By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Here is a list of 10 storylines to keep an eye on Thursday through Saturday at the 40th Simplot Games at Idaho State’s Holt Arena:

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Draper pursuing double play

Delta UT senior Dallin Draper, representing Gold Medal Athletics, won the 60-meter dash and placed second in the 200 last year, but returns with his sights set on the sprint sweep.

Draper is unbeaten in both events in two meets this season and boasts indoor personal bests of 6.79 in the 60 and 21.54 in the 200.

He prevailed in the 60 in 6.86 last year and took runner-up to former Southridge OR standout Josiah Carpenter in the 200 in 22.00.

Lone Peak UT senior Dominic Bentil, who placed third in the 200 last year, could challenge Draper, along with Salt Lake City East UT senior Will Prettyman in the 60.

The meet records in both events have stood for a significant stretch, with Kenny O’Neal of Skyline CA running 6.68 in the 60 in 2004 and Fuquan Green of New Bern NC clocking 21.41 in the 200 in 2010.

Noe back for more

Bozeman MT senior Camila Noe was edged by Glacier MT standout Annie Hill by three-tenths in last year’s girls 3,200 championship and has returned to Idaho State’s Holt Arena in search of victory in her final career Simplot Games race.

Noe’s indoor 3,200 personal best is 10:44.51, but she ran 10:26.05 outdoors at last year’s Arcadia Invitational.

With Hill not returning this season, potential challengers for Noe could be Cheyenne Central WY senior Aubrey Frentheway, Corner Canyon UT junior Karli Branch and Layton UT junior Kate Richardson.

The meet record of 10:32.41 by Emily Kroshus from Calgary, Alberta, Canada has held up since 2000.

Deep fields again for boys distance

It will be hard for any of the boys distance standouts to match the success of last year, when American Fork UT star Casey Clinger set the 3,200 meet record by clocking 8:54.97 and Weber UT standout Talon Hull eclipsed the 1,600 standard running 4:08.78.

But there are exceptional fields assembled for both races, led by reigning Nike Cross Nationals champion Aidan Troutner of Timpview UT, who is entered in the 3,200.

Along with Troutner, Lehi UT senior Ryan Raff, Kashon Harrison of Kirtland Central NM, Brock Dykema of Silver Creek CO and Dalton Hengst, a prep standout from Pennsylvania.

Leading the pack in the 1,600 is Brandon Garnica and Devin Pancake of Springville UT, along with Caleb Armstrong of Hurricane UT, Jericho Cleveland of Volcano Vista NM and Fremont UT twins Bronson Winter and Zach Winter.

Can California sprinters crash Arria Minor’s sprint showcase?

Denver East CO junior Arria Minor, representing Denver Lightning, has potential to take down meet records in both the girls 60-meter dash and 400.

But there are also several talented California sprinters who serve as potential roadblocks to Minor’s attempt at a major double.

Minor has indoor personal bests of 7.30 seconds in the 60 and 53.80 in the 400, but her outdoor 400 PR in 52.05.

Scheduled to make the trip from the Golden State in the 60 are reigning 100 and 200 outdoor champion Ariyonna Augustine from Long Beach Poly, an LSU signee, along with Serra’s Jazmyne Frost, Redlands East Valley’s Emerald Bowens and Coronado’s Alysah Hickey.

Provo UT junior Meghan Hunter could provide a challenge to Minor in a showdown of two of the top three performers in the country this season.

The meet record in the 60 is 7.19 set by Ashley Owens of Liberty CO in 2004 and the 400 mark of 53.38 produced by former Long Beach Wilson CA star Lashinda Demus has stood since 2001.

Ready to jump into the spotlight

Davis UT senior Xakai Harry, Shelley ID junior Ty Wright and Summit OR senior Ryan Tennant all secured top-three finishes in the long jump and high jump at last year’s meet, but now they are the favorites to battle for titles following the graduation of Shadle Park WA standout Jakobe Ford.

