Thorvaldson Thrills With Sub-10 Attempt At Altitude

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

POCATELLO, Idaho – Over the final laps of Sydney Thorvaldson’s run Saturday on the Holt Arena boards, spectators rushed to her aid with yells of encouragement, pounding hands and stomping feet.

Thorvaldson, a junior from Rawlins WY, was the star attraction in the final session of the 42nd Simplot Games and her attempt to crack 10 minutes in the 3,200 meters at 4,460 feet elevation grabbed the arena by its collective heart.

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“It was so crazy, the energy was great,” she said, after clocking in at 10:06.58 to lower her own meet record. “It was so compelling just running around the track and hearing them say that I’m so close, but I don’t know. It was really great, and I don’t think I could have got that time without the crowd.”

Just two days earlier, she ran 10:11.43 in the prelim.

In the final, Thorvaldson tore out after a quick early pace and went through the first 200 in 33 seconds. She was at 4:55 at 1,600 meters and the need to constantly move out to lane 2 to pass lapped runners had to add to the effort. Her time would adjust to 9:53.68 at sea level, which converts to a 9:57.12 2-mile effort.

A year ago, Thorvaldson and her parents had to find an alternate route to Pocatello from central Wyoming, where blowing snow and gusting winds forced the interstate to shut down. Winding through mountain passes on a two-lane highway, they got to Pocatello late for her Thursday prelim. Meet officials elected to let Thorvaldson run a time trial by herself to qualify for the final, where she set her initial meet record of 10:19.05.

This winter, icy weather has forced her indoors more than she’d like.

“It’s really rough,” Thorvaldson said. “We’ve had two snow days this year, and we never get snow days, so that’s weird. It’s been tough. The treadmill is my best friend right now.”

Elsewhere Saturday, Mia Manson of REAL Training Colorado (Monarch) collected the only other meet record with her clearance of 13-5.25 (4.10m) in the pole vault. Manson chose to move the bar up to 13-9, which would have been a new PR, but she wasn’t able to pull that off. Still, with a season’s best of 13-7, she is ranked No. 2 in the country.

In the boys high jump, Logan Tittle of Fremont UT went a foot over his head to edge out Helena MT’s Trey Tintinger after both cleared 6-10.75, good for US#1. Tittle then got his forearm autographed with a black Sharpie by 1968 Olympic champion and innovator Dick Fosbury.

“I’m going to have this permanently tattooed as soon as I get home,” Tittle said.

Gavin Schurr of Rise Athletics (Fairview CO) used a late burst to overtake Braiden Ivie of Gold Medal Athletics (Emery UT) in an entertaining 200 meters final, 21.57 to 21.66.

Earlier, Schurr ran a strong 60 but couldn’t overtake Deven Brown of Seattle Speed (Lindbergh WA), who won in 6.74. Schurr clocked 6.82.

Trinity Price, who made the trip out from Buford GA, ran 23.99 to win the 200 meters and needed all her energy to hold off Adaji Osaro-Igwe of Tahoma WA, who ran 24.09.

Nathan Green of YMCA Team Idaho (Borah ID) won the boys 1,600 meters in 4:17.99, a somewhat pedestrian time for him. But the early pace slacked and with no one else to push the pace, Green bided his time and kicked away late.

Taylor James of REAL Training Colorado (Niwot) won the 800 meters in 2:12.59 after previously running in the second-fastest section of the 1,600 in 5:00.20.

James’ 1,600 put some pressure on Carlee Hansen of Woods Cross UT, who needed to sprint away late to make sure she got under five minutes and ensure her second straight Simplot Games title. Hansen ran 4:54.29 and James’ time held up for second place.

Canadians Lara Denbow won the high jump at 5-9 and Sienna McDonald, a hepathlete, won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.70.

James Akinlosotu from Alpha Speed (Federal Way WA) won the boys triple jump with 49-0.50. Club teammate Rieko Wilford (Curtis WA) won the girls triple jump with 40-2.25.

Sydney Holiday from Broomfield CO won the girls 60-meter dash in 7.50 seconds.

Omodiaogbe Oboh from ISC International (Santa Teresa CA) won the boys 400 meters in 48.96 seconds.

Zac Bright, from nearby Idaho Falls, used a late surge to overtake the leaders of the boys 800 meters and won in 1:56.02.

In the boys 3,200 meters, Anthony Davies from Hillcrest UT took advantage of a slow early pace and outkicked the field to win in 9:24.45.