Preview
Invaders from WA, CA, PA, NY, TX and Canada
challenge the best of the Mountain States.
by John Dye
POCATELLO ID 2/14/02 -- Most of the 2,000 athletes in the Simplot
Games come from the surrounding mountain states. But each year,
a significant sample of prep elites from the rest of the country
and Canada join the fray. This year's top invaders come from New
York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Washington.
Some of the hottest action will be in the girls sprint relays,
with national championship quality matchups between Wilson Long
Beach CA (aka Teekay Track Club) and two Pennslylvania teams
- United Stars and William Penn HS (aka Penn Track
Club). It is almost as compelling in the boys sprint relays, with
a coast to coast matchup of Transit Tech NY (3:20.21 4x400
US#3, led by Melville Rogers' 48.48 400m US#6) and the Washington
club Self Esteem through Athletics, featuring Courtney
Jaworski (1:54.31 800m US#1) and Darren Woods (48.42
400m US#4). Box Elder UT, team champion of the Utah track
coaches state meet last Saturday, will contend in the sprint medley.
Other top invaders:
New York - A.P. Randolph soph
Selena Sappleton, second in last year's 800 in 2:13.38, and
ran 2:09.21 finishing second in the 2001 Golden West 800 behind
2001 and 2002 national leader Stacey Ann Livingston. Bronx Science
jr Fatmata Fofanah, winner of the Colgate Games and Hispanic
Games 55m hurdles n New York with a season best of 8.11, 3rd fastest
in the country this season.
Pennsylvania - United Stars
leaders Tiffany Abney (2nd at the Midwest Indoor Track Classic
400m in Nebraska last week in 54.16 US#2) and Juliette Poussot
(25.13 200m winner of the Colgate Games). Penn Track Club leaders
Karina Francis (6.96 55m US#1 and 7.46 60m US#2t) and Juanita
Broaddus (7.07 55m US#6, 24.99 US#9, and 57.03).
California - Baptist Los Angeles
CA Allyson Felix (MITC runner-up last week in both the 60m
7.46 US#2t and 200m 23.98 US#3 and 2001 champion of Arcadia 100/200,
World Youth 100, California State 100, Golden West 200).
Texas - The Radermacher
twins, Megan and Shannon, of Klein Houston TX, veteran national
level campaigners. In a standout 800 meter field last week at MITC,
Megan was fourth (2:14.06) and Shannon was 8th (2:17.76). Megan
was fourth here last year in 2:16.36).
Top Mountain State entrants include:
Utah - The Zeigle twins,
Jackie and Laura, along with little sister Kit, will cover the 1600
(Jackie) and 3200 (Laura and Kit). The twins are both Foot Locker
cross country national finalists. Laura won the Cross Country Winter
Nationals junior women's title last year, along with the National
Scholastic Indoor 3200. Jackie was NSIC 1600 meter champion. Kyle
Perry was Utah 1600 meter champion last year, as well as second
at the Great American Cross Country Festival. Shawn Kelley
was a Foot Locker cross country finalist in December. Davis sr Kelli
Burton, who won the Utah coaches state meet shot put last week
at 48-0.5, second best in the country this year.
Colorado - Westminster sr Travis
Anderson won the 400 here last year in 49.30 and was 5th last
week at MITC in 49.38. He will go in the 200 and 400 this year.
Idaho - The nation's top prep
decathlete, Eagle jr Donovan Kilmartin, will go in the high
jump (PR 6-10), pole vault (PR 16-4), and 60m hurdles. Nampa jr
Julene Bailey has a 12-8 PR in pole vault; she was the World
Youth champion last summer in Hungary and also won the Youth Athletic
Nationals and the USATF Junior Olympics.
Top individual matchups include:
Girls Pole Vault - Three 12
footers in Bailey, Kentlake WA jr Stevie Marshalek,
and W.F. West WA sr Ashley Wildhaber.
Boys 400 - Travis Anderson
CO, Darren Woods WA, and Melville Rogers NY.
Girls 60 - Allyson Felix
CA and Karina Francis PA.
Boys 800 - US leader Courtney
Jaworski WA and Canadian brothers Nolan and Ryan Fyfe.
2002 Simplot Games
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