Elite athletes set stage for Simplot Games

by Luc Martin
Pocatello, Idaho – The 31st annual Simplot Games will feature high school track and field athletes from across the U.S. and Canada. The competition includes established veterans along with some impressive newcomers. Some athletes to watch during the Games include –

• Ciara Brewer, a sophomore from Logan, California, took first in the triple jump at the Run for the Dream Invitational, and participated in the 2008 Junior Olympic Games
• Ashlynn Halvorson, a senior from Matthews, North Carolina, has placed first all over the nation in the discus and the shot put, including the Nike Outdoor Nationals, the NCHSAA State Championship, the Eastern High School Challenge, and the Taco Bell Classic. She placed third at the 2008 Simplot Games.
• Johnny Carter, a sophomore from Bakersfield, California, won the California state triple jump championship as a freshman with a mark of 49’ ¾” – the best mark ever for a California 9th grader. He finished second at the 2008 National USA Track and Field finals.
• Lauren Chambers, a senior from Marietta, Georgia, is no stranger to standing on the top step of the podium. Besides winning the 2008 Simplot Games’ weight throw and shot put, Chambers was the 2008 national champion in the shot put with a mark of 49’ 1”. She has been the national champion in her age group since 2004. She has also won championships in the 6-pound shot put (2004, 2005), and the hammer throw (2007).
• Alex Paul, a junior from Niwot, Colorado, won the 3,000-meter event and finished second at 1,500 meters at the 2008 Region X Junior Olympics. At the national Junior Olympics, he placed fourth at 3,000 meters and sixth at 1,500 meters.
• Charlene Lipsey, a senior from Hempstead, New York, won the 2008 Simplot Games 800-meter event. She was named New York State Gatorade Female Runner of the Year in 2008 and earned the title of 2008 Nassau County Indoor & Outdoor Female Runner of the Year. Lipsey set a meet record at the 2008 Marine Corps Holiday Classic with an 800-meter time of 2:09.47.
• Brenden Confer, a senior from Servite, California, recently placed first in the 800 meters at the “Run for the Dream” at Fresno State University, with a time of 1:59:01. He also recorded a time of 1:53:07 at the Jim Bush Invitational.