JoJo Jourdon, Daniel Simmons, Jane Hedengren, Avalon Mecham, Austin Westfall Gearing Up For Pocatello 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Many of Utah's top high school distance runners are making the trek up Interstate 15 this week to compete in Pocatello, Idaho at the 44th Simplot Games at Idaho State University's renamed ICCU Dome. 

Remember Utah's domination at Nike Cross Nationals in early December? 

It was JoJo Jourdon out of Olympus UT winning the boys race, with Orem UT's Austin Westfall fourth. Herriman UT and American Fork UT went 1-2 in a memorable team battle. And Daniel Simmons' off day didn't prevent him from winning the Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year for the second straight time. 

All of them will be at the Simplot Games. 

And Jane Hedengren of Timpview UT, a notable absence from NXN due to injury, is also back in action. She beat eventual Foot Locker champion Elizabeth Leachman at Woodbridge last September, and is No. 8 all-time in the high school mile outdoors. 

Jourdon and Simmons share top billing heading into the weekend. 

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Jourdon recently became Utah's first sub-four high school miler when he ran 3:59.87 at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston. Last year in Pocatello, his result was a bit more modest: he was fifth in the 3,200 meters. 

This year Jourdon is entered in the 1,600. He can take aim at Talon Hull's meet record of 4:08.78 from 2017. The elevation in Pocatello is 4,500 feet. 

Simmons is returning to the 3,200 meters after a memorable performance last year, where he had to dig deep to overtake a late surge by Sam Hansen of Woods Cross UT to break the meet record with 8:53.80. (Altitude conversion brings it down to about 8:41). 

This year's challengers in the 3,200 meters include Westfall, Maximus Cervi-Skinner of Coeur d'Alene ID, Jack Becktstrom of Herriman, Gabe Hooper of Viewmont UT, Habtamu Wetzel of Star Valley WY, Sam Ghiz of Riverton UT and two of Simmons' teammates, Ben Jaster and Kaden Evans. 

In the 1,600 meters, Jourdon could have company at the front of the pack with Max Hofheins of Herriman and Nate Stadtlander from YMCA Team Idaho (Meridian ID). 

On the girls side, Hedengren is entered in the 3,200 meters. It will be her first go at the distance since she won Nike Outdoor Nationals in the full 2-mile in 9:54.38, good for No. 16 in prep history. 

Avalon Mecham from American Fork, a top 25 finisher at NXN the past two years, is also entered in the 3,200. 

Hedengren's teammate, Lily Alder, is one of the top entrants in the 800 meters and will take on the defending champion from Canada, Meadow Drebert, from Leduc Track, and Washington 3A champion Julia Couch of Auburn Riverside. 

Local standout Nelah Roberts from Skyline of Idaho Falls, is entered in the 1,600 and 3,200. Like Mecham, she has finished in the top 25 the past two years at NXN. She was 16th last December. 

Bryce Barkdull from Andover Central in Kansas, the national leader in the boys pole vault (17-6.75) is coming into Pocatello after competing and winning at New York's 116th Millrose Games last weekend. 

In the sprints, California state finalist Jordan Coleman (Granada Hills) is the top entry in the boys 60 meters and 200. 

Washington standout Braelyn Baker, who won four Class 1A titles last spring for Bear Creek High, is entered in the 200 and long jump. 

Wyoming's Kaiden Lee from Natrona County is in the boys high jump and is US#4 with a clearance at 6-10 this winter. 

Montana's Nash Coley from Gallatin High, the state champion in the 400 and the 300-meter hurdles, is entered in the 60 hurdles and the 400 this weekend. 

Bria Anderson from Timpanogos UT is the top entry in the 400 meters and was the Class 5A runner-up in that event last spring. 

Mikaela Warr of Canyon CA was the California Winter Championships 60-meter champion and is entered in the dash. 

Thursday's action begins with prelims on the track and one field event final in the weight throws. Lander Marak from Sandy OR/Super Thrower TC, is ranked US#3 and finished second at Simplot last year.

In the girls ring, Ronan Gallagher from Folsom HS/Golden State Throwers recently won Feb. 3 at the California Winter Outdoor meet with a 52-5.50 effort.