Simplot Games Preview!

By Richard Gonzalez, DyeStat/DyeStatCal

Frigid temperatures will surely prevail over the Idaho State University campus this weekend, but the red-hot sprint talent assembled inside the cozy confines of Holt Arena should quickly turn the facility into “Speed City U.S.A.” by weekend’s conclusion.

Led by reigning World Youth Games champion Allyson Felix and record setting dasher Natasha Hastings, elite sprint athletes from both coasts will converge in Pocatello this weekend in an all-out assault on the all-time lists at the 25th annual Simplot Games.
Toss in the presence of Donovan Kilmartin -- perhaps the most gifted versatile athlete in U.S. prep track and field history – along with record-chasing vaulter Julene Bailey, and the silver anniversary of America’s most popular indoor meet appears destined for plenty of golden moments!

The action kicks off Thursday evening, with a bevy of heats in 1600-meter qualifying and the finals of the weight providing the first-day action. Key figures in the boys 1600 final on Saturday figure to be Foot Locker national cross-country finalist Steve Shepherd of Utah, 800-meter specialist Alex McCrary of Washington (1:50.72 outdoors in 2002), and Canadians Travis McKay and Ryan Fyfe, two of their nation’s most decorated Junior (age 19-and-under) competitors. Nate Houle, a key performer in Mountain View’s (Orem, UT) national cross-country team championship, is another sensational talent in a very deep cast of standouts!

On the girls side, Californian Amanda Thornberry appears to be the one to beat, with a sub-five-minute PR already to her credit this “undercover” season. Utah’s Heidi Houle, a 2:10.10 800 star from last year could also enjoy a breakout race here. The scuttlebutt here is that Thornberry is in sharp enough fitness that goals of threatening Alicia Craig’s meet record (4:51.65) have been discussed. Houle, meanwhile, will lead her team (that includes 2:06.43 800 star Heidi Magill) in taking a serious stab at the national 4x800 outdoor record later this spring. As for the weight throwers, Washington’s Nick Owens is tabbed as the favorite after topping the latest collection identified in Bob Gourley’s national lists, with Utah’s Leif Arrhenius possibly being his main nemesis and expected to hurl the disc beyond 200 feet during the outdoor campaign. Georgian Della Clark, ranked among the top handful nationally in her specialty events, spearheads the cast of female throwers here.

The meet kicks into high gear on Friday morning, with “the rounds” of the sprint relays and girls open dashes drawing most attention. The aforementioned Felix, who stands to threaten Marion Jones’ prep national 200m outdoor record this spring, will chase victory and an USATF indoor nationals qualifying mark (she needs to run at least 24.20 to gain a berth in that world-class meet) in the deuce this weekend. Hastings is the speed demon to beat at 400 meters here, fresh off her recent prep indoor national record over 500 meters. Other hot talents here include versatile Utah wondergirl Amy Menlove and Californians MacKenzie Hill, Dianna Gooden, Ashley Freeman, Shalonda Solomon and Dominique Dorsey, all who hail from the Long Beach area and compete for the juggernaut Long Beach Wilson and Long Beach Poly programs during the outdoor campaign. New Yorkers Yendy Gilchrist and Tiera Fletcher, Pennsylvania’s sensational Tiffany Abney and Colorado’s great crew led by Bridgette Williams are others in the fold.

On the boys side, keep on eye on the relay expected relay clashes between Kansas City Elite and Transit Tech of Brooklyn. The former crew dazzling during some thrilling baton-toting efforts in last winter’s now-defunct Midwest Indoor Track Classic while the latter has been a force in battles along the Eastern seaboard the last few years. Individually, New Yorkers Javon Benjamin Melville Rogers are among the talents to watch!

Over the longer distances, Washington’s Adam Demmings and Carson Schmiett should renew their rivalry here, with several others clearly in the mix in this very exciting event! For the girls, look for Selena Sappleton to represent The Big Apple well, with a legion of entrants also sporting fine credentials. In the hurdles, Fatmata Fofanah, another New Yorker, and Abney will battle for supremacy.

Kilmartin and Bailey, a pair of home-state heroes, are heavy favorites to capture the vault crowns, with the latter aiming for her third Simplot Games title. Kilmartin, geared to break the national decathlon record in late April, will showcase his talents in the vault, high jump, and hurdles here!

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