Several notable names will be at the 2014 Simplot Games

The 36th Annual Simplot Games are two weeks away, so we met with the Simplot Games executive director to find out what we can look forward to this year.

“They’re giving it their all,” said Lisa Woodland, executive director of the Simplot Games. “We have some athletes that just want to run, and then we have those that are excellent athletes that have really honed their craft.”

Woodland said to expect some notable names at the games, happening Feb. 13-15.

“Our Olympians this year are Rafer Johnson, Dick Fosbury, who did the Fosbury Flop,” Woodland said, “and we also have Stacy Dragila, Willy Banks and Andre Phillips.”

Woodland also stressed the games will be happening on Valentine’s Day weekend. She said to expect a lot of people at the Pocatello restaurants and to plan accordingly.

“If you want to take your sweetie out for Valentine’s Day, do it the week before or the week after,” Woodland advised. “The restaurants will be filled, so we ask you to be patient with the athletes.”

Woodland also said there is at least one new event this year.

“We have a 400 meter invitational that we are doing this year,” she said. “We’ve always done the 400, but because we hold the record in the high school boys 400 meter, we decided we would have that be our signature race this year.”

Idaho State University also said they will not be ticketing the Holt Arena parking lot the week of the Simplot Games, so while the athletes are winning, you can win by not getting a ticket.

To find a list of the events, follow this link: www.simplotgames.com/events
To find a list of special events, follow this link: www.simplotgames.com/special