Top Idaho high school athletes ready for the Simplot Games

National high school track and field event
by Caitlyn Lancaster

Pocatello, Idaho – Several top notch Idaho high school track and field athletes are set to compete at the Simplot Games February, 19-21. This year’s athletes hailing from Idaho include –

• Colin Riley, a senior from Pocatello won the high jump at the Idaho 4A State Championship. Riley will be competing at the Simplot Games for the second year in a row. He finished tied for third in the high jump at the 2008 Games.
• Keith Bowens, a senior from Boise is the reigning 100 meter 5A state champion. In 2008, he also won the United Heritage invitational 60-meter dash. Bowens finished seventh at the 2008 Simplot Games in the 60-meter dash.
• Amanda Ward, a sophomore from Twin Falls won the 1600 meters at the 2008 Class 5A region and finished sixth in the 1600 meters and fourth in the 3200 meters at the 2008 Idaho 5A State Championship. Ward also was 7th at the 2008 Idaho 5A Cross Country Championships.
• Valerie Jenkins, a junior from Caldwell, will compete in the 60-meter hurdles and the high jump at this year’s Games. Jenkins tied for tenth in the high jump at the 2008 Games.
• Jacob Gregg, a senior from Pocatello, finished eleventh at last year’s Games in the weight throw.
• Chelsea Lundgren, a junior from Peck will compete in the long and triple jump. In 2008 she recorded a 34’5.5” mark in the triple jump.