Fast Times Continue Amid Hard Times
In positive sign for the sport, nation's economic woes seem to have little effect on athlete turnout at Simplot Games; Meet made popular by Obea Moore in the 1990s could benefit from dejavu-likeexperience this weekend as New Bern HS relays seek to eclipse Moore-anchored records...read more
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Records fall and personal bests are set at 2009 Simplot Games
by Lucas Martin
Pocatello, Idaho- The Simplot Games offers athletes a chance at competing on a unique wooden track. This track is not only unique, but it’s fast…really fast.
“The track is fast! And the competition is always here,” says Turquoise Thompson, a member of the Gardena Core team out of Gardena, Calif., that won the 4x200- and 4x400- meter relays.
This once-a-year opportunity for athletes produces plenty of excitement, competition, personal best, and records. This years Simplot Games was no exception. The athletes entertained and ignited the crowd with outstanding performances, including
Pocatello, Idaho- The Simplot Games offers athletes a chance at competing on a unique wooden track. This track is not only unique, but it’s fast…really fast.
“The track is fast! And the competition is always here,” says Turquoise Thompson, a member of the Gardena Core team out of Gardena, Calif., that won the 4x200- and 4x400- meter relays.
This once-a-year opportunity for athletes produces plenty of excitement, competition, personal best, and records. This years Simplot Games was no exception. The athletes entertained and ignited the crowd with outstanding performances, including
- Two meet records set by Track E.C. of New Bern, N.C.— A thrilling run of 3:26.28 in the 1600 sprint medley relay set a new Simplot Games record, the current #1 U.S. time, and #10 mark of all-time. The TEC team also set a meet record in the 4x200 with a time of 1:27.60.
- Anna Jemlini, a senior from Bakersfield, Calif., has the new U.S. #1 mark in the shot put with her winning throw of 51’ 5’’. The throw also ranks her #9 all-time.
- Trinity Wilson of Oakland, Calif., set a new national freshman record in the 60-meter hurdles with her winning run of 8.45 seconds.
- Ashton Purvis, a junior from Oakland, Calif., won the 60 meters and 200 meters with times of 7.47 and 23.99 – the second year in a row she achieved that double.
- Kyle Macintosh from Highlands Ranch, Colo., also doubled in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.95 and 400 meters at 48.06 – and was part of the winning ATS Elite Track Club’s winning 4x400-meter relay team.
Utah athletes win big at Simplot Games
by Caitlyn Lancaster
Pocatello, Idaho-Sarah Callister from Ogden and Karl Wilcock from Hurricaneexperienced the glory of the winner’s circle at Simplot Games on Saturday,February 21. Callister took first in the girls’ 3200-meter run with a time of10:49.12. Wilcock took over the track in the boys’ 1600-meter run and clockedin a winning time of 4:22.47.
“I was having fun out there, Callister said. “The middle laps were tough,but I was really racing for time and trying to get under 10:50.”
Wilcock had a great race at Simplot Games, and ended up breaking his personalrecord by a second.
“I did what I wanted to do, I came to win,” says Wilcock “I am excitedabout my personal record. I really like this track.”
Overall, Utah had a great day on the wooden track at Holt Arena. Ten individual Utah athletes and eight Utah relay teams raced their way to thepodium and earned medals. The Davis Track Club out of Kaysville placed secondin the girls’ 4x800 race, and Simplot Games veteran Candace Eddy ran hard andtook second in the girls’ 1600-meter race. Utah showcased some serious talentthroughout Simplot Games.
For more information on Utah athletes visit http://www.simplotgames.com/press.cfm
Pocatello, Idaho-Sarah Callister from Ogden and Karl Wilcock from Hurricaneexperienced the glory of the winner’s circle at Simplot Games on Saturday,February 21. Callister took first in the girls’ 3200-meter run with a time of10:49.12. Wilcock took over the track in the boys’ 1600-meter run and clockedin a winning time of 4:22.47.
“I was having fun out there, Callister said. “The middle laps were tough,but I was really racing for time and trying to get under 10:50.”
Wilcock had a great race at Simplot Games, and ended up breaking his personalrecord by a second.
“I did what I wanted to do, I came to win,” says Wilcock “I am excitedabout my personal record. I really like this track.”
Overall, Utah had a great day on the wooden track at Holt Arena. Ten individual Utah athletes and eight Utah relay teams raced their way to thepodium and earned medals. The Davis Track Club out of Kaysville placed secondin the girls’ 4x800 race, and Simplot Games veteran Candace Eddy ran hard andtook second in the girls’ 1600-meter race. Utah showcased some serious talentthroughout Simplot Games.
For more information on Utah athletes visit http://www.simplotgames.com/press.cfm
Kevin Johnson from Falcon, Colorado, wins the boys’ 3200-meter run at Simplot Games
by Caitlyn Lancaster
Pocatello, Idaho-Colorado senior Kevin Johnson won the boys’ 3200-meter run at Simplot Games on Saturday, February 21. After his 16th lap around the track, Johnson showed no signs of slowing down, but rather, a twinkling eye full of victory. Johnson ran a time of 9:16.22.
“I trained hard for this, so I feel I did really well,” says Johnson (a Simplot Games veteran). “I came here as a freshman, and wanted to do it again as a senior.”
Other medalists include:
Wes Rickman Falcon, CO 9:16.50
Jon Nelson Provo, UT 9:17.60
Walter Schafer Centennial, CO 9:25.70
Dominick Robinson Gillette, WY 9:30.42
Barak Watson Boise, ID 9:30.48
Kevin Johnson wins the boys' 3200-meter run at Simplot Games.
Photo by Mike Roberts
click photo for high resolution image
“I trained hard for this, so I feel I did really well,” says Johnson (a Simplot Games veteran). “I came here as a freshman, and wanted to do it again as a senior.”
Other medalists include:
Wes Rickman Falcon, CO 9:16.50
Jon Nelson Provo, UT 9:17.60
Walter Schafer Centennial, CO 9:25.70
Dominick Robinson Gillette, WY 9:30.42
Barak Watson Boise, ID 9:30.48
Kevin Johnson wins the boys' 3200-meter run at Simplot Games.
Photo by Mike Roberts
click photo for high resolution image
Jeff Tran from Anaheim, California wins boys’ pole vault at the
Pocatello, Idaho – Jeff Tran won the boys’ pole vault event at the Simplot Games by clearing 15’3”.
Jeff Tran wins the boys' pole vault at Simplot Games.
Photo by Mike Roberts
click photo for high resolution image
Jeff Tran wins the boys' pole vault at Simplot Games.
Photo by Mike Roberts
click photo for high resolution image
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