The 45th annual Simplot Games are being held in Pocatello along with the Dick Fosbury Breakfast on Feb 21. The Simplot Games has become one of the top high school indoor track and field events in the nation. The event is an open meet which means that athletes don’t need a qualifying time to participate in the event.
Around 2,000 athletes from 19 different states, Canada, and even Australia travel to Pocatello to share their athletic talent under the Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome. This event for some is an inspiration to move forward.
The Games offers recognition for everyone with the Parade of Athletes, an impressive event that serves as a wonderful addition to the games themselves.
The breakfast is one of the main events during the games in honor of Dick Fosbury an Olympic high jumper who passed away in 2023. He won the gold medal for the high jump event in 1968 and his method became an Olympic standard. His high jump is called the ‘Fosbury Flop.’
Each year high school athletes can rub shoulders with the Olympians who are invited to attend the Simplot Games. This year Valarie Allman is a featured athlete who will be attending the breakfast. She’s a gold medalist that won the discus events in Tokyo and Paris.
“Every Olympian has a little bit different story. So you don't have to know anything about the Olympic sport to come to the breakfast and appreciate it. They all have a fantastic story about dealing with adversity, with challenges, making decisions, keeping a positive attitude. So no matter who is our speaker, those are the things that I think each one of them talks about and would pertain to anyone who wanted to come,” Kristi Borgholthaus, the Executive director of the games and organizer of the breakfast said.
While the Dick Fosbury Breakfast is ticketed, the games are free to attend, and it’s become an iconic event for Pocatello.
“I would also say as a competitor for Simplot Games, we have a lot of people, especially from our area, where we do not have an indoor track season, a lot of high school athletes kind of feel like they may not be as prepared as some of the other athletes that we have come. But I would say you just never know what might happen when you stand on the track or you're in line to jump next to somebody else who just might push you just a little bit more. And even if you don't win and stand on the medal podium, you still might end up with a personal best and that's a success,” Borgholthaus said.
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