KAYSVILLE -- In its 43-year history, the Davis High School Track and Field Invitational has used a variety of formats to crown a number of champions. Today's annual event may top them all in regard to drama and history.
In this, a record-breaking year in Utah prep annals for breaking records, the afternoon "Invited Session" will feature nationally ranked athletes who've enjoyed a banner season this spring. Davis coach and athletic director Roger Buhrley, coordinator of the invitational, couldn't be more pleased with what today's competition might bring."We might have the strongest talent field in the history of the meet," he said. "The format for the Invited Session, with only one heat to determine champions and medalists, lends itself to the best individual performances."
Because there are no team titles at stake during the Davis Invite, athletes are picking and choosing the events they want to focus in on, to better their marks and hone their skills prior to next weekend's BYU Invitational in Provo.
Among the best are the throwers and hurdlers, including Mountain View's Nik Arrhenius, the junior who currently leads the nation in the discus with a mark of 208-7. He's also fifth-ranked nationally in the shot put at 63-0.
Clearfield's Candice Workman holds the best-ever Utah marks of 47-8 in the shot put and 159-0 in the discus, marks that rank her fifth and second respectively, in those events nationally.
Davis High sophomore Kelli Burton is also ranked in the top-10 nationally in both events, with bests of 45-7 in the shot and 145-3 in the discus.
On the track, watch for West Jordan's Jake Garlick in the 300-meter hurdles, where his all-time best Utah mark of 36.82 currently ranks second nationally. He also holds the state record in the 110-meter hurdles at 13.81, ranking fourth nationally.
Ben Gardner of Davis has clocked a 37.58 in the 300 hurdles (seventh nationally) and 14.20 in the 100 hurdles. Both times are among the top-20 nationwide this season.
Provo's Josh Rohatinsky, who leads the nation in the 3200-meter run with a time of 9:01.4 clocked at Arcadia two weeks ago, will forego that event and run the 800 meters instead. Roy junior Seth Pilkington, ranked in the top-10 nationally in the 1600 meters, has chosen to enter the 3200-meter event this afternoon. Brett Andrus of Mountain View will lead a strong field in the 1600-meter race.
Bingham's Laura Zeigle, the third-ranked 1600-meter runner in the nation with a time of 4:50.14, will join her sister, Jackie, in the 800-meter event. Kathrine Anderson of Davis, who won the Arcadia Open 1600-meter event, will lead a strong field in that race in Kaysville.
Sprinters will be well represented by Mike Mathis of Northridge, along with Garlick and Clearfield's Tyler Crow.
An Open Session for those hoping to qualify for the state championships will begin at 9 a.m., with heats and races in all events. The Invited Session, featuring the elite performers, will begin at 3 p.m. at Davis High.