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Every event is worth watching at the 36th Simplot Games, taking place this weekend at Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho.  There’s no other prep indoor invitational like it.  But what events have the biggest stars and the most significant national implications?  We submit to you, it’s these five:

1. 60 Hurdles HSR: Can Dior do it?

Is this the meet where Dior Hall (George Washington, Denver, CO senior) finally sets the 60H HSR?  Her 8.18 two weeks ago came within .02 of the 8.16 all-time standard that Jackie Coward set in this very meet six years ago and is the 4th time she’s run 8.21 (within .05 of the record) or faster.  In 2012, Hall ran 8.30 in the Simplot prelims, then crashed hurdles in the final as Trinity Wilson won her 2nd crown in 8.23.  Then Hall did not run here in 2013 as Sasha Wallace won.

It would certainly be fitting if Hall set the record here, as there’s no Simplot event that has a greater tradition than the girls’ hurdles.  Between Coward, Hall, Wilson, Wallace, Lindsay Rowe and Vashti Thomas, the top six prep 60m hurdlers in history have all competed here – four of them setting their career PRs here.  Simplot is simply the home of great girls’ hurdling.

Is there anyone who can give Hall a race?  Fellow Coloradoan Carly Lester (Rocky Mountain, Ft. Collins, CO junior) has run 8.74 this year; a pair of Californians, Jeannette Paul and Sydney Mosley, were 14.30-14.50 100H runners outdoors last year; and Maria Elena Millan Valencia of Mexico is considered a potential threat under nine seconds.

2. 50/50: Girls shot showdown

When you have a girls’ prep shot put where your top three seeds’ PRs add up to more than 150 feet and with all three of them having represented Team USA in international competition – well, you know you have something really, really special.  That’s the Simplot girls’ shot put – set to be maybe the best regular-season competition ever in the prep event.  From California, you have defending champion Stamatia Scarvelis (Dos Pueblos, Goleta, CA senior) – who ruled here in 2013 with a 49-6.  She improved outdoors to US#2 52-1.75 to win the US Junior title and earn a spot on the U.S. team for the Pan American Juniors, where she was victorious.  Already this winter she has thrown a 52-4.5 PR in an all-comers meet last month.  The lofty 20-year-old meet record of 51-5.75 by Collinous Newsome is clearly in danger.

But the record could also go to Ashlie Blake (Liberty, Las Vegas, NV senior), who won last month’s New Balance Boise in a US#2 48-8.25 – her first indoor competition since Simplot in 2011, when she was a freshman.  Blake was runner-up in New Balance Nationals Outdoor last June with a US#3 51-8.5, then with the lighter implement won the World Youth Trials and went on to earn bronze for Team USA at the Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine.  Also here at Simplot is Blake’s U.S. teammate at Worlds, Lena Giger (Highland, IL senior).  Giger was 3rd behind Blake at 2013 NBNO, 2nd behind her at the WY Trials, then 8th in the Donetsk final.  She has already hit US#3 48-7.5 this winter, just off her 48-10.75 outdoor PR. 

The above trio alone is enough to give this competition best-ever status (regular season indoor competition), but you also have US#5 Mariah Walker (Sand Creek, Colorado Springs, CO senior) at 46-11.5, Ky Westbrook – the amazing Chandler AZ sprinter who was World Youth 100 champ but can also throw 47 in the shot – and Thursday night’s weight throw champ, Haley Showalter.  Add in another half dozen who could be over 40 feet and you have a national championship-level competition.

3.  “Geb” challenges Armstrong and Mantz (and record?) in 3,200

What can Cerake Geberkidane do for an encore?  What can he do for 3,200 meters?

The prep distance running world wants to know.  The Denver East senior was one of the true national breakout performers last fall in XC, going unbeaten through a state title and NXN Southwest, then finally 4th at NXN Finals.  It was the first season he’d really gone full throttle in the sport, in addition to being a mature senior and having a fully healthy season.  His track PRs?  They date back to 2012: 9:44.63 for 3,200 and 8:51.63 for 3k.  That is, until last night (Thursday), when he clocked 9:15.38 in his Simplot 3,200 prelim.  If he wasn’t killing himself (hopefully), then a 9:10 or maybe even 9:00 may be in the offing in Saturday’s final – and Ben Saarel’s meet record of 9:00.62, from 2013, might be under siege.

