Preigh breaks 800 record, Thorvaldson eclipses 3,200 mark and Hansen secures biggest 1,600 victory of her career to highlight strong female showcase, which includes big wins for Okoro, Shearer

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

In a two-hour span Saturday, Marlena Preigh, Sydney Thorvaldson and Carlee Hansen delivered three of the most impressive performances by female distance runners in the 41-year history of the Simplot Games.

Preigh and Thorvaldson broke two of the longest-standing meet records and Hansen produced the fastest time in the country this season with the most impressive victory of her young career at Idaho State’s Holt Arena.

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Preigh, a senior at Fairview CO representing RISE Athletics, won the girls 800 meters in 2 minutes, 6.80 seconds, eclipsing the 2005 mark of 2:07.00 by Heidi Houle of Mountain View UT.

Preigh, who ran 2:10.89 against a collegiate field Jan. 26 at the University of Washington Invitational, demonstrated she was just scratching the surface of her potential this year. The Huskies signee elevated to the No. 2 all-time indoor performer in Colorado and No. 16 in prep history, including second in the country this season.

Preigh became the first female athlete to repeat in the 800 since Jenna Westaway of Calgary International in 2011-12.

Thorvaldson, a sophomore at Rawlins WY who competes for Laramie High, smashed the 3,200 meet record by clocking 10:19.05 after her solo qualifying effort of 10:37.90 less than 24 hours earlier. The mark of 10:32.41 by Emily Broshus of Calgary, Alberta, Canada had stood since 2000.

Thorvaldson’s performance at 4,465 feet of elevation in Pocatello would convert to 10:06.15 at sea level and 10:10.15 for a full 2 miles.

After the results of the Gazelle Elite 3,200 at Grand Valley State in Michigan were confirmed, Thorvaldson’s official time concluded the day No. 5 in the country behind Glenbard West IL junior Katelynne Hart (10:02.46), Rockford MI senior Ericka VanderLende (10:02.81), Muskegon Western Michigan Christian freshman Abby VanderKooi (10:04.18) and Ann Arbor Pioneer MI junior Zofia Dudek (10:07.03).

Hansen, a Woods Cross UT sophomore who was runner-up last year in the 1,600 to Sadie Sargent of North Summit UT, ran a personal-best 4:51.85 to prevail against 2016 winner Lexy Halladay of Mountain View ID (4:55.86). Hansen elevated to the top time in the country this season.

Although the record-setting efforts were produced in the distance events, the sprints and hurdles also showcased several impressive performances.

In a preview of potential matchups at the California state finals, Amador Valley senior and Oregon commit Chinyere Okoro, representing Nor Cal Elite, edged Serra senior and USC signee Jazmyne Frost by a 7.4744 to 7.4787 margin in the 60-meter dash.

In the 60 hurdles, Silver Creek senior Jazlynn Shearer prevailed over Calabasas sophomore Bella Witt, competing for Codeblack Elite, by an 8.42 to 8.48 margin.

All four marks ranked in the top 10 in the country this season.

Okoro also contributed to Nor Cal Elite winning the 4x200 relay in 1:42.20.

Colorado athletes Sydney Holiday of Broomfield, representing FK Elite, and Grandview junior Lily Williams won the 200 and 400, respectively. Holiday, who also placed third in the 60 in 7.62, prevailed in 24.34, with Williams running a personal-best 56.46 a week after completing her swim season at the state finals.

Bozeman MT senior Delaney Bahn cleared a personal-best 5-9 (1.75m) in the high jump and Sentinel MT junior Lauren Heggen, representing Mountain West Track Club, also achieved a personal best in the triple jump with a leap of 39-10.25 (12.14m).

Cole Valley Christian ID junior Brooke Weimer, representing YMCA Team Idaho, prevailed over Coronado CA senior Alysah Hickey of Step Ur Game Up in the long jump after both athletes produced marks of 18-10.25 (5.74m). Weimer had a second jump of 18-7 (5.66m) compared to Hickey’s second effort of 18-6.75 (5.65m).

Boise ID senior Maya Maloney, competing for Stacy Dragila Vault Club, won the pole vault with a third-attempt clearance at 12-5.50 (3.80m).

Lincoln OR senior Laurel Kun, representing Super Thrower Track Club, secured the shot put title with a mark of 40-2 (12.24m).

After a disqualification in the 1,600 sprint medley resulted in Blazin Bruin having its victory overturned and awarded to Utah’s Gold Medal Athletics (4:12.95), the quartet representing Long Beach Wilson CA rebounded to win the 4x400 relay in 3:56.88.

MAC Track from Alberta, Canada won its first 4x800 relay since 2014 in 9:50.82. Emma Langstrom, who anchored the relay, also placed second to Preigh in the 800 final in a personal-best 2:15.87.