The Simplot Games
We are gearing up for the Simplot Games. I have high hopes for how our team will perform at the meet, and how much fun everyone will have. First, an overview.
Overview
The pinnacle meet of the indoor season is the Simplot Games at Idaho State University, in Holt Arena (soon to be ICCU Dome).
The Simplot Games at Idaho State University is one of best indoor track meets in North America. People from all across the country, and some international athletes, come to this meet to race against the best and set records.
The meet is 3 days, 2/15-7 beginning Thursday afternoon with the 1600m, 3200m, 60m, and 60H and ending Saturday evening. Thursday is trials for those 4 events, Friday is the trials for field events and all other running events, and then Saturday is the final for everything.
Qualifying for finals is no easy feat (Simplot marks to make Finals), so having anyone compete on Saturday is an awesome accomplishment.
That said, we have the athletes to qualify several relay teams into finals, and several individuals. I really think we might be able to get two teams of medley's qualified for finals, per gender! So possibly 4 teams in. I also think we'd have a handful of sprinters and distance runners make finals in their respective events, so we could have a fun filled Saturday. Even those who don't qualify for finals could have several races over the weekend.
Here's what makes Simplot so awesome: the TEAM. We hang out together in the arena and support your teammates when they are competing. The energy in the stadium is unmatched, and a team our size makes it all the more enjoyable. The beauty of an "8-lap" mile is that you get to run by your teammates 8 times for additional support.
The track at ISU is banked, which makes every running event (besides the 60m/60H, which are on the straightaway, of course) much more efficient and fun. The track is constructed inside Holt Arena, which is their indoor football stadium. It is 200m around like most indoor tracks, and all "official" indoor tracks. The throwing events, HJ, and PV are competed on the infield inside the track "oval" and the Long Jump is on the end of the arena. There are tons of athletes and spectators, which makes the experience unlike any other.
Each person is allowed 1 individual running event and 1 field event, and can run in up to 2 relays. Those who are "unlikely" to make a final, would probably be put into 2 relays, and those who are likely to make a final would probably only be in 1 relay.
Because this isn't a school sponsored event, we'll need to arrange our own lodging and transportation. Therefore, we'll need parent volunteers to who would be willing to drive groups of kids up, and stay to shuttle to the meet, or return on Saturday to bring kids home.
I have booked the last of the remaining two-queen bed rooms at the Best Western hotel not far from the stadium. Because it is a busy weekend the rates are quite high, so for rooms with 4 kids it'll be around $130 total for the two nights (after tax the rooms are nearly $250/night - it's a very busy weekend for the area). I will try to fill those rooms up, and drop those that are unclaimed. After we know which athletes would like to come, I will offer any left over rooms to parents or even families prior to dropping them. I will be dropping rooms on 1/31.
Here's what I need from you: if you'd like to go to Simplot, please fill out this athlete form. The form will ask about events, and if you'd like to stay in the hotels. Parents, if you'd potentially like a hotel room, to either share with another parent or to stay with your own child or family, please send me an email. If you'd be willing to drive kids up or back, please let me know as well.
Thanks.
Links
Historical marks to qualify for finals
