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Weekend Storylines - 2015 Simplot Games - DyeStat

Published by
DyeStat.com   Feb 20th 2015, 8:20pm
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A Look at Simplot's Saturday Storylines

 

By Erik Boal of DyeStatCAL



Hometown hero


Pocatello's Elijah Armstrong already produced the fastest indoor 2-mile time in the country Feb. 7 at the New Balance Boise Invitational by clocking 9:14.09.

Armstrong will look for similar success Saturday in the 3,200-meter final after posting the fastest qualifying time in Thursday's prelims.

Armstrong will be tested in the final by Levi Thomet from Kodiak, Alaska, who is making his indoor debut. Armstrong and Thomet squared off at the Foot Locker West Regionals and national championships in cross country.


Youth vs. experience


The girls 1,600-meter final Saturday features Montana's standout freshmen Annie Hill from Glacier High and Bryn Morley from Bigfork, along with sophomore Sydney Wendt from Campbell County, Wyoming, taking on seniors Tabor Scholl of West Grand, Colorado, and Lucy Biles from Herriman, Utah.

Scholl led all qualifiers in the prelims with a 5:04.44, but expect several athletes to dip under the 5-minute barrier in this deep championship field.


Golden state speed


Oaks Christian's Lauren Rain Williams set the national sophomore indoor record in the 200 meters at the New Balance Boise Invitational and Rio Mesa's Zaria Francis won the California state indoor title in the 55-meter dash Monday in Fresno.

They were expected to both be among the favorites in Saturday's 60-meter dash final, but Francis didn't compete in the prelims. Jaela Williams of Serra is one of three California finalists in the short sprint.

Clovis West's Lyndsey Lopes and Oaks Christian's Miah Webb, Williams' cousin, are leading contenders at 200 meters, along with Carly Lester of Rocky Mountain, Colorado,


International impact


Makena Morley of Bigfork, Montana, is the national indoor leader at 2 miles after clocking 10:44.66 at the New Balance Boise Invitational, but she wasn't the fastest qualifier in the 3,200 prelims after running 10:55.88.

That distinction belongs to sophomore Amelia Mazza-Downie from Maribyrnong, Australia, who ran 10:50.81 in the prelims.

Mazza-Downie performed well running at altitude, but she'll have to deal with the experience of Morley, who is targeting the national 3,200 lead of 10:30.82.


High hopes in hurdles


Piedmont Hills' Reonna Collier and Jaela Williams are two of California's elite hurdlers, but they'll have to contend with Carly Lester of Rocky Mountain, Colorado, in Saturday's final.

Williams won the California state indoor title in the 55-meter hurdles and Lester captured the Colorado state indoor championship in the 60-meter hurdles, with Collier securing the victory in the 60-meter hurdles at New Balance Boise Invitational.


Middle distance measuring stick


Two-time California state outdoor champion Mikaela Smith from Clovis North is competing at the meet, but not in the 800, leaving the door open for Kaley Ciluffo of Pleasant Valley, Iowa, and Sophie Cantine of Seattle, Washington to possibly capture the championship, along with Canadian standout Ginelle DeMone.

Smith is instead competing for ISC International Empire Athletics on the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 relays, making them among the favorites to secure both titles.


A big leap


Agoura's Tara Davis enjoyed one of the best meets of her young career to win a pair of California state indoor titles by winning the long jump with a mark of 19-4 1/2 and triple jump by producing a leap of 40-2 on her final attempt to move into the top six in the country in both events.

Chinne Okoronkwo from Tacoma, Washington, is also a leading challenger in both the long jump and triple jump in Saturday's finals. Davis will also race in the 60-meter hurdles final.


Shot put showdown


After producing an impressive showcase in the girls weight throw, Haley Showalter of Valor Christian, Colorado, and Sabrina Gaitan from Sprayberry, Georgia, will square off again in the shot put.
Showalter won the Colorado indoor title in the shot put and Gaitan has been over 40 feet twice this season.


Relay the message


New Image Training Group has combined the efforts of standouts from Carson and Cathedral, who have aspirations of taking down New York's Newburgh Elite and Long Beach's Blazin Bruins in the boys 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 relays.

Carson's Brandon Hasson will be a huge factor for New Image, anchoring both relays in addition to contending for the 200 title. Wildcat Track Club of Woods Cross, Utah, could secure the title in the boys sprint medley relay.

Expect Fort Collins Track Club from Colorado to challenge for the girls 4 x 200 championship, with YMCA Team Idaho and Utah's Davis Track Club in contention for the girls sprint medley title.

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