Boise’s Covington ready for the Simplot Games finals

By Spencer Ward

Overcoming disappointment pushes Covington to bring his game to the next level

Pocatello, Idaho- Kasen Covington is ready to succeed in the finals at the 2010 Simplot Games.

After facing disappointment with the news in 2009 that he would not be attending the Youth World Championships in Italy, Covington became more determined and motivated to bring his performance to the next level.

Covington, the top ranked triple jumper in the U.S. this year, is the favorite to win the Simplot Games triple jump again this year.

“Simplot is a great meet, I love it, I look forward to it every indoor season. You get great competition and a great track; it’s a great atmosphere,” says Covington, who competes for YMCA Team Idaho.

A senior, Covington has signed with the University of Washington, where he hopes to continue to succeed. He hopes to find himself running circuits in Europe and eventually representing his country at the Olympics.

But first comes today’s Simplot Games finals, a hop, skip, and jump toward the future.

Tyrell Yardley Down But Not Out

By Clayton Cook

When Tyrell Yardley, from Syracuse, Utah, came to the 2010 Simplot Games, he was greeted with high expectations from pretty much everybody who has ever seen him run. Yardley was returning off his fourth place finish in the 60-meter race in 2009. Also, shortly after the games last year he set the all-time Utah record in the 200-meter race with a time of 21.15.

“I came back because I wanted to win the 400,” said Yardley.

That dream came to a screeching halt Friday morning when Yardley tore his hamstring while winning his 400-meter heat. Yardley was not only forced to scratch from his 60-meter heat later that day, but forego the rest of the competition completely.

Yardley described the injury as “disappointing but not heartbreaking.”

With Yardley’s record time in the 200 and Utah’s second best times ever in the 400 and 100, he is among the best sprinters ever to come from the state of Utah. Although he says Utah has some great runners, Yardley admits he enjoys competing against the best competition in the nation, which the Simplot Games bring every year. “I really enjoy the competition of the Simplot Games,” said Yardley.

Although Yardley won’t be able to finish he career properly by winning the Simplot Games, he still has a huge track and field future in front of him. After recently signing with Brigham Young University on February 3, he will compete one year for the Cougars before going on his LDS mission, and he plans on returning back to BYU for the remainder of his three years after.

“It should be fun,” said Yardley, who gives credit to his high school coach for his success, and looks forward to working with BYU’s staff. “They have coaches specialized for each event, which will allow for more one-on-one time with me and the coaches.”

Although Yardley will be “icing up and cheering on teammates” for the rest of the competition, there is still plenty of action to watch on Saturday as the 2010 Simplot Games wrap up.

Tyrell Yardley wins his heat in the 400-meter dash at Simplot Games.

Photo by Mike Roberts
mroberts@122bresnan.net

click photo for high resolution image

A Plethora of Utah Athletes Qualify for Saturday Finals

by Clayton Cook

Pocatello, Idaho- Utah proved it is among the nation’s elite track and field states by sending over 80 athletes into Saturday’s finals at the 2010 Simplot Games.

Utah was especially deep in the 1600- and 3200-meter events, earning 11 top-five qualifiers. Leading the way for the Utah women was Syracuse ’s Hannah Williams. She had the best qualifying result for the 1600-meter event with a time of 5:19.25.

Setting the pace for the men was Evan Argyle from Pleasant Grove, who had the best 1600-meter qualifying result with a time of 4:27.23.

Included below is a list of all the Utah athletes who qualified for the finals in their respective events.

Mens’ Long Jump-
Scott Matheson- Senior- Pleasant Grove
Presten Beatty- Senior- Hurricane
Matt Hilton- Senior- Bountiful

Women 1600 Meters-Hannah Williams- Senior- Syracuse
Jessica Wilding- Senior- Kaysville
McKenzie Snyder- Sophomore- Coalville
Danielle West- Senior- American Fork
Karlee Deeter- Sophomore- Pleasant View
Laura Young- Sophomore- South Jordan
Ashley Robison- Senior- Orem
Morgan Warner- Freshman- American Fork
Alexis Laws- Senior- American Fork
Cherice Chugg- Senior- Farr West
Cosette Stone- Senior- Salem
Rachel Sorensen- Freshman- Salt Lake City
Natalie Matthews- Freshman- Salt Lake City
Jacquel Winterton- Sophomore- Salt Lake City
Carrie Jube- Sophomore- Provo
Julie Mazeika- Senior- Pleasant Grove

