Utah athletes set high standard for finals at Simplot Games

A wave of Utah trackletes crash into final day
by Caitlyn Lancaster

Pocatello, Idaho- A serious showcase of Utah athletes entertained the Simplot Games crowd in the preliminaries Friday, February 20. Over 60 athletes from Utah raced their way into Saturday’s finals. There are a few athletes set to outshine most on the track including Jeff Daw, a senior from Skyline, who had the second fastest time of the day in the Boys 400-meter dash at 50.12.

“It’s going to be really exciting,” says Daw, looking forward to Saturday’s finals. “I am hoping to make it to the podium this year.”

Other Utah hopefuls include the PG Vikings out of Lindon, who finished fourth in the 4x400 prelims; and Brayden Brunson of the Delta Track Club, who swept through the finish line with the third best 200-meter time of the day.

Candace Eddy is also a podium hopeful in the 1600-meter.

The final day of Simplot Games proves to be a one full of fierce competition, and Utah athletes definitely will bring some fire.

For a complete list of Utah qualifiers visit http://www.simplotgames.com/press.cfm

Candice Eddy leads the pack in her prelim heat at Simplot Games.
photo by Mike Roberts

click photo for high resolution image

Top Idaho high school athletes qualify for event finals at the Simplot Games

National high school track and field event
by Tyler Gibbons

Pocatello, Idaho – After an exceptional day of competition, an abundance of Idaho high school track and field athletes will compete in event finals Saturday at the 31st Annual Simplot Games.

The all-Idaho relays pit teams from all across the state against one another in the boys and girls 4x200-meter event. One of Simplot’s showcase events will determine the fastest bunch of Idahoans.

Geraldo Hiwat and Kasen Covington enter as heavy favorites in the long and triple jump events while their YMCA Team Idaho teammate Sam Nielson is expected to be a major player in the girls’ long jump and triple jump.

“I was feeling good today and tomorrow should go even better,” said Covington. “I’m ready to jump over 50 feet.”

“I’m feeling great and I’m ready to fly,” stated Nielson.

For full list of Idaho qualifiers visit http://www.simplotgames.com/press.cfm

Idaho athletes pictured above: Geraldo Hiwat, Sam Nielson, Kasen Convington
photo by Tyler Gibbons

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Top athletes set stage for Simplot Games finale

Elite athletes will clash in tomorrow’s finals
by Luc Martin

Pocatello, Idaho – In today’s Simplot Games preliminary competition, Ashton Purvis, a junior from Oakland, California, turned in a stellar performance with an impressive 24.08 in the 200 meters and a 7.52 in the 60 meters. (High-resolution image of Purvis available at www.simplotgamesmedia.blogspot.com)

“I feel good about tomorrow, I can’t wait to see what I can do,” says Purvis about Saturday’s finals.

The Core Speed track club from Los Angeles also showcased their talent by placing three individuals in the top seven of the 200 meters, finishing first in the 4x200 meters, and second in the 4x400 meters.

Other outstanding prelim perfromances and athletes to watch in tomorrow’s finals include –

• Shade Weygandt, a senior from Mansfield, Texas, is the nations #1 girls pole vaulter. She looks to break the national record in Saturday’s finals.
• Omar Craddock from Killen, Texas, will face-off Johnny Carter from Bakersfield, California, in the triple jump.
• Track E.C., of New Bern, North Carolina, will race in the 1600-meter Sprint Medley. This relay team looks to break the 13-year-old national record.
• Candace Eddy, a senior from Kaysville, Utah, will look to add to her impressive Simplot Games resume of two previous 1600 meters first place wins and one runner-up finish.
• A 60-meter-dash showdown between Cameron Marshal from San Jose, California, and Kyle Middlebrooks from Anaheim, California, who both posted prelim-best times of 6.98 seconds.
• he Throw1Deep club from Marietta, Georgia, dominated the weight throw by winning both events and winning 10 of 12 medals. They look to do the same in the shot put.

