By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Here is a list of 10 storylines to keep an eye on Thursday through Saturday at the 41st Simplot Games at Idaho State's Holt Arena:

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Opening night could be big for Knight

Ridgefield WA junior Trey Knight, representing Evergreen Storm Track Club, won the 25-pound weight throw and shot put last year.

Not only is Knight returning to Idaho State’s Holt Arena in search of two more victories, but he is also pursuing a pair of records, beginning with Thursday’s weight throw final.

The best throw in meet history of 82-7.25 (25.17m) was produced in 2004 by Leif Arrhenius of Mountain View UT.

Knight set the sophomore class national record last year with a personal-best effort of 83-6.75 (25.46m), elevating him to the No. 5 all-time prep performer. He enters the meet as the national leader with his 80-5 (24-51m) performance Feb. 1 at the Nike Boise Indoor meet in Nampa, Idaho.

Knight is focused this season on eclipsing the junior class national record of 87-10.75 (26.79m) set in 2008 by Chaminade CA graduate Conor McCullough.

The girls weight throw final will also be Thursday, featuring a pair of talented juniors in Ava David of Lake Oswego OR, representing Super Thrower Track Club, and Markayla Billings of Cosumnes Oaks CA, competing for Golden State Throwers. Both are capable of surpassing 50 feet.

Ready to go the distance

The meet’s oldest girls individual track record remains the 3,200 meters, with Emily Kroshus of Calgary, Alberta, Canada clocking 10:32.41 in 2000.

Former Bigfork MT standout and Colorado All-American Makena Morley got close by running 10:34.03 in 2014. Australian star Amelia Mazza-Downie provided an even greater threat in 2015 when she teased the mark by finishing in 10:33.25.

After nearly two decades, the record could finally be taken down Saturday.

Laramie WY sophomore has Sydney Thorvaldson has already run faster than Kroshus’ all-time mark twice this season, including a personal-best 10:30.95 on Saturday at the Basin Nation Invitational in Campbell County.

Thorvaldson isn’t the only athlete with the potential to challenge the record, with Hellgate MT senior Ember Stratton, Peak to Peak CO senior Anna Shults, Lehi UT junior Anna Martin, Corner Canyon UT senior Karli Branch and Davis UT senior Ellie Lundgreen also entered.

Williams pursuing special sprint standard

The boys 60-meter dash meet record of 6.68 seconds set by Kenny O’Neal of Oakland Skyline CA has stood since 2004.

Benson OR junior Micah Williams produced a national-leading 6.67 effort Jan. 12 at the Washington Indoor Preview and has his sights set on personal-best performances Saturday in the 60 and 200.

Williams boasts a wind-legal outdoor best of 21.19 in the 200, but has yet to run sub-22 indoors. The meet record is 21.41 by Faquawn Green of New Bern NC in 2010.

Halladay has potential for historic performance

Mountain View ID junior Lexy Halladay won the girls 1,600 meters in 4:53.40 as an eighth-grader in 2016.

Following a second-place finish as a freshman and not being able to compete at last year’s meet because of injury, a healthy Halladay is looking to make history Saturday by challenging the 2014 meet record of 4:46.97 set by Ogden UT standout Sarah Feeny.

Halladay won the mile race Feb. 2 in 4:53.77 at the Nike Boise Indoor in Nampa, Idaho.

Lake Stevens WA senior Taylor Roe is also capable of challenging for the record, with last year’s runner-up Carlee Hansen of Woods Cross UT also part of a talented field.

Wright hoping to find right stuff again

Shelley ID senior Ty Wright won the boys high jump last year with an indoor-best 6-9 (2.05m) clearance.

Wright improved his personal-best to 6-9.5 (2.07m) outdoors last year and is now looking to become the first boys repeat winner since former Mt. Pleasant CA standout and Georgia junior Darius Carbin prevailed in 2015-16.

Wright looks to avenge a Feb. 1 setback to Helena MT junior Trey Tintinger at the Nike Boise Indoor by a 6-8.75 (2.05m) to 6-6.75 (2.00m) margin. Tintinger boasts a personal-best 7-1.50 (2.17m) clearance from 2017.

No Minor, but still major girls sprint talent

Denver East senior Arria Minor, a Georgia signee, is not returning to defend her titles in the 60-meter dash and 400, but the collection of female sprinters is again impressive.

Serra CA senior Jazmyne Frost, a USC commit, finished third in the 60 and 200 last year and is a leading contender to win both events. She’ll be challenged by fellow California standouts De’Anna Nowling of Calabasas, a Miami (Florida) signee, and Chinyere Okoro of Amador Valley, along with Alisha Wilson of Tahoma WA and Trinity Price of Buford GA.

The absence of Minor and her club also opens up opportunities for new champions in the girls 4x200 and 4x400 relays after Denver Lightning won both races last year.

The early search for sub-nine

The goal for several of the nation’s top boys 3,200-meter runners each season is to eclipse the 9-minute barrier.

Only a select few have achieved the feat in meet history, most recently Casey Clinger of American Fork UT, when he set the meet record of 8:54.97 in 2017.

Kirtland Central NM senior Kashon Harrison will look to produce a sub-9 effort, along with American Fork senior Luke Grundvig, Thunder Ridge ID junior Stetson Moss and Flathead MT senior Ben Perrin, the lone returnee from last year’s top 10.

Manson siblings searching for family sweep

Following their victories Saturday at the 10th annual Great Southwest Indoor Classic in New Mexico, Monarch CO siblings Max Manson and Mia Manson look to win both pole vault competitions in Pocatello.

Max Manson, a Stanford signee, cleared 17 feet (5.18m) in Albuquerque and boasts a season-best 17-2.75 (5.25m) from Jan. 27 at the USATF Colorado Association Indoor Championship.

He is looking to challenge the meet record of 17-8.50 (5.39m) set last year by former Davis Senior CA star and UCLA freshman Sondre Guttormsen, who eclipsed the previous mark of 17-6.25 (5.34m) held since 1986 by Pat Manson, Max and Mia’s father.

Mia Manson boasts a personal-best 13-6 (4.11m) from last year. The girls meet record of 13-5 (4.08m) was set in 2017 by Makayla Linebarger of Reed NV.

Middle-distance champions back for more

American Fork UT senior Joe Corbridge and Fairview CO senior Marlena Preigh are both scheduled to return, looking to repeat as 800-meter winners.

Corbridge, a Weber State commit, clocked 1:56.99 last year. Preigh, a Washington signee, ran 2:16.95 to secure the victory last season.

Preigh will face challenges from Niwot CO sophomore Taylor James and senior Tracy Towns of Shaftesbury High in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Corbridge should face a significant test from Niwot junior Cruz Culpepper, along with Arcadia CA senior Anthony Carranza.

Hickey hopes for dynamic double

Coronado CA senior Alysah Hickey, representing Step Ur Game Up, is entered in both the long jump and high jump, along with the 60-meter dash.

Hickey, one of the nation’s top all-around athletes who has signed with Oregon, has the potential to win both jumping events, especially after her victory Feb. 1 in the long jump with a 19-3.75 (5.88m) effort at the Nike Boise Indoor in Nampa, Idaho.

Hickey’s path to win the high jump will encounter strong challenges from Bozeman MT senior Delaney Bahn and Cascade OR freshman Emma Gates, who both cleared 5-7 (1.70m) at Nike Boise Indoor, in addition to Cheyenne Central WY freshman Jordan Stoddard, who has cleared 5-6 (1.67m) this season.

Hickey is scheduled to square off against Silver Creek CA standout and UNLV signee Jazlynn Shearer in the long jump, along with Bahn and Manson.