When Ashton Purvis came to the 2008 Simplot Games as a sophomore, she stunned the fans who watched her at Holt Arena by not only winning the 60-meter event, but also by winning the 200 meters and setting a national sophomore record of 23.54 seconds. She returned in 2009 to blow away the competition by sweeping the 60- and 200-meter races again.
Purvis, now a senior, is back yet again, and she is ready to impress track fans one more time.
“I’m going out with a bang,” says Purvis. “I’m going for the record.”
Setting a meet record is about the only thing this sprinter from Oakland, Calif., hasn’t done yet at Simplot Games.
It looks like this could be the year for her, too. She is currently ranked first nationally in both the 60-and 200-meter events. This comes to no surprise to Purvis’s coach, Curtis Taylor.
“Ashton has always been the best in her age group,” says Taylor. “It doesn’t matter whether she was in elementary, middle, or high school, she has always been the best.”
Purvis caught the attention of the University of Miami coaches with her exceptional talent, earning a scholarship to compete collegiately for them next fall.
“I’m juiced,” says Purvis, “I want to do it all.”
After all the things she has been able to accomplish so far, it’s hard not to think the University of Miami will be just another stepping stone to a legendary career.
Another rising star not to be overshadowed is Purvis’s younger teammate, Trinity Wilson. This sophomore has already started leaving her own footprints on the Games. As a freshman, Wilson dominated the field in her specialty, the 60-meter hurdles. Wilson came across the finish line last year with a record of her own, the new freshman national record of 8.44 seconds.
Now a year after breaking the freshman national record, Wilson is currently the top-ranked 60-meter high school hurdler in the country.
That makes three events with the top-ranked runner coming from the same school in Oakland, Calif., and soon to be competing at Simplot Games.
And they come to compete in the hopes of earning their spot in the record books. Wilson not only wants to win again, she wants to dominate her opponents.
“I like pressure of being number one,” says Wilson. “I want to win every race, and I don’t want my opponents to feel like they can beat me after.”
The duo from Oakland will surely be nothing short of spectacular this year. It will be a true “spectator sport” inside Holt Arena for Simplot Games as these two athletes and the rest of the competitors continue their own campaigns for greatness.
The Games officially start Thursday, February 18, and go through Saturday, February 20, 2010.
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