Ashton Purvis runs in the girls' 200-meter dash at Simplot Games.
photo by Mike Roberts

click photo for high resolution image

Georgia throwers dominate weight throw at Simplot Games

by Caitlyn Lancaster and Tyler Gibbons

Pocatello, Idaho- Throw1Deep, a throwing club from Marietta, Georgia, dominated the winner’s circle in the boys’ and girls’ weight throw at the 31st Simplot Games.

On the girls’ side, Lauren Chambers claimed first place with a distance of 56’ 5 ½”.

“I wanted to break the record, but it’s still a win,” says Chambers, who was aiming for the national record of 61’ 3”.

Davis Fraker claimed the boys’ title with a 71’ 8 ¼” mark as his teammates Nabel Mubarak and Miles Freberg took home second and third.

“I enjoy putting on a show,” confessed Fraker. “We have a fun, great team atmosphere. We cheer each other on and help one another out.”

Lauren Chambers competes in the weight throw at Simplot Games.
photo by Mike Roberts

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Do sweat the small stuff

Coaches Clinic focuses on the “little things” that optimize performance
by Jason Bohne

After a coaching career that includes 26 state champions, multiple national titles and world records, and service as the 2004 U.S. Paralympic Track and Field coach, Bryan Hoddle is a believer in sweating over the small stuff.

“There are a lot of simple techniques a coach can use to help their athletes improve and to keep injuries down,” Hoddle says. “It’s the little things that separate a champion from others.”

Hoddle will share his approach to maximizing athletic performance at the 2009 Simplot Games Coaching Clinic on Friday, February 19, at 7 p.m., at the Red Lion Inn.

Along with instruction on workout plans, muscle development, and mental preparedness, Hoddle will focus on small but critical actions: body alignment, adequate rest, and proper sequencing of workout activities to maximize performance.

While Hoddle has enjoyed great success coaching at the high school level, he is best known for his work with Paralympic athletes, including Tony Volpentest (the 1996 100- and 200-meter gold medalist) and Marlon Shirley (100-meter gold medalist at the 2000 and 2004 Games and triple world record holder). This experience gives him a unique perspective on coaching able-bodied athletes.

“My work with amputees really made me look at the importance performance analysis and correct body alignment,” Hoddle says. “I’ve taken my discoveries from coaching amputees and now apply them to able-bodied runners.”

Following the 2004 Paralympics, Hoddle began training another group of superior athletes: U.S. soldiers wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, first at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and then at the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama.

“Sometimes in athletics we forget who the real heroes are,” Hoddle says. “In a day and age with cheating and steroids in sports, and poor sportsmanship at the highest level, we have young men and women who chose to serve their country and were then dealt a serious blow, yet they come out in sport to inspire all of us.”

Hoddle’s involvement with Simplot Games began in 1996, when he attended as a high school coach. For the last several years he has been a meet announcer, combining his knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport with his booming voice. On the meet’s final day, his is the voice announcing all the Games medalists.

“Simplot Games has had more impact on me than any other track meet – greater even than the Paralympics” he says. “The atmosphere here changes lives. The town really puts its arms around you and makes you feel welcome. You have great competition in a great facility on a great track – a really fast great track. And you get to walk around and shake hands with some of the greatest Olympians ever.”

Hoddle led the 2002 Coaches Clinic and returns for an encore with 20+ pages of handouts, video analysis, and live demonstration with former University of Oregon standout Jenny Brogdon, a high jumper training with Hoddle for the 2012 Olympics.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have some great mentors who have really had an impact on my coaching, men like Tony Wells, Tony Veney, Dan Pfaff, and Loren Seagrave,” Hoddle says. “That’s my goal, to help other coaches the way these great coaches have helped me.”

For more information on the Coaches Clinic visit the following link:
http://www.simplotgames.com/coaches.cfm

photo provided courtesy of Bryan Hoddle