Guttormsen steals the show at Simplot with record-breaking vault

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

POCATELLO -- Sondre Guttormsen broke the 32-year-old Simplot Games pole vault record and was not ready to be satisfied. 

RESULTS | VIDEO COVERAGE

The senior from Davis Senior CA, wearing the uniform of his home country of Norway, took three attempts at 18-2.75 (5.55m) in an effort to secure a European Championships qualifier. 

Guttormsen's first two attempts weren't close but the third one was -- he was over the bar with his hips but rubbed it off with his chest.

"I definitely want to get this height, 5.55. Hopefully at New Balance (Nationals) I'll get it," Guttormsen said. "When the outdoor season starts, I'm looking for 5.70 (18-8.25)."

Guttormsen's record-breaking clearance at 17-9.50 broke Pat Manson's 1986 meet record of 17-6.25. It was perhaps the biggest highlight of the 40th Simplot Games, which spanned three days at Holt Arena on the campus of Idaho State University. 

Arria Minor of Denver Lightning (Denver East CO) put her stamp on the meet with three victories that demonstrated her sprinting range. She won the 60 meters in 7.40 and the 400 meters in 53.47. She also ran the second leg on Denver Lightning's winning 4x200 relay. 

Minor, a junior, is now the U.S. leader in the 60 and ranks second in the 200 and the 400 coming out of the weekend.

Meaghan Hunter of Provo UT gave chase in the 400 and ran 53.92 to move to US#3.

Dallin Draper of Gold Medal Athletics (Delta UT) swept the boys sprints, dominating the 60 meters with US#2 6.76 seconds. In the 200 meters, he held off in-state Utah rival Dominic Bentil of Lone Peak Track Club, 21.61 to 21.64. Bentil was subsequently disqualified for stepping inside his lane on the curve.

Draper's quick starts, which he says is a result of a rigorous lifting program, have made him a national contender in the 60. He's planning to make the trip to New York to compete at New Balance Nationals next month.

Lexi Ellis of the Flying AJ's (Curtis WA) jumped a personal-best 42-7.75 to win the triple jump. That distance is US#2.

Utah athletes won three of the four distance event finals, unfazed by the meet's 4,560-foot elevation. Ryan Raff of Pioneer Track (Lehi UT) ran away from Dalton Hengst and the rest of the field to win the boys 3,200 meters with a US#1 time of 9:04.94. 

Aidan Troutner, the Nike Cross Nationals champion from Timpview UT, competed in Thursday's prelims but did not race the final. 

In the girls race, Aubrey Frentheway of Cheyenne Central WY ran behind Bozeman MT's Camila Noe for a few laps and then took control over the second half of the race and won with 10:47.02. Noe was next in 10:50.62.

Bronson Winter of Fremont UT won the boys 1,600 meters, using a late surge to overtake Caleb Armstrong of Hurricane UT around the final curve. Winter ran 4:17.35 to Armstrong's 4:17.61.

In the girls 1,600, Sadie Sargent of North Summit UT ran a strong second half to win in 4:52.65 after being pulled along by Bryn Morley's early pace. Morley, of Bigfork MT, finished third.

Tierra Robinson-Jones got the breakthrough she was looking for in the girls 200 meters, running 23.84. Her CATC teammate Alexis Surrell of Newark Memorial ran a personal-best 24.26 for second place. 

Robinson-Jones, from Bishop O'Dowd CA, said she got emotional at seeing '23' show up on the scoreboard next to her name for the first time.

Jace Jensen of Bountiful UT made his first appearance at Simplot memorable by winning the 400 meters in 48.77 seconds. Jensen has been competing in track and field for only two months but has discovered that he has talent for it. 

Sophomore Trey Knight from Ridgefield WA won his second event of the meet with 62-11 in the shot put. He won the weight throw Thursday. 

Alysia Allen of Reed NV jumped 13-0.25 in the girls pole vault and then took three attempts at the 13-5 to try and match the meet record set a year ago by her former Raise The Bar and high school teammate, Makayla Linbebarger. 

Josephine Reeves, who came all the way from Wellington, New Zealand, won the girls high jump with a lifetime best clearance at 5-11. Rylee Anderson of Silver Creek CO also made 5-11, which gave her a share of the national prep lead.

Anna Rodgers from Spokane Speed Academy (Lewis & Clark WA) won the girls long jump with 19-5.50.

Canadian Payne Wylie dominated the boys 60 hurdles with a time of 7.88 seconds.