Jaiden Paris and Semaye Johnson have finished in adjacent places before. They did again today in 60 hurdles prelims at Simplot. File Photo.
Simplot Friday is all about advancing to Simplot Saturday. A few people do. Most people don't.
It's about that simple.
You should also note as you pan over the Friday teams that spikes are not allowed on the wooden track surface on Friday. Spikes are okay for finals, but not for prelims. So, if some Friday times look slow, now you know why.
We'll also take a quick moment here to note that Arria Minor and Kyairra Reigh were not on the original meet heat sheets, but were in prelims today. I don't know the story behind that, but it definitely made a difference.
From this point forward, the point of this article will be to identify those Colorado athletes who advanced to Saturday's finals. Hopefully, I won't miss any like I did yesterday, but if I do I will go back and correct the article as I find out about omissions.
60 Meter Dash
Frankie Nash, Luke Arkell, and John Wise were the Colorado boys to advance to 60 meter dash finals. Things were equally as bright for the girls. Making the cut were Arria Minor, Maya Evans, and Audra Koopman.
200 Meter Dash
For the one lapper, Colorado boys were shut out. Advancing for the girls were Arria Minor with the #1 seed at 24.58, Dawnielle Lewis, and Makiya Gayles.
400 Meter Dash
Kyairra Reigh got the #4 seed, while Regan Aurich made it in by the proverbial skin of her teeth. Among the boys, Nolan Kembel and AJ Thompson were the only two to make the cut.
800 Meter Run
It was a bit of a field day for the girls as six advanced to Saturday's finals. Enjoying the chance to run again will be Emily Gallegos-Francksen, Shannon King, Cammy Manes, Marlena Preigh, Hannah Freeman, and MaLeigha Menegatti. Don't necessarily count on them finishing in that order tomorrow. The Colorado boys pushed four through--namely Jack Rubalcave, William Dixon, David Moore, and Drew Seidel.
60 Meter Hurdles
Marcus Howard and Zaire Jackson made finals for the boys. The girls, on the other hand, advanced four--Jaiden Paris, Semaye Johnson, Delaney Smith and Alexis Carroll.
Relays
It was a mixed bag for Colorado relays, with a few high-end performances, a few sneaking through, and a few bowing out. Angel Flight's girls posted the #1 4x200 time of 1:45.64. Real Training and Colorado Jets also advanced teams. Mountain View's boys posted the top 4x400 time of 3:28.67. Fort Collins Track Club and Lions Speed also got teams to finals. Real Training had the #2 girls time in prelims, but the rest of the Colorado teams will watch from the stands. Mountain View's boys and the Ric Rojas girls both got a 1600 sprint med team through, and that was the end of the day's success for Colorado relays.
Field Events
No actual results are reported for Friday field events. You either make the cut or you don't. Marks will be reported for Saturday's finals, however.
High Jump
No Colorado high jumpers lived to jump again. At least not this weekend.
Pole Vault
Things went somewhat better for the gymnasts on a stick--as they were expected to. Advancing for the boys were Corbin Mayes and Sid Bennett. Kaya Wick was the lone Colorado girl to get through.
Long Jump
Chian Deloach, Audra Koopman, and Mary Gillett met the threshold. I can only guess Maya Evans must have scratched or fouled her attempts. Evans will not be in finals. Kellen Monestime will represent Colorado in the boys finals.
LATE CORRECTION: There was a problem with the initial release of results. Maya Evans will be jumping in finals.
Triple Jump
Alexis Carroll averted the Colorado shutout at the triple jump pit.
Shot Put
Colorado's Saturday hopes rest on the shoulders of Jacob Dack and Emma Dern. Otherwise, no finals for Colorado.
