Top Sprinters Converge at Simplo

 

Nation?s top girl sprinters converge at Simplot Games

Pocatello, Idaho ? This year?s Simplot Games girls? sprint events promise to be a battle of the fast and the furious, with many of the top sprinters from last year?s Games returning to defend titles and improve on their performances.

The public will be treated to some of the top sprinters in the nation this year and should not be disappointed with the competition.

The top three sprinters from last year?s games return this year, headlined by Bianca Knight of Ridgeland, Miss., who won the 200-meter dash last year. Knight is the top sprinter in the nation this year in three events, including the 60 and the 200, which she will run in Pocatello.

Challenging Knight for sprint supremacy is Ebony Collins of Long Beach, Calif., who won the 60 meters last year and finished second in the 200. Both Knight and Collins led a U.S. relay sprint team to victory at last year?s World Junior Championships in Morocco.

Also in the mix are Sa?de Williams of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who finished third in the 200 last year behind Knight and Collins; DeAna Carson of Long Beach; Elan Hilaire of Baltimore, Md., and Denver teammates Ashley Cruder and Sarah Matthews.

Greg Burch, Simplot Games meet director, says that the competition level of these sprint athletes bring many things to the track at the games.

"Their level of experience, the caliber of athletes they are," Burch said. "It will definitely be very competitive."

Sprint preliminary events are Friday (the 200 begins at 12:05 p.m., with the 60 starting at 3 p.m.). Finals in all events are Saturday, with the girls 60-meter final at 12:15 p.m. and the girls 200-meter final at 1:20 p.m.