But is Geberkidane the only story in the boys’ 3200?  Hardly.  Last year’s 2-3 finishers here behind Saarel return in hometown star Elijah Armstrong (Pocatello junior) and Conner Mantz (Skyview, UT junior).  Both are overflowing with talent, as well, and last month at the New Balance Boise Invite ran US#1-2 indoor times for 2M of 9:08.60 and 9:09.44.  They both qualified Thursday between 9:25-9:30. Armstrong, runnerup two years in a row, actually, has to be particularly hungry to win.

4.  Ries rules LJ, in mix of great 60 field

Along with the top shot putters, one of the true marquee performers on the field this weekend will be the great Chyna Ries.  The Denver East senior has been one of the best long jumpers in the nation for years and years, it seems, and is the 2-time defending champ here.  In 2014, though, she might be better than ever.  Two weeks ago, she tied her 2012 PR with a US#2 20-5.75.  That’s superior to Brittany Daniels’ 2005 meet record (20-5) and it seems obvious that 21 feet is not far off for her.  If for any reason Ries falters, then Mackenzie Arnold (Yuba City, CA junior) could step to the top of the podium.  Arnold was 5th here in 2013, but improved all the way to a legal 19-11.75 outdoors.  Several other 19 footers are entered, as well.

But if Ries does win the long jump, could she possibly execute a long jump/60 dash double?  During her last such opportunity against major competition, Ries ruled the long jump at the New Balance Boise Indoor, but ran just 7.64 in the 60 and was 4th.  Since then, however, she has run 7.46 and been pretty consistent.  The competition, however, is formidable with a capital ‘F.’  No less than World Youth 100 champ Ky Westbrook (Chandler, AZ senior) has to be regarded as the favorite.  What Ries has as an advantage is that she’s been racing all winter while Westbrook has just gone once – at Great Southwest Indoor where she ran 7.47.  Westbrook was 3rd in the Simplot 60 last year with the same time, while Ries was 7th. 

Several others are threats to run 7.6 or better in the girls’ 60, including: Shayna Yon (Cherokee Trail, Aurora, CO junior) at 7.48, Gabriella Cantrell (San Leandro, CA senior) who was 5th here last year with 7.50; and Destiny Smith-Barnett (Oakland Skyline, CA junior) at 7.51.  It might be the deepest girls’ event on the track.

5.  Golden State LJ titans battle; Moore goes for horizontal double

Looking for a great field event matchup on the boys’ side?  Look no further than the long jump, where California’s (and arguably the nation’s) finest – Adoree’ Jackson and Nate Moore – will duel.  Jackson (Serra Gardena, CA senior) has had legal 25-foot jumps each of the past two years, winning state in 2012 and finishing 2nd to ... Moore last spring.  Jackson is a 5-star football recruit who signed with Southern Cal last week.  He’s had at least nine meets at 24-6 or better and has jumped in all-comers action already this winter in California (23-10.75w) to qualify for their indoor state meet. 

Moore (Castro Valley, CA senior) has not competed yet this winter, but as mentioned above, beat Jackson at state last year – with a legal 24-11.75.  That was a breakthrough for him as his previous best was 24-2.  Either or both could challenge the long-standing Simplot LJ record: 24-8.5 by Clarence Scott (Long Beach, CA) in 1996.

Moore is probably even better at the triple jump, however, with a legal 50-11.75 PR.  If he can beat Jackson in the long jump, then a horizontal double is possible.  But then the TJ field also includes defending champion Lane Russell (Tumwater WA senior).  Russell went 49-1 to win here last year, but the thing is that his career best besides his Simplot winners is just 47-1.  The burden is on him to prove that wasn’t a fluke.  In either case, the meet record of 52-2.75 by Greg Yeldell (Spencer, NC) from 1998 – the #2 TJ in prep history – is probably out of reach.