Stars from different states, countries shine at Simplot Games

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

The 38th edition of the Simplot Games produced national-leading marks, exceptional head-to-head showdowns, memorable relay performances and inspirational 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.

American female jumping remains in rarefied air

During a 15-minute span Saturday, Agoura junior Tara Davis and Cypress Springs (Texas) senior Samiyah Samuels delivered three meet records and national-leading marks in the long jump, and that was only in their flight (photo above by Jean Thompson). Although neither individual improved on those performances in the finals, the anticipated showdown involving the World Youth champion Davis and Pan-Am Junior gold medalist Samuels didn't disappoint. Davis repeated as Simplot Games winner with a third-round leap of 20-10.75, after Samuels had jumped 20-5.75 to temporarily grab the national lead after Davis struck first with a mark of 20-5.25. Davis returned to the runway later to battle with Mountlake Terrace (Washington) senior Chinne Okoronkwo in the triple jump in another classic showdown. Okoronkwo, the Pan-Am Junior triple jump bronze medalist, also repeated as Simplot Games champion with a U.S. No. 2 mark of 41-7.25, prevailing over Davis, who leaped to a U.S. No. 3 41-3.75 to secure silver to go along with her two golds.

Utah distance runners keep on rolling

While most of the attention nationally was on Drew Hunter of Loudoun Valley (Virginia) breaking his own national indoor mile record at the Millrose Games, Utah stars Garek Bielaczyc and Casey Clinger produced a thrilling battle in the 3,200-meter final. Clinger, a junior at American Fork, hadn't faced a challenge the caliber of Bielaczyc since winning Nike Cross Nationals in December. Bielaczyc, a senior at Salt Lake City East who placed fourth at Foot Locker Nationals and competed for the U.S. at the Great Edinburgh XC in Scotland, had run a solo 9:00.07 for 2 miles Feb. 5 at New Balance Boise Indoor. The two athletes were shoulder to shoulder entering the final 200 meters, before Bielaczyc unleashed an impressive kick to break the meet record and run U.S. No. 3 8:57.03, with Clinger clocking U.S. No. 4 8:59.02. Using an altitude conversion, since the race was run at 4,500 feet, Bielaczyc and Clinger delivered two of the best distance performances in Utah history.

Francis remains on fast track

When Rio Mesa senior Zaria Francis ran 7.40 to win the 60-meter dash Feb. 6 at New Balance Boise Indoor, it didn't take long for Cassondra Hall of Northside (Georgia) to take over the national lead by running 7.36 the same day at Vanderbilt. Francis delivered another explosive performance in the Simplot Games final, this time matching Hall's mark with a personal-best 7.36, setting up a potential showdown for sprinting supremacy at New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York. Francis continued to demonstrate her improvement running the 200 indoors, clocking U.S. No. 3 23.85, another promising step forward after her 24.10 to place second in Boise behind the 23.47 from national leader Lauren Rain Williams of Oaks Christian, who didn't attend the Simplot Games after winning the 60 last year.

Hometown heroes don't disappoint

Three of the meet's most memorable victories belonged to YMCA Team Idaho members Garrett Calhoun, Michael Slagowski and Lexy Halladay. Calhoun, who took second Feb. 6 to Slagowski in the 800 at New Balance Boise Indoor, had the spotlight to himself and the Timberline standout responded with a U.S. No. 2 1:52.39 to hold off Logan MacKay of Davis (Utah), who ran 1:52.64. Not to be outdone, Slagowski broke the meet record and ran U.S. No. 2 4:09.52 in the 1,600, with the Rocky Mountain star separating himself on the final lap from American Fork's Patrick Parker (4:10.16). Halladay, an eighth-grader from Lake Hazel Middle School, followed her impressive victories in the 800 and mile at New Balance Boise Indoor by winning the 1,600 at Simplot Games in 4:53.40, pulling away from veteran Utah talents Sara Musselman of American Fork (4:58.45) and Courtney Wayment of Davis (4:59.07).

Carbin soaring to new heights

Jaron Brooks of Henry Clay (Kentucky) now has company among the indoor 7-foot high jumpers in the country after Darius Carbin of Mt. Pleasant improved on his U.S. No. 2 mark to repeat as Simplot Games champion. Carbin followed his triple jump victory with a U.S. No. 8 performance of 47-11.25 by clearing 7 feet for the first time indoors. Carbin, the World Youth outdoor high jump bronze medalist, had three attempts at the meet record at Holt Arena, but fell short of clearing a lifetime-best 7-2.5. Expect Clay and Carbin to raise the bar again in what could be an exceptional matchup at New Balance Indoor Nationals.

