Knight, Figueroa Win Weight Throw Competitions; Sydney Thorvaldson Speeds Through 3,200 Prelim in 10:11.43

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

POCATELLO, Idaho – Trey Knight had all the eyes in Holt Arena on him as he tried to surpass his meet record and chase after Conor McCullough’s national high school record in the weight throw.

Knight, of Ridgefield WA, made his entry into the 2020 indoor season with a US#1 mark of 80 feet, 11 inches (24.66m). Then he threw 83-2 (25.34m) and then 84-0 (25.60m).

But in the finals, Knight threw far but the 25-pound ball sailed wide left of the sector on his three remaining tries.

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The sixth and final throw landed near 89 feet – but it was a foul.

“I think I was really just going for it and yanked it a lot more. You can’t do that,” Knight said.

Knight’s six throws Thursday represent half of what he has planned for the indoor season. He said he’ll throw at the University of Washington High School lnvitational next week in Seattle, but he is not planning to go back to New York to defend his New Balance Nationals title.

Knight joined the Ridgefield football team last fall and in his one and only season made the all-league team as a defensive lineman. He even returned a fumble 91 yards for a touchdown.

“I’m glad I did it. It was a good break from track. I’ve been training a lot the last few years,” Knight said. “It was good to have the team aspect of it. Because in track (training) it’s just me and my grandpa.”

As football ended, the training sessions with his grandfather, John Gambill, picked up.

It’s been a long build up to Thursday’s Simplot Games, and Knight believes he has a real chance to go for the national record.

“The main goal is to hit 90. I’ve been close in practice. I want to hit a big one,” Knight said.

His off-season also included a college choice that wasn’t easy. He whittled it down to Penn State and USC and hard time deciding between the two. Ultimately, he chose USC and coach Dan Lange.

Knight, who ranks No. 2 all-time in the weight throw, is targeting a national record in the hammer in the spring.

At Simplot, Ben Chappell of Oakdale CA earned a three-foot PR and finished second with 72-2.25 (22.00m).

Cheyenne Figueroa of Classical RI made a long trip west to compete in the weight and won it with a toss measuring 58-11.25 (17.96m).

Meanwhile, in prelim action on the track, Rawlins WY junior Sydney Thorvaldson ripped through her 3,200 meters first round race in 10:11.43, which broke her own meet record from 2019. Thorvaldson will have a day off before running in the final on Saturday. She tore through her first lap in 33.2 seconds. 

Thorvaldson has run 10:01.52 at sea level, in 2019. Her time Thursday, run at 4,460 feet elevation, converts to about 9:58.

Her meet record was 10:19.05.

Nathan Green of Borah ID qualified safely for the 1,600-meter final with 4:20.10.