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2006 Simplot
Indoor Games
Girls Preview
Pocatello, Idaho
February 16-18, 2006
By Mike Kennedy
Speedsters Headline
Girls at Simplot!!
(Athletes listed below competing for clubs or unattached - schools
listed for purposes of identification only)
Knight photo Doug Speck - Collins Kirby Lee - Cruder Donna Dye
The Speed events ooze with talent at Simplot!! - Bianca Knight (Mississippi)
- Ebony Collins (Calif)
Ashley Cruder (Colorado)
Matthews-Davis photo Kirby Lee - Tarmoh Donna Dye
Sarah Matthew (Colorado) - Kristina Davis -Khrystal Carter - Jeneba
Tarmoh (all of California)
Williams photo Kirby Lee - Hilaire Doug Speck
Sa'de Williams (California) - Elaine Hilaire (Maryland) - Nachelle
and Natlie Stewart (Utah)
2006 GIRLS SIMPLOT INDOOR PREVIEW
Sprints
Last year Bianca Knight (Ridgeland, Ms.) came into the Simplot Indoor Invitational
in Pocatello, Idaho as the best freshman sprinter in the nation off her 2004
times of 11.56, 23.06 and 52.96 but after just breezing through the heats of
the 200 and 400 found her missing the elite finals in both races. Don’t
look for that to happen again. Knight recovered nicely to win the World Youth
Championship 100 in Morocco with a nation-leading 11.38 and also finish second
in the 200 in 23.33.
And after a month of indoor action, Knight has given solid evidence that she
will be even better in 2006. Entered here in the 60 meters and 200 meters, she
has show amazing consistency with a nation-leading best of 7.26, which equals
Angela Williams (Chino, Ca.) for the third best performer of all time, and other
times of 7.29 and 7.30. Her best is also places her eighth on the U.S. list.
Knight’s 2006 best of 23.44 make here equal third best prep of all-time
with Shalonda Solomon (Poly, Long Beach), set in 2004.
So, Knight is a shoe-in, right? Wrong! In order for Knight to climb to the top
of the podium she will have to defeat arguably one of the great indoor sprint
fields ever gathered in one place. There will be eight spots available in the
60 final and just six lanes in use in the 200.
Leading the challenge in the 60 are Ebony Collins (Wilson, Long Beach, Ca.),
the defending champion at 7.46, who was second to Knight at the World Youth Championships
with a personal best of 11.44, and Ashley Cruder (Eaglecrest, Aurora, Co.), who
has run 7.30, which makes her equal sixth on the all-time list. Cruder is just
the latest in a long line of outstanding sprinters coached by Tony Wells of the
Colorado Flyers. The national record of 7.19 was set here two years by Ashley
Owens (Liberty, Colorado Springs, Co.), breaking the old mark of 7.22 set by
Aleisha Latimer (Palmer, Colorado Springs, Co.) in 1997. Both runners where coach
by Wells. Also looking to make the final are Sarah Matthew (Niwot, Co.) 7.45
and 11.56, Kristina Davis (James Logan, Union City, Ca.), 11.56, Khrystal Carter
(Valley Christian, San Jose, Ca.), 11.57 and Jeneba Tarmoh (Mt. Pleasant, San
Jose, Ca.), 11.61w. Give the fact that Knight’s best of 7.26 is at sea
level; the altitude friendly confines of Pocatello could produce a second national
record in three years.
Knight, who won the B Race, last year in 23.70, should get her toughest competition
from Collins, who won the Elite race in 24.02 and has an outdoor best of best
of 23.44, Sa’de Williams (Rancho Cucamonga, Ca.) at 23.38, state champion
Carter at 23.44w, Tarmoh at 23.94i, 23.56w, Davis at 23.80, Nachelle Stewart
(Spanish Fork, Ut.) at 24.41 and Elan Hilaire (Park School, Brooklandville, Md.)
at 24.78 indoors. In addition there are at least five others capable of running
under 25 seconds if they make the final.
Halaire returns as the runner-up here in the 400 where she
ran
54.06 but to repeat she will have to handle Williams, who ran 52.35 outdoors
for the
fastest
time in the nation in 2005. Others to watch are sophomore Brianna Atkins (Rancho
Cucamonga, Ca.) at 54.97, the sophomore twins Stewart twins, Nachelle and Natalie,
dominated the long sprints in Utah as freshman placing 1-2 at state with times
of 55.11 and 55.34, Alexandra Gove (Highlands Ranch, Co.), the state 300 hurdles
champ at 42.66 and at least three or four other runners for the Teekay TC (Wilson,
Long Beach, Ca.), who are capable of breaking 57 seconds.
Richardson - Dunn photos Doug Speck - Charan Kirby Lee
Talented jumper/hurdle crew!! - Ke'Nyia Richardson (California) - Neidra
Covington
(Florida) - Karyn Dunn - Ashika Charan (both Californians)
Horizontal jumps
Three of the top four returning triple jumpers in the nation will be
in action.
Three weeks ago junior Ke’Nyia Richardson (Holy Names, Oakland, Ca.) put
up the top five triple jumps in the nation headed by at 41-8 ¾ at the
Silver State Invitational in Reno. Two week earlier Ashika Charan (Claremont,
Ca.) had the five best jumps in the nation including a best of 40-11½.
They rank 1-2 in the nation indoors. Last year, outdoors, Richardson was second
at State in 41-9 and at the USA Junior national in 42-0¾, Charan set a
personal best of 40-10 ½ in winning the USA National JO (17-18) division.
Joining those two are Neidra Covington (Boca Ciega, Gulfport, Fl.), who is the
State 3A champion in 41-6w and was fifth at the junior nationals in 40-9½.
