Simplot showcase one for the ages

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 39th edition of the Simplot Games produced national-leading marks, exceptional head-to-head showdowns, spectacular relay performances and thrilling victories by athletes from the United States, Australia and Canada. Here are the 10 biggest takeaways from the three-day event at Idaho State's Holt Arena.

Distance stars showcase speed

Perhaps even more impressive than the wins earned by American Fork UT senior Casey Clinger, Weber UT senior Talon Hull, Grandview CO senior Brie Oakley, Glacier MT junior Annie Hill and Provo UT senior Kate Hunter were the manner in which the distance standouts punctuated their respective victories.

In the final indoor race of his high school career, Clinger set the 3,200-meter meet record by clocking 8:54.97, eclipsing the mark of 8:57.03 set last year by Salt Lake City East UT talent Garek Bielaczyc. Clinger, who was runner-up last season in 8:59.02, closed with a 32.4-second split on the final lap to secure the record. Even more impressive was that Clinger achieved the feat at an altitude of 4,539 feet, which would knock off approximately 12 seconds had the race been run at sea level, resulting in a 3,200 time of around 8:43 and a 2-mile effort of roughly 8:46.

Hull also set a 1,600 meet record with his 4:08.78, lowering the mark of 4:09.52 set last year by Rocky Mountain ID standout Michael Slagowski by delivering a 26.5-second split for his final 200.

Oakley prevailed in the 1,600 in 4:48.53, just missing the meet record of 4:46.97 set in 2014 by Sarah Feeny of Ogden UT, despite a 35.3-second split over her last 200.

Hill made up the most ground over the final 200 to win the 3,200 in 10:44.21. In third place at the 3,000-meter mark, Hill covered the last lap in 32 seconds to surge past Camila Noe of Bozeman MT in 10:44.51 and Grace Ping of Park City UT in 10:44.57.

After Hannah Freeman of Fairview CO, representing Ric Rojas Running Club, clocked 2:12.39 in an earlier section of the girls 800, Hunter responded in the final with a personal-best 2:10.75, closing with a 32-second final lap.

Tara achieves tough triple

Already the national indoor record holder in the long jump, Agoura CA senior Tara Davis nearly added to that lofty mark, in addition to producing the top prep indoor mark in the country this year in the 60-meter hurdles and securing her first career Simplot Games victory in the triple jump to complete a terrific trifecta for the second consecutive week.

Davis ran a lifetime-best 8.22 seconds in the 60 hurdles to hold off Australian high school star Celeste Mucci of Maribyrnong Sports Academy in Melbourne (8.32).

Davis improved on her own meet record in the long jump with a leap of 21-2.75, giving her four marks of at least 21 feet this year, including her national record 21-11 on Feb. 10 at the Dunamis Sports Group Prep Classic. The final jump for the Georgia signee was a slight foul, but measured at 22-2, which would have been the top indoor mark by an American this year.

After finishing runner-up to former Mountlake Terrace WA and Flying AJs Track Club star Chinne Okoronkwo in the triple jump the past two years, Davis completed her pursuit of three gold medals by winning with a mark of 41-8.25. Lexi Ellis of Curtis WA, continuing the tradition of elite jumpers for Flying AJs, placed second with a leap of 41-5.

Mucci is masterful

Combining the endurance of a heptathlete with the explosiveness of a jumper, Australian talent Celeste Mucci added to her Simplot Games legacy with one of the most impressive one-day performances in meet history.

The top Under-20 heptathlete in the world this year, Mucci defended her title with a 5-10 high jump, in addition to winning the 60-meter dash by edging Jasmin Reed of Serra CA by an 7.385 to 7.388 margin.

After clocking a personal-best 8.26 in the 60-meter hurdles prelims -- second among all Australians this year behind only Sally Pearson -- Mucci ran 8.32 in the final to finish second. She also produced an indoor personal-best in the long jump to place fourth with a leap of 19-8.75.

Mucci capped her meet by leading Maribyrnong Sports Academy to victory in the 4x200 relay, teaming with Jessie Andrew, Meg Cairns and Mareelou Boyle to clock 1:42.34.

Tachinski gets one record, teases another

In her final career performance at Holt Arena, Vincent Massey Collegiate senior Victoria Tachinski of Winnipeg, Manitoba set the Canadian Under-20 indoor 400-meter record by clocking 53.40 seconds.

Tachinski, representing Stride Ahead Tough Track, just missed the meet record of 53.38 set in 2001 by Long Beach Wilson CA star Lashinda Demus.