Women 3200 Meters-
Kelse Braithwaite- Sophomore- Perry
Susannah Hurst- Junior- Holladay
Summer Harper- Freshman- Orem
Meghan Hedquist- Junior- Kaysville

Mens’ 3200 Meters-Logan Petty- Senior- Kaysville
Clayton Young- Junior- American Fork
Spencer Hanson- Junior- Spanish Fork
Steve Morrin- Junior- Alpine
Austin West- Junior- American Fork
Jamal Tongo- Senior- Holladay
Matt Liddle- Senior- Orem
Mack Morrison- Sophomore- American Fork
Braden Perry- Junior- Honeyville

Mens’ 60 Meter Hurdles-Kyle Turner- Senior- Orem

Mens’ 1600 Meters-
Evan Argyle- Senior- Pleasant Grove
Austin Costley- Senior- Syracuse
Joe White- Junior- Kaysville
Jake Rossmango- Senior- Syracuse
Robby Lee- Senior- American Fork
Jeff Nelson- Senior- American Fork
Travis Taylor- Junior- Orem
Brad Nye- Sophomore- Kaysville
Parker Evans- Junior- Bountiful
Brian Alfaro- Senior- Kaysville
Mike King- Senior- Kaysville

Mens’ 400 Meters-
Andy Rounds- Junior- Salt Lake City
Tyrell Yardley- Senior- Syracuse
Parker Bluth- Senior- Riverton
Spencer Larsen- Senior- Sandy
Zach Andrews- Senior- Bountiful

Womens’ High Jump-Taylir Garrison- Sophomore- American Fork
Lauren Crockett- Junior- Ogden
Autumn Robertson- Senior- Pleasant Grove
Lillian Johnson- Senior- Roy

Mens’ High Jump-Zach Blackham- Senior- Orem
Dalton Facer- Junior- Kaysville
Alec Pectol- Senior- Kaysville
Jason Lee- Senior- Brigham City
Parker Cressman- Senior- Spanish Fork
Rusty Jones- Junior- West Valley City
Ryan Scott- Junior- Salt Lake City

Womens’ 400 Meters-
Lindsey McFarland- Junior- Syracuse

Mens’ Pole Vault-
Gabe Betancourt- Senior- Kaysville

Womens’ 4x200 Relay-
Davis Track Club- Kaysville

Womens’ 4x400 Relay-
Davis Track Club- Kaysville
Sky View North Logan- Logan

Mens’ 4x400 Relay-Davis Track Club- Kaysville
Syracuse Track Club- Syracuse
Maple Mountain- Spanish Fork

Womens’ 200 Meters-
Dani Figgins- Senior- Kaysville

Mens’ 800 Meters-Ben Poulson- Senior- Kaysville
Preston Williams- Junior- Syracuse
Daniel Keller- Junior- American Fork
Ashena Richardson- Junior- American Fork

Womens’ Shot Put-Jamie Duckworth- Senior- Riverton
Stephanie Jenkins- Senior- Alpine
Jessica Pauni- Senior- Syracuse
Siera Bernard- Sophomore- Herriman
Kassie Reynolds- Senior- Riverton

Mens’ 60 Meters-Parker Bluth- Senior- Riverton

Womens’ 60 Meters-
Sylvia Harrison- Sophomore- Kaysville
Charis Wingster- Junior- Riverton

Mens’ Shot Put-
Hunter Naisbitt- Junior- Syracuse
Bryce Maluia- Junior- West Jordan
McKay Burnett- Junior- Riverton
Chris Johnson- Senior- Brigham City
Aaron Hill- Senior- Syracuse
Alex Swapp- Senior- Kaysville
Anthony Crawford- Junior- Herriman
Tracy Fitzgerald- Senior- Herriman

Mens’ 1600 Sprint Medley Relay-Syracuse Track Club ‘A’- Syracuse
Pleasant Grove- Pleasant Grove
Davis Track Club- Kaysville
Syracuse Track Club ‘B’- Syracuse
Judge Memorial- Salt Lake City

Womens’ 1600 Sprint Medley Relay-
Davis Track Club ‘A’- Kaysville
Syracuse Track Club- Syracuse
Davis Track Club ‘B’- Kaysville

Idaho Athletes Qualify for Finals

Idaho will be well represented in finals

by Spencer Ward

Pocatello, Idaho- As Simplot Games races to Saturday’s finals, dozens of Idaho athletes qualified to compete in the championships. Among the many finalists are Kasen Covington of Boise, the returning triple jump champion; both Dallin Farnsworth of Pocatello and Erik Harris of Twin Falls are among the top six qualifiers for the men’s 1600 meters; and Ryan Conan of Idaho Falls qualified in the 60-meter hurdles.

