Williams takes down 2004 meet record, equals No. 9 all-time prep performer; Knight becomes first to win back-to-back titles in shot put and weight throw since 2009-10, Grundvig prevails in 3,200

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Micah Williams wasn’t feeling his best Saturday, battling a lingering cold when he stepped on the track Saturday at the 41st Simplot Games.

But that didn’t prevent the Benson Tech OR standout from not only producing the best 60-meter performance in meet history, but equaling the junior class national record at Idaho State’s Holt Arena.

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Williams clocked 6.64 seconds from the second of three finals sections, eclipsing the 2004 meet standard of 6.68 by Kenny O’Neal from Oakland Skyline CA. No one else in the field ran faster than 6.84.

Williams, who lowered his own Oregon state indoor record, also matched the junior marks of Overland CO standout Jeremy Rankin in 2008 and Isaiah Brandt-Sims of Wenatchee WA in 2013.

After senior Lance Lang of McCluer North MO ran 6.62 at the University of Kentucky High School Invitational, Williams concluded the day equal to the No. 9 all-time prep performer.

Ridgefield WA junior Trey Knight prevailed in the shot put with a sixth-round effort of 60 feet, 6.25 inches (18.44m) to repeat as champion.

Knight, representing Evergreen Storm Track Club, became the first male athlete to win back-to-back gold medals in the shot put and weight throw since McIntosh GA talent Davis Fraker, competing for Throw 1 Deep, achieved the feat in 2009-10.

American Fork senior Luke Grundvig secured a victory against a quality 3,200-meter field by clocking an indoor-best 9:07.76, with Kirtland Central NM senior Kashon Harrison placing second in 9:13.74.

Grundvig’s performance at 4,465 feet of elevation in Pocatello converts to approximately 8:56 at sea level and around 9 minutes for a full 2 miles.

Borah ID sophomore Nathan Green, representing YMCA Team Idaho, won the boys 1,600 in 4:18.74, edging Asefa Wetzel of Star Valley WY in 4:19.96.

Dawson Mann, a senior at Sanford Collegiate in Manitoba competing for Stride Ahead Track Club, became the first Canadian athlete to win the boys 800 since 2015, clocking 1:56.58. American Fork senior Joe Corbridge, last year’s champion, won his section in 1:58.25, but placed third overall.

Rancho Cucamonga CA senior Christopher Hill, representing Academy of Speed, won the boys 200 in 21.64 and Bountiful UT senior Jace Jensen captured the 400 title in 49.62.

One of the biggest surprises on the track came in the boys 60 hurdles, with Bradley Graves of Huntley Project MT producing the fastest overall time from the second of three sections, clocking a personal-best 8.09. Overland CO senior Joel Nyatusah, representing Gazelle Sprint Club, ran 8.10 in the final section.

Angus Wood of Maribyrnong Sports Academy was the only Australian athlete to capture a title during the three-day meet, prevailing in the triple jump with a leap of 46-5.75 (14.16m).

Salt Lake City East UT senior Josh Hartvigsen, competing for the Cheetahs, won the long jump with a second-round effort of 22-3.25 (6.78m), improving from sixth place last year.

Springville UT junior Jonathan Holman cleared 6-9 (2.05m) on his first attempt in the high jump to edge Trey Tintinger of Helena MT, who made the height on his second try.

Monarch CO senior Max Manson, representing Above the Bar, continued his string of impressive pole vault victories this season, clearing 16-2.50 (4.94m) to join his father Pat Manson as a Simplot Games champion.

Davis UT secured its first 4x800 relay victory since 2016, clocking 8:22.11.

New Image Training Group of Los Angeles captured its first 1,600 sprint medley relay title since 2014 by running 3:38.81.

Blazin Bruin, representing Long Beach Wilson CA, won the 4x400 in 3:23.83 and the Wyoming-based Broncs Track Club triumphed in the 4x200 in 1:30.66.