Harry has indoor personal bests of 22-11 (6.98m) in the long jump and 6-7 (2.01m) in the high jump, but has produced marks of 6-8 (2.03m) and 23-10.50 (7.27m) outdoors.

Wright has an indoor high jump PR of 6-8 (2.03m), with Tennant producing indoor personal bests of 23-0.75 (7.02m) and 46-3.75 (14.11m).

Harry and Tennant are also entered in the 60-meter dash. 

Ellis eyes big finish

A combination of former Agoura CA standout Tara Davis, former Flying AJs teammate Chinne Okoronkwo of Mountlake Terrace WA and some uncharacteristic fouls have prevented Curtis WA senior Lexi Ellis from capturing a girls triple jump title in her past three appearances in Idaho.

But the Oregon commit enters the meet as the No. 2 performer in the country with a 42-3.50 (12.89m), in addition to boasting an outdoor PR of 42-7.25 (12.99m).

Silver Creek CA senior Arianna Fisher, representing South Bay Track, could challenge Ellis with a 41-7.25 (12.68m) outdoor PR.

The meet record is 43-5 (13.22m), established in 2005 by former Tracy CA star Brittany Daniels.

Norwegian star seeking new heights

Davis Senior CA senior Sondre Guttormsen, who broke the California indoor record Jan. 13 at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit in Reno by clearing 18 feet (5.49m), is looking to eclipse the meet record along with an official Norwegian U20 all-time mark.

Guttormsen had the Norwegian U20 record invalidated at the Pole Vault Summit after it was discovered that 75mm pegs were used on the pit he was competing on at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center instead of the 55mm pegs required by IAAF to secure the record.

Guttormsen is one of only two prep athletes, along with Lafayette LA senior Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, to clear 18 feet indoors.

The meet record is the second-oldest mark in event history, with Pat Manson of Central High in Colorado clearing 17-6.25 (5.34m) in 1986.

Allen looking for her memorable moment

Reed NV senior Alysia Allen watched last year as Raise the Bar club and high school teammate Makayla Linebarger set the meet record in the girls pole vault by clearing 13-5 (4.09m).

Allen is looking to be the third pole vault champion from Raise the Bar in the past four years, including Galena NV standout Emily Etter in 2015.

Allen has an indoor personal best of 13-4.25 (4.07m) from last year and has cleared 13 feet (3.96m) already this season Jan. 27 at a home meet in Reno.

Rocky Mountain ID senior Taylen Langin, the 2016 champion, has an indoor PR of 12-6 (3.81m), but has the potential to challenge Allen for the title.

Williams, Tidwell prepare for another memorable middle-distance showdown

Two of the country’s top 800 runners look to challenge the national indoor leader, squaring off for the second consecutive week after battling Feb. 9 at the Utah Distance Challenge.

Orem UT senior Brandon Williams clocked 1:53.66 for the No. 2 mark in the country and Bingham UT junior Dylan Tidwell produced the sixth-fastest time with his 1:54.67 effort.

Alfred Chawonza of St. Benedict’s Prep NJ has the top time in the nation at 1:53.52.

The 2012 meet record is 1:49.46 by Tyler Smith of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

CATC returns with reinforcements

Bishop O’Dowd CA senior Tierra Robinson-Jones and junior Jordan Jones helped C.A. Track Club win the girls 1,600 sprint medley relay last year, but the presence of Newark Memorial CA senior Alexis Surrell makes the lineup even more formidable this time around.

CATC prevailed by nearly five seconds over Davis Track Club UT last season, but will be even stronger on the first three legs this year with Texas A&M signee Robinson-Jones, in addition to Surrell and Jones. Robinson-Jones was second and Surrell placed fifth in the 400 at the California outdoor state meet.

CATC is looking to make it three consecutive 1,600 sprint medley relay victories for California-based clubs at Simplot, including Academy of Speed in 2016.

The meet record is one of the most impressive and longest standing at the event, with the New York-based Zodiacs Track Club clocking 3:56.40 in 1996.