor season. Lindsay Baird of South (Eugene, Or.), who had a best of just 12-3 outdoors last year, cleared 12-7 at the Vault Summit to rank No. 5 in the nation. Chelsea Barr of Nampa Christian (Nampa, Id.) was the State 2A champion and has a best of 12-2.

LONG JUMP

Defending champion Karynn Dunn of Diamond Ranch (Pomona, Ca.) won with a mark of 19-10 ¼ which turned out to be her best legal mark for the year. She had a wind-aided 20-6 ½ in the State prelims and another wind-aided mark of 19-11 ¼ to finish fourth in the final. Vashti Thomas of Mt. Pleasant (San Jose) won the MLK Run for the Dream at 19-0 ½ to rank No. 4 indoors this season. Last year she had 20-2 in the Central Coast Section semifinals to rank No. 5 in the nation and them placed third at State with a wind-aided 20-1½. Junior Andrea Geubelle of Curtis (Tacoma, Wa.) had a 19-7 outdoors last year before an injury ended her season early. Ashtyn Baltimore was third here last year in 18-7 and then jumped 19-04 ¾ to place third at Mt. San Antonio Relays and then finished sixth at state with an 18-10¼. Ciarra Brewer of James Logan (Union City, Ca.)was second at the MLK Run for the Dream at 18-6 ½. Last year she had a best of 18-10 to win the USA JO Youth Division at Walnut. Sophomore Audrey West of Star Valley (Afton,Ut.) won the BYU Invitational at 18-10 ½ to rank No. 7 indoors. Sophomore Olivia Hudson of Wilson (Long Beach) jumped 18-10 to place fifth in the USA JO Intermediate Division in 2007.

TRIPLE JUMP

Vashti Thomas of Mt. Pleasant (San Jose) was third here last year at 38-10 ¾. This year he has done 40-5 ¼ to rank No. 1 in the nation. Outdoors last spring she jumped 41-6 ½ in the Central Coast Section finals to rank No. 4 in the nation, was second in the State meet with a wind-aided 42-3 ¼ and placed third at the U.S.A. Junior National with a 41-1 ¾. Amanda Hunter of Marlborough (Los Angeles) was sixth at the Washington Open at 39-1¾ to move into seventh on the yearly indoor list. Last year she was second at Arcadia with a personal best of 41-2 ¼ and then finished eighth in the State meet with a 39-11 ¼. Freshman Ciarra Brewer of James Logan (Union City, Ca.) was third at the MLK Run for the Dream and last year outdoor she had a best of 39-3 in a U.S. Regional JO meet. Junior Alexandria White of Washington (Denver) has jumped 38-8 ¾ to win the Joe Davies Indoor meet. Last Spring Andrea Guebelle of Curtis (Tacoma, Wa.) won the XO Invitational at 38-9 1/2

SHOT PUT

Lauren Chambers of Kell (Marrieta, Ga.) was second last year at 45-3 ½ and has thrown 45-5 this season. Last year she had a best of 47-1 outdoors and this year she has already throw 47-6 ½. Brittany Borman of Festus (Mo.) had best of 46-9 outdoors last year and has surpassed that indoors this year with a 47-11. Caitlin Jordan of Union Grove (Ga.) had a best of 45-2 ½ outdoors last year but also has bettered that with an outdoor best of 46-11. Aslynn Halvorson of Butler (Charlotte, N.C.) did not better 41-0, indoors or out, last year but is already up to 44-7 ¾ with her win in the State 2A indoor meet.


WEIGHT THROW

Just like in the Boys, Throw 1 Far dominates with the top three entries and seven of the top eight. Lauren Chambers of Kell (Marrieta, Ga.), the defending champion at 51-6 has already thrown 58-8. Patrice Gates of Villa Rica (Ga.), who also threw 56-1 here last year, has an indoor best of 53-11 ¾ and an outdoor best of 54-11 ¼. Allison Horner of Lovett (Marrieta, Ga.) was third last year and has a indoor best of 50-3 ¼ and an outdoor best of 52-4. Caitlin Jordan of Union Grove (Ga.) was fifth last year and has a best of 47-0 this year.

RELAYS

Together Elite (Southern California), Teekay (Long Beach), Cardinals (San Jose), Speed City (Long Beach), Awesome Power (New York), Ft. Collins (Co.), Timpview (Orem, Ut.), Spanish Fork (Ut.) and Davis (Kaysville, Ut.) are just a few of the teams that will contest for medals in the 4 x 200, 4 x 400, 4 x 800 and Sprint medley relays




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