Utah brings home four titles at the 2010 Simplot Games

by Clayton Cook

Zach Blackham, a senior from Orem; Susannah Hurst, a junior from Holladay; Kelsey Brown, a senior from Orem; and Evan Argyle, a senior from Pleasant Grove; were the four Utah representatives to claim their spot on top of the podium at the 32nd Simplot Games.

Blackham earned the top honors in the boys’ high jump by clearing a height of 6’10”. Hurst took first in the girls’ 3200-meter run with a time of 11:16.59. Brown won the girls’ 800-meter run with a time of 2:11.05. Argyle won the title in the boys’ 1600-meter run with a time of 4:24.11.

Blackham, who was competing in his first Simplot Games, broke his own personal best height by two inches.

“I’m trying to get better, and people told me Simplot Games would be a fun event,” Blackham said. “It was really fun.”

Hurst had a bit of a struggle at the start of the race, but was able to finish well.

“It feels good to win, especially with how tough the race was,” Hurst said. “But today proves if you put your mind to something and you work hard you can accomplish anything.”

Brown was a first time competitor at the Simplot Games, but that didn’t stop her from taking care of business.

“I wish I would have come here before,” Brown said. “But I’m glad this is how I’ll remember Pocatello.”

Argyle pulled out a miraculous finish in the last 50 meters of his race blowing by the competitors as he hit the finish line.

“I’ve been working hard, doing a lot of speed work,” Argyle said. “It paid off today. It was a fast track, a fantastic crowd, the best competition. This is a great place to run.”

Overall, Utah had a solid performance, having 25 medallists hit the podium. The Caveman Track Club, from American Fork, placed second in the girls’ 4x800-meter relay. Also earning runner-up honors was Steve Morrin, a junior from Alpine, who took second in the boys’ 3200-meter event. Below is a complete list of all the Utah athletes who placed top six in their respective events.

Women 4x800-Meter Relay
· Caveman Track Club ‘A’ – 2nd
· Davis Track Club ‘A’ – 4th

Men Shot Put
· Chris Johnson (senior, Brigham City) – 5th

Men Long Jump
· Scott Matheson (senior, Pleasant Grove) – 5th

Men 60-Meter Dash
· Parker Bluth (senior, Riverton) - 4th

Men 1600 Sprint Medley
· Syracuse Track Club ‘A’ – 3rd
· Pleasant Grove ‘A’ – 6th

Women Shot Put
· Jamie Duckworth (senior, Riverton) – 3rd

Men 400-Meter Dash
· Andy Rounds (junior, Salt Lake City) 2nd
· Parker Bluth (senior, Riverton) – 4th
· Spencer Larsen (senior, Sandy) – 6th

Men High Jump
· Zach Blackham (senior, Orem) – 1st
· Ryan Scott (junior, Salt Lake) – 3rd
· Parker Cressman (senior, Spanish Fork) – 6th

Women 4x200-Meter Relay
· Davis Track Club ‘A’ – 6th

Women 3200-Meter Run
· Susannah Hurst (junior, Holladay) – 1st
· Summer Harper (freshman, Orem) – 4tt
· Kelsey Braithwaite (sophomore, Perry) – 6th

Men 3200-Meter Run
· Steve Morrin (junior, Alpine) – 2n
· Spencer Hanson (junior, Spanish Fork) – 6th
· Clayton Young (sophomore, American Fork) – 4th

Women 4x400-Meter Relay
· Davis Track Club ‘A’ – 6th

Men 4x400-Meter Relay
· Syracuse Track Club ‘A’ – 4th

Women 800-Meter Run
· Kelsey Brown (senior, Orem)- 1st

Men 1600-Meter Run
· Evan Argyle (senior, Pleasant Grove) – 1st