MIDDLETON — Elevation can be a true friend.

    Well, at least for a distance runner moving from the mountains in Soda Springs — elevation: 5,774 feet — to the lowlands of the Treasure Valley (elevation: 2,398).

    A drop in the elevation, and the pure shot of adrenaline from competing in the 3A/2A/1A 2013 state track meet at Middleton High School, helped Soda Springs’ Cierra Simmons blast past all competition to win the 3,200 meter run in 11:2.89.

    It is Simmons’ second 3,200m title, she also won it as a sophomore, and it’s the best time of her career. In fact, it’s nearly a full 22 seconds faster than she has ever run. And 11:02.89 is one of the best times in the state this season, regardless of classification.

    Simmons, a senior who has signed to run for Utah State, was the favorite entering the 3,200. She showed why. By the time she sprinted the final 100 meters, she had lapped half a dozen of her competitors and led by an easy 150 meters.

    “It’s my last chance,” she said. “I don’t want to take anything easy, there’s no point in it while I have this time.”

    Behind Simmons, Soda’s Kelsey Yamauchi finished second (11:43.84) and Jennifer Nielsen was fifth (12:04.2), scoring the Cardinals major points in day one.

    In the 2A girls, Salmon is first with 38 points. At 37 team points, Firth is a close second. Soda, with 25, is fourth and West Side sits in sixth with 19.

    Before races, Simmons says she’s a ball of nerves. She feels outside expectations and the prospect of disappointing anyone is mortifying.

    “My biggest fear is letting someone down,” Simmons said. “… So it’s scary, it puts a lot of pressure on you. You just have to remember that you’re the one putting in the work, so you’re the one in the end to please. But the nerves are still there.”

    Clearly, one way to assuage any nerves is to just blow away any and all competition. And Simmons will have the chance to do that again. She also has the 2A classification’s top time in the 800m and 1,600m. Plus, she runs for Soda Springs in the 4x400m and 4x800m relays.

    “My coaches have me trained to do it,” Simmons said. “They’re smart. ... I’ve had to do it before, so I know I can handle it.”

    Even if Simmons starts to wear down, perhaps she will find some fuel in the large crowds surrounding the track.

    It’s a do-or-die atmosphere that can work one of two ways. Either soak it in and perform better than ever or shrink from the attention.

    Grace’s Kate Skinner prefers the former.

    “I like having the competition and competing against more people, girls that I’ve never competed against before,” she said.

    Skinner, a junior, took second in the high jump. She entered the event tied with Logos’ Madison Schumaker for the best height cleared during the season, 5 foot 2 inches.

    But in an upset, Idaho City’s Amber Wright was the only one able to jump 5-2 Friday, relegating Skinner to second and Schumaker to third.

    No matter, though, Skinner did the best she could that day and it caps off a high-jumping season where she medaled in every meet.

    Besides, Skinner’s eight points for placing second are invaluable. In 1A girls, Grace is 13th overall, a position the Grizzlies and Skinner have opportunities to improve on today.

    Rockland, boosted by Savanah Farr’s third-place finish in the triple jump, is ninth with 14 points.

    West Side has the top boys team with 31.33 points. In the last event of the day, the Pirate’s 1,600m sprint medley team set a new best time for the season (3:42.86), edging Declo and Marsing for first place.

    The track meet picks back up this morning, starting at 9 a.m.