Others to watch are Taylor Nichols (Stockdale, Bakersfield, and Ca.) at 39-4
and Tracey Stewart (James Logan, Union City, Ca.) at 39-2.
Sarah Matthews (Niwot, Co.), in addition the here sprinting talents, led the
nation last year in the long jump with her 21-2 effort in winning the Great Southwest
Invitational and has gone 19-11 indoors this season. Covington is the second
best returnee with a best of 20-1¼ in winning the National AAU JO 17-18
division. Charan was fourth at State in 19-8½w and then had a personal
best of 19-10¾w in winning the USA National JO (17-18) division. Karyn
Dunn (Diamond Ranch, Pomona, and Ca.) was the best eighth grader in the nation
last year at 19-2. Danielle Watson (Carson, Ca.) jumped 19-0 last year. Sophomore
Vashti Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose, Ca.) And Steward both jumped 18-9¾ at
the Run for the Dream Indoor Invitational in Fresno.
Hurdles
Junior Ke’Nyia Richardson (Holy Family, Oakland, Ca.), in just her first
season of serious hurdling last year, won the North Coast Section meet in a personal
best of 14.22 and then really exploded at State with a wind-aided 13.75 to finish
third. Sophomore Vashti Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose, Ca.) won the Open race
at the Arcadia Invitational with a personal best of 14.16 and was undefeated
until the State meet where she feel victim of a false start. Thomas defeated
Richardson at the Run for the Dream meet, 7.95 to 7.99 to rank No. 3 and 5 for
55 meters this season. Another sophomore to watch is Julian Purvis (St. Elizabeth,
Oakland, Ca.), who finished second in the NCS in 14.49 before placing fourth
at State in 14.05w. DeAna Carson (Wilson, Long Beach, and Ca.) was sixth at State
in 14.09w.
photo by John Dye
Alliston Stokke (California Pole Vaulter)
Vertical jumps
Two years ago Allison Stokke (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach, Ca.) set a freshman
outdoor record of 12-8, then last year improved to 12-9 ¾ indoors
had a best of 13-5 ¾ outdoors before a broken leg ended her season.
Challenging Stokke will be local favorite Annelise Bertleson (Borah, Boise,
Id.), who placed second in the USA Junior Nationals and had a best of 12-10
in 2005. Also entered with outdoor best are Tessa Fraser (Lodi, Ca.) at 11-9,
Heidi Biehl (Great Falls, Mt.) at 11-6, Aburee Stark (Oak Park, Ca.) at 11-3¾ and
Courtney Kosovich (Billings, Mt.) and Jessica Torres (Vista, Ca.), both 11-0.
Katie Gallagher is the top ranked high jumper at 5-7. Breanna Chadez (Marsing,
Id.) and Mary Printz (Mountain View, Meridian, Id.) have cleared 5-6.
photos by Donna Dye
Brittany Sheffey - New York middle distance
star
- Stacy Slight - Wyoming 800m 2:10 runner
Distances
Brittany Sheffey (Bellport, Brookhaven, N.Y.) spent most of last season running
the 1,500 where she is the No. 2 returnee in the nation with an outdoor best
of 4:26.13. He best of 2:10.72 in the 800 came in winning the Eddy Games
in 2:10.72. Stacy Slight (Cody, Wy.) was sixth at the Arcadia Invitation,
won the State 4A title, was fourth at the Golden West Invitational and had
a best 2:10.65. Samantha McMillian (Judge Memorial, Salt Lake City, Ut.)
ran 4:59.63 for 1,600 meters as a student at Hershey (Pa.). Rosa Magana (Holy
Names, Oakland, and Ca.) struggled at State last year but had a best of 2:13.41
in placing second at the Sacramento MOC. Kim Vos of Canada is entered at
2:14.0. Rosanna Fleming (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village, and Ca.), Alyssa
Abbott and Canadian Kim Vos are all entered under 2:16.0.
Hilary McClendon (Bishop Kelley, Boise, Id.), a steeplechaser with best of
7:03.0 for 2,000 meters and 10:48.79 for 3,000, where she finished third in
the USA Junior Nationals, is entered in the mile and should get competition
from Amanda Boyd (San Bruno, Hollister, Ca.), who has run 5:03.9, Fleming,
with a best of 5:08.26 and Cassie Ricks (Fremont, Plain City, Ut.), who led
one of the best cross country team in the nation. Colleen MacPhee (Columbia,
Maplewood, N.J.), at 10:56.0, is the only entry under 11 minutes in the two-mile
photos by Donna Dye
Emily Bernardt (Georgia) - Sarah Cardinal (Idaho) - Amanda Rollin (Wyoming)
part of strong weight event groups!
Weights
Emily Bernhardt (Lassiter, Marietta, Ga.) and Kristen Smith (Sprayberry, Marietta,
Ga.) are the two best weight throwers this season with marks of, 56-7¼ and
53-7, respectively. Local favorite Sarah Cardinal (Blackfoot, Id.), who has
a best of 50-1¼, is looking to move up. In the shot put, Amanda Rollin
(Rock Spring, Wy.) and Cardinal were third and fourth last year and have
bests of 43-2 and 43-0, respectively. Jaleesa Jeffrey (James Logan, Union
City, and Ca.) was fifth at 39-11 but improved to 42-1 outdoors.
Relays
Teekay Track Club (Wilson, Long Beach, Ca.) is the defending champion in both
the 4 x 200 relay and the 4 x 400 relay will be tough to dethrone. They could
also win the 4 x 800 relay and the Sprint medley relay. Toughest competition
figures to come from Cardinal Track Club (San Francisco Area), Tracy Flyers
(Northern California), Kryptonite Speed Team (Colorado), EOYDCA (Northern California),
Alex Van Dyke (Central California).
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