Tachinski, second last year at New Balance Nationals Indoor in 53.97, will get a rematch with 300 and 400 national indoor record holder Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic NJ in March at The Armory in New York.

Linebarger back in rarefied air

One of the most promising freshman pole vaulters in the country in 2014, Reed NV senior Makayla Linebarger has been slowed by injuries in recent years, but demonstrated she is ready to return to the national scene with a lifetime-best 13-5 (4.10m) clearance to set the meet record.

Linebarger, representing Raise The Bar in Reno, needed three attempts to clear both 11-11.75 (3.65m) and 12-6.5 (3.80m), before getting over the bar at 12-9.5 (3.90m) on her first try.

Following a thrilling third-bar clearance at 13-1.5 (4.00m) to eclipse the meet record of 13-1 set in 2008 by Shade Weygandt of Mansfield TX, Linebarger got over 13-5 on her first attempt, before three misses at 13-9.25 (4.20m), which would have taken over the national prep lead.

Another major achievement for Minor

Arria Minor is still uncertain whether she'll attend New Balance Nationals Indoor in March, but the Denver East CO sophomore made sure the national lead in the 200 meters remained hers with a personal-best 23.65 in the final.

Minor placed third in the 60-meter dash final in 7.49, the fourth time this year she dipped under 7.50.

If Minor, representing Denver Lightning, does decide to compete at The Armory in New York for New Balance Nationals Indoor, she has a legitimate opportunity to challenge the national sophomore record of 23.39 produced in 2015 by Oaks Christian CA star Lauren Rain Williams.

Jasmin Reed of Serra CA benefited from racing twice against Minor in her preparation to compete in New York. Reed, representing Plyometric Fusion, took second in the 60-meter dash in 7.388 seconds and runner-up in the 200 in 24.26.

Putting another Syracuse on the map

The destination for Hunter Woodhall and his teammates in March is The Armory in New York, but the Syracuse senior continued to put the Utah school on the national radar with a pair of victories in his Simplot Games debut.

Woodhall won the 400 in 49.07 after Mountain View ID standout Caleb Hardy was disqualified following multiple infractions during the race. The double medalist at the Rio Paralympics then anchored Syracuse to victory in the 4x400 relay, teaming with Tanner Kutterer, Trevor Burrell and Nathan Kaufusi to clock 3:23.85.

Sweeps for Throw 1 Deep

It was a quick appearance for Throw 1 Deep in the weight throw, before returning to Georgia, but one of the nation's most prestigious clubs continued an impressive tradition with boys and girls victories in Idaho.

Jason Judge of George Walton Comprehensive GA unleashed a personal best by more than two feet in the final round to win the boys event with a throw of 65-5. Evan Hardin of Harrison GA helped Throw 1 Deep capture the top two spots with an effort of 62-3.

Sydnee Walker of Kings Ridge Christian GA won the girls competition with a mark of 56-11, just ahead of Makenli Forrest of Woodward Academy GA with a throw of 56-2.25, giving Throw 1 Deep a gold-silver sweep in both.

Stepping into the spotlight

Several under-the-radar athletes elevated themselves into the national spotlight with impressive victories.

Josiah Carpenter of Southridge OR, representing Step Ur Game Up, clocked 21.67 to win the boys 200, with Dawson LaRance of Billings Senior MT capturing the boys 800 title in 1:54.60.

Jakobe Ford of Shadle Park WA, representing Spokane Speed Academy, won the long jump with a leap of 23-8 and cleared 6-9 to prevail in the high jump.

Dallin Draper of Delta UT, representing Gold Medal Athletics, won the boys 60-meter dash in 6.86 and took second in the 200 in 22 seconds.

Elijah Mason of Desert Vista AZ unleashed a shot put of 63-2 in the final round to secure the gold medal, improving from fourth place at the midway point of the competition.

Well-rounded relays

Showcasing the depth of the relay competition, eight different winners were crowned, with perennial champions Davis UT, Tri-Valley Flyers CA, Angel Flight CO, Fort Collins CO and New Image Training Group CA all being shut out from the gold medal haul.

On the boys side, Utah secured a pair of titles, with Gold Medal Athletics capturing the 1,600 sprint medley relay and Syracuse winning the 4x400. Spokane Speed Academy WA won the boys 4x200, with Star Valley WY prevailing in the 4x800.

In the girls competition, Colorado produced two champions, with Real Training capturing the 4x400 and Ric Rojas Running Club securing the 4x800. CATC, representing Bishop O'Dowd CA, won the girls 1,600 sprint medley relay and Maribyrnong Sports Academy of Australia prevailed in the 4x200.