POCATELLO — Officials are calling the 35th annual Simplot Games a success, after roughly 1,900 high school athletes from across the U.S. and Canada travelled to Pocatello last week to participate in the three-day track and field event, and set two new records along the year.

The games officially wrapped up at the Holt Arena on Saturday.

“There were many exciting things that happened on the track and also on the field events. Many athletes had times in races, marks in throws or jumps, that became number one in the nation,” said Melissa Bohne, spokesperson for the Simplot Games.

Two records were broken during this year’s event. Tony Brown, a junior from Beaumont, Texas, broke the boys’ 60-meter hurdles record with a time of 7.76, Bohne said. And Ben Saarel, a senior from Park City, Utah, broke the boys’ 3200-meters record with a time of 9:00.62.

“His time shaved 10 seconds off of the meet record of 9:10.34, which doesn’t happen very often,” Bohne said.

The Simplot Games is dubbed North America’s Premier Indoor High School Track and Field Event, and Bohne said it has changed a lot in the past 35 years.

“In the first Simplot Games there were only 600 athletes from six Western states that came,” she said, adding the event now typically draws between 1,800 and 2,000 athletes from all over the country and Canada each year.

Although they don’t track spectator attendance, she estimates between 11,000 and 12,000 people watched the games this year.

Bohne said the Simplot Games has become an important tradition over the years in several ways.

“Simplot Games gives high school athletes a chance to shine in Idaho,” she said, adding that students enjoy mingling and competing with others from across the country, and running on Idaho State University’s unique, wooden track. “Athletes, coaches and parents love coming to Pocatello. And Simplot Games appreciates the support of the community of Pocatello.”

Of course, the city also receives some benefits from the games.

“It also helps the City of Pocatello in many ways because thousands of people come (to the area),” she said.

Bohne said this year’s event proved to be another successful year for many involved in the Simplot Games, and she believes it will continue for years to come.

“There are no plans to stop the games or move them from Pocatello,” she said. “The games are healthy and vibrant as evidenced by this year and the 35th anniversary.”