Utah Distance Runners Shine at 2016 Simplot Games
For Immediate Release
Date February 19, 2016
Contact: Jaxon Jensen (208) 317-3142
E-mail: media@simplotgames.com
Utah Distance Runners Shine at 2016 Simplot Games
Salt Lake City’s Garek Bielaczyc Smashes 3200-Meter Meet Record
Pocatello, Idaho – Distance runners from Utah led the state’s competitors at the 2016 Simplot Games by winning the boys’ 3200 meters, boys’ and girls’ 4×800 meter relays, and the boys’ 4×400.
Salt Lake City’s Garek Bielaczyc and American Fork’s Casey Clinger dueled in the 3200 meters across the Simplot Games track, and a late kick by Bielaczyc led to a Simplot Games record win for him. Clinger also eclipsed the old record.
Bielaczyc started out front and kept a steady lead for the first few laps, but Clinger quickly caught up. Neither is a stranger to long distances and kept up the pace but found themselves five seconds behind the record pace with 400 meters to go. That didn’t stop them from chasing the record, though. Bielaczyc broke away and then did the impossible and won the race with a time of 8:57.03. Following close behind was Clinger with a time of 8:59.02. Both broke the Simplot Games record in an unbelievable race before a deafening crowd.
The inspiration for the boys were each other. Their secret was simply to run fast and push hard.
“I was honored having someone to work with and push me ahead,” Bielaczyc said.
“I love this track.”
“There is a great atmosphere here and I liked having Garek to push me,” Clinger said.
Other results include:
- Davis Track Club ‘A’ from Layton won the girls 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:58.47.
- Davis Track Club of Layton took home first place in both the boys’ and girls’ 4×800-meter relays. The boys’ team finished with a time of 8:05.40. The girls’ team finished in 9:40.92.
- Talin Mortensen, a junior from Salem, finished second in the boys’ shot put with a throw of 57’09.50”.
- In the girls’ 3200 meters Clarissa Mantz, a junior from Smithfield, finished second, Shanee Harris, a freshman from Box Elder finished third, and Emily Liese, a senior from Providence, finished fourth.
A full list of Utah medalists is included below.
More than 2,100 athletes have come from across the U.S., Canada, and Australia to participate in the 38th annual Simplot Games. Simplot Games remains the nation’s premier high school indoor track and field event. Sponsored by the J.R. Simplot Company since 1979, the Simplot Games are held at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho.
For more information on Simplot Games, please visit our website at www.simplotgames.com. You may also contact Lisa Woodland at (208) 235-5604 or Simplot Games Media Team at media@simplotgames.com.
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Utah medalists include:
Girls’ 3200 Meters
2nd – Clarissa Mantz, 11, Smithfield
3rd – Shanee Harris, 9, Box Elder
4th – Emily Liese, 12, Providence
6th – Sarah Waddoups, 10, Layton
Boys’ 3200 Meters
1st – Garek Bielaczyc, 12, Salt Lake City
2nd – Casey Clinger, 11, American Fork,
3rd- William Handley, 12, Orem
4th – Garrett Barton, 11, Ogden
Girls’ 1600 Meters
2nd – Sara Musselman, 11, American Fork
3rd – Courtney Wayment, 12, Layton
4th – McKenna Lee, 10, Pleasantville
Boys’ 1600 Meters
2nd – Patrick Parker, 11, American Fork
4th – Mckay Johns, 11, American Fork
5th – Talon Hull, 11, Pleasantville
Boys’ High Jump
2nd – Owen Mitchell, 11, Pleasantville
4th – Hunter Simonsen, 12, Layton
5th – Nate Allred, 12, Layton
6th – Joshua Thomas, 11, Richfield
Boys’ 200 Meters
5th – Dallin Draper, 10, Provo
Girls’ 4×400-Meter Relay
1st – Davis Track Club ‘A’ Layton
6th – Davis Track Club ‘B’ Layton
Boys’ 60-Meter Dash
4th – Dallin Draper, 10, Provo
Boys’ 800 Meters
2nd- Logan McKay, 12, Layton
5th – Payton Riggs, 12, Orem
Boys’ 1600-Meter Sprint Medley
2nd – Davis Track Club “A,” Layton
6th – Olympus “A,” Holladay
Girls’ 1600-Meter Sprint Medley
2nd – Davis Track Club “A,” Layton
4th – Olympus “A,” Holladay
5th – Warrior Express “A,” Pleasant View
6th – Timpanogos “A,” Orem
Girls’ 60-Meter Dash
2nd – Kaysha Love, 12, Herriman
Boys’ Shot Put
2nd – Talin Mortensen, 11, Salem
Girls’ Shot Put
2nd – Sierra Freeland, 12, Riverton
3rd – Maia Garren, 12, Logan
4th – Emily Spendlove, 12, Holladay
Girls’ 4×800-Meter Relay
1st – Davis Track Club “A,” Layton
4th – Timpanogos “A,”, Orem
Boys’ 4×800-Meter Relay
1st – Davis Track Club “A,” Layton
3rd – Wildcat Track Club “A,” Woods Cross
Girls’ High Jump
4th – Ginger Nelson, 11, Lehi
Girls’ Weight Throw
2nd – Maia Garren, 12, Logan
Boys’ Weight Throw
5th- George Plantenga, 12, Alta
Boys’ Long Jump
2nd – Skyler Andam, 12, West Jordan
6th – Hunter Simonsen, 12, Layton
Boys’ 4×400-Meter Relay
2nd – Davis Track Club, Davis
6th – Wildcat Track Club, Woods
Boys’ Pole Vault
4th – Matt Calvin, 12, Layton