Included below is a list of all the Idaho athletes who qualified for the finals in their respective events.

Idaho finalists:

All-Idaho Men 4x200 Meter Relay
Snake River Rapids-A
Trojan Track Club-A
Indian Track Club-A
YMCA Team Idaho-C
Riverrunners-A
YMCA Team Idaho-B

All-Idaho Women 4x200 Meter Relay
Snake River Rapids-A
Indian Track Club-A
YMCA Track Club-A
Riverruners-A
YMCA Team Idaho-B

Men Long Jump
Kasen Covington –Boise-Senior
Preston Beatty-Boise-Senior

Men 60-Meter Hurdles
A.J. Bouley-Boise-Senior
Ryan Conan-Idaho Falls-Senior

Women 1600-Meter Run
Michell Hickerson-Boise-Senior
Amanda Ward-Twin Falls-Junior
Tenaly Smith-Caldwell-Sophomore
Machenzie Chojnacky-Jerome-Junior
Jocelyn Allen-Ashton-Junior

Men 1600-Meter Run
Dallin Farnsworth-Pocatello-Sophomore
Eric Fitzpatrick-Boise-Senior
Kasey Meyer-Soda Spring-Senior
Eric Harris-Twin Falls-Sophomore
Morgan Choate-Caldwell-Sophomore
Karl Lundgren-Twin Falls-Sophomore

Men Pole Vault
Dawson Lewis-Boise-Senior

Women 400-Meter Run
Brooke Wagner-Twin Falls-Junior

Men High Jump
Drew Tingey-Idaho Falls-Senior

Women Long Jump
Brittney Owens-Boise-Sophomore
Melissa Rohwer-Boise-Junior

Men 200-Meter Dash
Landon Watts-Boise-Junior
Jake Arslanian-Boise-Sophomore

Women High Jump
Katelyn Zabriskie-Idaho Falls-Freshman

Women Pole Vault
Samantha Michell-Boise-Senior
Alli Bicandi-Boise-Senior
Danielle Rausch-Boise-Junior
Caitlein Maulin-Boise-Senior
Rebecca Clark-Boise-Senior

Men 800-Meter Run
Bubba Roeper-Boise-Junior
Blake Davidson-Boise-Sophomore
Blaine Davidson-Boise-Senior

Men Triple Jump
Drew Tingey-Idaho Falls-Senior
Kasen Covington-Boise-Senior

Women Triple Jump
Melissa Rohwer-Boise-Junior
Brittney Owens-Boise-Sophomore

Men 60-Meter Dash
Landon Watts-Boise-Junior
Tyler Brown-Rupert-Sophomore

Men Shot Put
Tony Colson-Idaho Falls-Senior

Men 1600 Sprint Medley
YMCA Team Idaho-A

Women Sprint Medley Relay
YMCA Team Idaho-A

Dallin Fansworth heads toward the finish line in the boys' 1600 meter dash at Simplot Games.

Ryan Conan and A.J.Bouley compete in the boys' 60-meter hurdles at Simplot Games.

Photo by Mike Roberts
mroberts@122bresnan.net

click photo for high resolution image

Stage is set for Saturday finals at 2010 Simplot Games

by Tyler Gibbons

Pocatello, Idaho- A year after setting the national freshman record in the 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Trinity Wilson, from Oakland, Calif., returned to Pocatello and posted the exact same electronic time, 8.44 seconds. However, today was the preliminary heat. And she, like all other competitors, was not allowed to wear her track spikes.

A scary thought for the rest of the field.

“My goal (in the prelims) was to work on my technique,” Wilson said. “And to show everybody that I’m here to run.”

Other top athletes who qualified for Saturday’s finals are:

· Kasen Covington (senior from Boise), the top ranked high school triple jumper in the U.S. qualified for both the long and triple jump finals.

· Ashton Purvis (senior from Oakland, Calif.), the nation’s top girls sprinter is set to defend both of her Simplot Games titles in the 60 -and 200-meter dashes.

· Ciarra Brewer (junior from Union City, Calif.), the number one ranked girls triple jumper qualified for both the long and triple jumps.