Indiana High School Athletic Association

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

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MEDIA ADVISORY June 6, 2003

Contact: Jerry Baker, Sports Information Director

E-Mail: jbaker@ihsaa.org

LAWRENCE NORTH GETS THE TRI-FECTA IN BOYS TRACK & FIELD

As light rain fell throughout much of the evening, the Lawrence North Wildcats ignored the conditions and used their superior depth to capture their third consecutive state title, and fourth overall, in the 100^th Annual Boys Track and Field State Finals on June 6, 2003 at the Michael Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis, in front of a colorful umbrella carrying crowd of 5,333.

Winning only two events, Lawrence North, the state’s number-one ranked team in the final poll, continued to put points on the board with three second place finishes, along with a third, fourth and seventh to outdistance second place Fort Wayne Northrop, 69-44.

The Wildcats picked up their first eight points of the evening in the opening event, the 3200 Meter Relay, with a second place finish to Brebeuf Jesuit. Trent Morton (10), Matt Impink (12), Brian Kolas (12) and Chris Smitson (11) gave the victorious Braves a 7:47.29 time in the race, with Lawrence North a close second at 7:47.41.

LN put 10 points in the book in the 110 Meter Hurdles, with speedster Brandys Green (12) improving upon his second place finish a year ago to finish out front in a time of 13.97.

Green was back again, setting the pace in the 300 Meter Hurdles, an event in which he finished third in 2002. This time, his 37.47 was good enough for first place, pushing the Wildcats into an insurmountable lead in the team standings.

North Central (Indpls.) took home its only first in the 100-Meter Dash, with Pierre Bush (11) crossing the finish line in a time of 10.73.

In the 1600 Meter Run, Christian Wagner (11) of Columbus North turned in the best time in the event since it was changed from yards to meters in 1980, as he raced home in 4:07.11. Rudy Chapa’s converted time of 4:04.20 in 1976 still stands as the event record. By comparison, last year’s winner, Nick Kruse of Lake Central, finished in 4:17.20.

Wagner had a chance to catch his breath and then returned gunning for Chapa’s mark in the 3200 Meter Run. The Hammond blur had set the standard at 8:55.10 (converted time) in 1975. With the crowd cheering him on, Wagner crossed the finish line in 8:55.92, just missing etching his name in the record book, but giving the junior a goal to shoot for in 2004. Nef Araia (12) of Lawrence North, the two-time defending cross country state champion and defending champion in the 3200, was a distant second at 9:14.85.

Ben Davis made it two in a row in the 400 Meter Relay, as Michael Richardson (12), Todd Barnard (12), Bruce Williams (12) and Charles Thompson (12) combined for a 41.57 finish. Richardson and Williams were members of last year’s state championship team in the event.

The Giants would be heard from again as Bruce Williams returned later to turn in a time of 22.11 to lead the field in the 200 Meter Dash and the school’s 1600 Meter Relay team closed out the show with a victory as a trio of their 400 Meter Relay members, Richardson, Thompson and Williams, were joined by Richard El (10) to finish the evening with a 3:17.96 effort.

Josh Ferry (12) of Bloomington South led the way in the 800 Meter Run in 1:53.98 for the Panthers top finish of the meet.

White River Valley etched its name in the win column when Doug Dayhoff (11), who had finished third a year ago, led the field across the finish line in the 400 Meter Dash in a time of 48.13.

In the field events, Cory Martin (12), Edgewood, captured the top spot in the Discus Throw with a toss of 174-00. Donald Washington (10), Franklin Central, was first in the Long Jump, turning in a distance of 23-02.25. The High Jump crown belonged to Dustin Keller (12) from Lafayette Jefferson, with a leap of 6-09.00. Shot Put honors went to Jason Brown (12) of South Bend Clay, showcasing a put of 62-11.00. The Pole Vault, which was delayed extensively by the weather conditions, finally concluded with Ryan Schipper (12) of Fort Wayne Dwenger outlasting the field, topping out at 15-9.00, one foot higher than last year when he finished third.

No state meet records were set during the event.

Final Team Standings
1. Lawrence North 69
2. Fort Wayne Northrop 44
3. Ben Davis 39
4. North Central (Indpls.) 31
5. Lawrence Central 29
6. Columbus North 26
7. Fort Wayne Snider 25
8. South Bend Clay 23
9. Harding 22
10. Bloomington North 20
10. Warren Central 20
 

Individual State Champions

3200 Meter Relay – Brebeuf Jesuit (Trent Morton, Brian Kolas, Matt Impink, Chris Smitson) 7:47.29

110 Meter High Hurdles – Brandys Green, Lawrence North, 13.97

100 Meter Dash – Pierre Bush, North Central (Indpls.), 10.73

1600 Meter Run – Christian Wagner, Columbus North, 4:07.11

400 Meter Relay –  Ben Davis (Michael Richardson, Todd Barnard, Bruce Williams, Charles Thompson) 41.57

400 Meter Dash – Doug Dayhoff, White River Valley, 48.13

300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles – Brandys Green, Lawrence North, 37.47

800 Meter Run – Josh Ferry, Bloomington South, 1:53.98

200 Meter Dash – Bruce Williams, Ben Davis, 21.76

3200 Meter Run – Christian Wagner, Columbus North, 8:55.92

1600 Meter Relay – Ben Davis (Michael Richardson, Richard El, Charles Thompson, Bruce Williams) 3:17.96

Pole Vault – Ryan Schipper, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, 15-9

Long Jump – Donald Washington, Franklin Central, 23-2.25

Discus – Cory Martin, Edgewood, 174-0

High Jump – Dustin Keller, Lafayette Jefferson, 6-9

Shot Put – Jason Brown, South Bend Clay, 62-11