Sven Alskog
News Editor
For three days every February, Idaho State University’s Holt Arena becomes the stage for the Simplot Games, one of the top high school track and field events held annually.
Sponsored by the J.R. Simplot Company, the event has been in existence since 1979 and has been the host of numerous individual and team records through its 36-year span.
On the competition side, the open-meet philosophy allows the opportunity for a wide range of participants to become involved in a high level weekend of track and field.
This year the event will be held from Feb. 13 to 15, a weekend that is sure to provide a big boost to the Pocatello community during those days. On an annual basis, hotels fill up, restaurants see increases in business and ISU has the opportunity to showcase its institution to 2,000-3,000 prospective students.
“It’s a really awesome event,” said Dani Mecham, a physical education student with an emphasis in exercise science at ISU. “The whole community comes out and supports the athletes in some way or another. It helps out our economy a lot and it’s always really cool to talk to the athletes and families from other places. Everyone enjoys it.”
Numerous participants in the event have gone on to attend ISU as members of the track and field or cross country team.
One of those participants is sophomore biology major Justin Senecal, who pointed to the Simplot Games as a factor in his decision to attend ISU.
“I spoke with Brian [Janssen] before I competed and the meeting went well,” said Senecal. “I took a tour of the campus as well.”
Tanisha White, a 2012 graduate of Highland High School, also competed in the event during high school, leading to her continuing involvement over the last two years as a volunteer while she continues her education at ISU.
White enjoys having the broad range of people in Pocatello during the Simplot Games.
“You can really tell the difference on campus,” she said. “There is a much more diverse population walking around.”
The size of the event is one that rivals similar competitions throughout the United States.
“It was definitely the biggest meet I have ever been to,” said Senecal.
Size alone does not define the Simplot Games, as the participants are top-notch high school students from all over the country.
“It had one of the best competitive fields I have ever been in,” said Senecal.
Outside of the competitive aspects of the event, current ISU students have taken part in various other tasks that have helped make the Simplot Games possible annually.
For Mecham, her volunteer opportunity came during her junior and senior years at Century High School as part of the medical staff for a sports medicine class.
“We would watch each event, making sure everyone was good, handing out water, getting ice and heat packs and any other things that needed to be done to make sure the athletes were performing their best,” said Mecham.
Anyone interested in volunteering can visit the Simplot Games website for further information and an application.
All three days of the event are free to the public.
