Simmons Takes Down A Casey Clinger Record In Dramatic Fashion At Simplot Games

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

POCATELLO, Idaho – Daniel Simmons had a choice to make. 

After a screaming early pace in Saturday's boys 3,200 meters final at the 43rd Simplot Games, Simmons' bid to break Casey Clinger's meet record was coming to fruition and he had a 50-meter lead on a talented field of familiar Utah stars. 

But when Sam Hansen of Woods Cross UT came up from seemingly nowhere and blew past with a few laps to go, Simmons was momentarily shook. 

Simmons decided to stay with it, even as Hansen dashed ahead. 

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Ultimately, in the final 75 meters, Hansen's energy ran out and he wobbled off and then back on the track as Simmons steered clear and came to the finish line in 8:53.80. That time broke Clinger's record by more than a second and equates to a sea level time of about 8:40. 

"If I had given up when he passed me, this definitely would not have happened," Simmons, a junior, said of the record. "The temptation to give up was so strong, because Sam passed me so fast. It just blew my mind. I was like 'Who is this?'"

It was a big moment for Simmons, a former Idaho resident who now attends American Fork in Utah. Clinger, an American Fork alum, recently presented Simmons with the Gatorade National Cross Country Player of the Year Award. 

Hansen managed to stay on his feet and finish in 8:55.67 for the third-fastest time in history on Holt Arena's wooden boards. 

Saturday's final session, which began with an unexpected world record in the shot put thanks to Ryan Crouser, reaffirmed the status of the Simplot Games, back for edition No. 43 after two straight years of cancellations. 

The Long Beach Blazin' Bruins, the club powered by the off-season efforts of Long Beach Wilson CA, were ever-present in the sprints and relays. That was highlighted by a boys and girls sweep of the 1,600-meter sprint medley relays. The boys ran US#2 3:35.82; the girls US#5 4:12.14.

In a mild surprise in the boys 60-meter dash, Gatlin Bair of Burley ID beat Rodrick Pleasant, the California state record holder in the 100 meters. Bair ran a personal best 6.69 seconds, an all-time Idaho best and US#5 this winter. 

Pleasant, in his first meet since last spring, ran 6.80. 

Lydia Beus of Orem UT outdueled Hailey Low of Layton UT to win the girls 3,200 meters, 11:07.48 to 11:09.33. 

Amare Harlan from Fremont UT edged Sophia Beckmon from the Inner Circle TC (Oregon City OR) in the girls 60 dash, 7.47 to 7.49 as the two went head to head in three events. Beckmon won the long jump with 20-3 and also was fourth in the 200. Harlan was second in the 200 and third in the long jump. 

Braelyn Baker from Carnation WA won the girls 200 in 24.06. 

Jacob Webster from Idaho Dash (Boise ID) won the boys 200 final in 22.18. 

Cheyenne Central WY standout Sydney Morrell outsprinted American Fork UT's Avalon Mecham to win the girls 1,600 meters in 4:58.28. 

Spencer Bradshaw of Farmington UT won the boys 1,600 meters final, outlasting Matthew Thomas of Blackfoot ID, 4:16.64 to 4:18.26. 

In the 400 meters, Addie Pendergast of Broncs Track (Sheridan WY) ran 56.83 to win the title. 

Bryce Thomas of CATC of Oakland, running in the first of three sections in the boys 400 meters final, upstaged the fastest section by winning the event with 48.80. 

Colby Jenks from Pinedale WY showed impressive tenacity by going to the lead of the boys 800 meters and holding it all the way to the finish to win in 1:53.55. 

Meadow Drebert, from Leduc Track Club in Alberta, held off Jane Hedengren from T-birds Track (Timpview UT) to win an exciting girls 800 final, 2:13.32 to 2:13.78. 

Kourtney Rathke took three attempts at a meet record height in the girls pole vault but settled for the victory with 13-1.25 (3.99m).

Seth Nelson from Dragila Vault Co (Boise ID) jumped a new personal best 16-4.75 (4,99m) to win the boys pole vault. 

In Thursday night's finals, Jake McEachern from Lloydminster, Alberta won the boys weight throw with 67-2.50 (20.48m). 

Angela Schykerynec from Orland High the Golden State Throwers of Sacarmento threw a California all-time best 61-8.50 with a big PR that landed her the victory and a No, 12 all-time ranking.