Athletes from the Gem State showed out at the 45th annual Simplot Games over the weekend at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello.

Seven individual event titles and three relay titles went to Idaho at the meet, which draws athletes from the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe every year. 

Attaining a much sought after win on his home turf was Highland junior and Idaho all-time record holder in the boys 300 hurdles, Spencer Van Orden, who won Saturday's boys 60-meter hurdles final in 7.79 seconds from lane one. The win came after placing fifth in prelims in 8.27. He placed third in 8.14 at last year's Simplot finals in the same event. 

"I definitely knew I was capable (of that time)," Van Orden said Monday evening by phone. "I kinda got in my head in prelims. I knew I had the tools to do it." 

Van Orden's 7.79 is the No. 6 fastest time in the U.S. this indoor track season for the boys 60-meter hurdles per athletic.net's rankings as of Monday evening. Running that time at Simplot of all meets was extra special for Van Orden, who as a Pocatello resident is well acquainted with the ICCU Dome's black and orange elevated wooden track. 

"Ever since I got into high school, I knew it was a big meet but I didn't realize how much of a big meet until I pulled up my freshman year and I was sitting next to an Australian," Van Orden said. "It meant a lot to get a win around people who know who I am."

Van Orden said the atmosphere was incredible and he could feel the enthusiasm around him for his final.

"It was amazing," Van Orden said. "There were a lot of people that I knew who were there supporting me. As soon as I crossed the line, for me, it felt like the crowd erupted."

Van Orden led an Idaho 1-2-3-4 finish in the boys 60 hurdles final. Placing second was Boise senior Chase Lawyer in 7.88, in third was Nampa senior Tegon Lords in 8.04 and in fourth was Emmett senior Kenyon Carter in 8.13.

Van Orden said it has been astounding to see the progress Idaho has made in track and field in recent years. Just in boys 110 hurdles alone, he recalled times in the low 15s being enough to qualify for state, and now sub-15 is becoming the norm.  

"It's super cool to see how far we've come," Van Orden said. "I think it's great to have so many people who are so close. There's no resentment. I think Idaho is moving in the right direction." 

Van Orden, who was also part of Highland's second-place finish in Saturday's all-Idaho boys 4x200 in 1:34.13 with Owen Jordan, Remington Jordan and Carson Bates, said competing at an indoor national meet 'is still on the table,' but he might also opt to turn his attention to preparing for outdoor season. The first day of outdoor track practice in Idaho is Friday.

Nearly cracking the top-10 in the U.S. with his win Saturday was Meridian senior Nate Stadtlander, who represented YMCA Team Idaho and won the boys 1,600 in 4:09.12. A year ago, he placed third in the same finals. Stadtlander's time is not only a personal best, but is No. 11 fastest in the U.S. this indoor track season for the boys 1,600 meters per athletic.net's rankings as of Monday evening.

Burley senior Alex Rushton cleared 6-foot-10 to win boys high jump, improving on his 10th place from last year''s finals. He is one of 16 boys in the U.S. to clear 6-10 or better this indoor track season per athletic.net as of Monday evening.

In boys weight throw, Joseph Miraya of Iron Wood Track Club won with a mark of 68-0. A Mountain View senior, Miraya secured the No. 19 best mark in the U.S. this indoor track season for boys weight throw with that result per athletic.net as of Monday evening.  He also placed second in boys shot put (58-6.75).

Christine Huckins, a Capital High junior competing unattached, won two events in her second Simplot Games appearance. She repeated as girls 200 champion in 24.61 and won the girls 60 meter finals in 7.6, an event she took second in last year in a photo finish. In each of those finals, she led an Idaho 1-2-3 finish. In the 200, Rocky Mountain senior Aubrey Montoya and Mountain View junior Quincy Keller, both of Orchard Athletix, each crossed in 25.33. In the 60, Huckins was joined by Burley sophomore Karlie Bair of TNT Track Club (7.62) and Keller (7.66).

Blake Johns, a Meridian senior representing Spike Up Athletics, won boys shot put with a mark of 59-4.5. He also placed fifth in boys weight throw (61-4.25). 

Addi Richards, an Emmett sophomore representing Stacy Dragila Vault Co., won girls pole vault upon clearing 12-3. 

Orchard Athletix won the boys 4x200 in 1:29.15. The team consisted of Timberline junior Ethan Kirkendall, Lords, Owyhee senior Wade Pollock and Lawyer.

Highland repeated as All-Idaho girls 4x200 champions in 1:50.41. The team consisted of Milah Martin, Peyton Pieper, Reese Valentine and Oakli Briscoe. 

The Spike Up Athletics team of Nampa Christian senior Tyler Szilagyi, Fruitland senior Isahi Salinas, Middleton senior Logan Andersen and Nampa Christian juinor Ian Johnson won the All-Idaho boys 4x200 in 1:34.02. 

Other Idaho medalists were Meridian senior Paisley Taylor of YMCA Team Idaho (second place girls 1,600 in 4:57.12), Kirkendall (second place boys 400 in 48.68), Orchard Athletix A and B teams in the girls 4x200 (1:42.59 and 1:42.90, respectively), Meridian senior Hannah Bingham of Orchard Athletix (fourth place girls 400 in 57.85), Lords (sixth place boys 200 in 22.52), Eagle senior Makenzie Baisch of Orchard Athletix (sixth place girls 60 meter hurdles in 9.14), Parma senior Chase Klahr (fourth place boys shot put, 54-9), Nampa Christian sophomore Avery Reece (fifth place girls long jump, 16-10.5), Rigby senior Garrett Merwin of Raise the Bar (fifth place boys pole vault, 14-6), Hillcrest senior Leah Pebley (third place girls high jump, 5-3), Middleton senior Breanna Martin of Stacy Dragila Vault Co (fifth place girls pole vault, 11-3), Rigby junior Elizabeth Poston of Raise the Bar (sixth place girls pole vault, 11-3), Timberline sophomore Nadja Burkholder of Orchard Athletix (third place girls triple jump, 36-2.75), North Star Charter junior Aliceann Hilleshiem of Spike Up Athletics (sixth place girls triple jump, 33-8), West Side junior Ethan Willis (second place boys 800, 1:56.76), Boise senior Jordan McDonald (sixth place boys high jump, 6-2) and Victory Charter's Carson Hacking of Spike Up Athletics (third place freshman boys 1,600 in 4:33.70).