Canadian stars travel different paths to gold

Victoria Tachinski became a nerve-racking spectator and Ginelle DeMone finally stepped to the forefront, but the results were the same for two of Canada's most talented young runners. DeMone, a senior at Leduc Composite in Alberta who placed third last year in the 800, made a late move to the front in tthe final heat and held off Ellen Brooks of Sentinel (Montana) and Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy (Colorado) with her victory in 2:12.89. Tachinski repeated as 400 champion in 54.38, but had to do so running in the second of three heats after clocking 58. in the prelims. The junior from Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg had to wait as Oaks Christian junior Carolyn Wilson -- runner-up last year to Tachinski's winning effort of 54.05 -- ran 54.72 in the final heat to confirm her back-to-back victories. Ryan Smeeton of Henry WiseWood in Calgary, who won the 1,600 last year, placed third behind Slagowski and Parker in 4:13.10, an improvement of more than three seconds from last season.

Rabing is queen of the ring

After winning the weight throw with a personal-best and U.S. No. 7 55-5 to open competition Thursday, Lakeridge (Oregon) senior Maddie Rabing swept both throwing gold medals with a U.S. No. 8 47-10.5 in the shot put Saturday. Rabing and Newberg's Hap Frketich completed an Oregon sweep of the weight throw titles. Rabing was the only athlete from outside California to win multiple events, joining Darius Carbin, Tara Davis and Zaria Francis with a pair of gold medals.

From Down Under to top of the podium

Olivia Gallagher ran an inspiring race to prevail in the 3,200 meters and Celeste Mucci capped a demanding day with three medals, including one gold, as the female standouts from Maribyrnong College in Victoria, Australia excelled again in their annual trip to Idaho State. Gallagher, battling a sore calf muscle for the majority of the race, blocked out the pain to prevail in 10:52.46, following the win of teammate Amelia Mazza-Downie from last year. Mazza-Downie didn't return to defend her title, instead remaining in Australia in attempt to qualify for the World Junior Championships in the 3,000. Mucci, one of Australia's most promising young heptathletes, cleared 5-7 to win the high jump, placed second in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.44 and finished sixth in the long jump with a leap of 18-7. She also ran on Maribyrnong's 4 x 200 relay, which placed seventh.

Ruh, Schrage come through in clutch

Ethan Ruh of Creighton Prep (Nebraska) and Harrison Schrage of Grant (Oregon) endured some anxious moments on their journeys to winning gold medals. Both athletes fouled on their first two attempts, Ruh in the shot put and Schrage in the long jump, putting the pressure on to produce a legal mark just to qualify for the finals. Schrage barely advanced with an 18-9 on his third jump, but it was good enough to earn three more attempts and he responded with a 24-1.75 in the fifth round to secure the victory, in addition to placing third in the 60-meter dash with a season-best 6.96. Ruh took a more conservative approach to make sure he stayed in the ring on his third attempt, then unleashed a 59-10 in the fourth round to win the competition.

California sprints, hurdles and relays rule again

Although Javan Lanier (6.81) of Regis Jesuit and Chris Youngs (6.90) of Lutheran led a Colorado sweep of the top two spots in the boys 60-meter dash final, with Davis (Utah) winning the girls 4 x 400 relay in 3:58.47 and Campbell County (Wyoming) capturing the boys 4 x 400 in 3:24.63, the rest of the relays, sprints and hurdles were a golden haul for the Golden state. Upland's Joseph Anderson repeated as boys 60-meter hurdles champion in U.S. No. 6 6.91, Davis captured the girls 60 hurdles crown and Francis swept the girls 60 and 200. Cathedral's Renard Bell won the boys 200 in 21.93 and teammate Stefon Goudeau prevailed in the 400 in 48.91, in addition to joining forces to help New Image Training Group defend its 4 x 200 relay title in 1:31.59. Academy of Speed won the girls 4 x 200 relay in 1:40.14 and 1,600 sprint medley relay in 4:13.81, with Tri-Valley Flyers rallying for the boys 1,600 sprint medley relay title in 3:36.75.