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For the third time in school history (1996, 2010, 2014), Lawrence Central captured the IHSAA Girls Track and Field team championship Friday night at Indiana University’s Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.

The Bears were led by strong performances in the field events, notably from junior Kayla Smith, who finished first in the pole vault (13-0) and fifth in the high jump (5-5), and seniors Adriana Brown and Demara Compton.

Head coach Tim Richey’s squad finished atop the leaderboard with 47 points followed by runner-up Pike with 38 and Warren Central with 35­­.

Freshman phenom Lynna Irby of Pike exploded onto the prep track and field scene with a rare triple. With her victories in the 100 (11.61), 200 (24.07), and 400 (54.38), Irby joins North Central’s Maicel Malone (1984) as the only other freshman to sweep the three individual sprint races.

Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran senior Symone Black was a double winner on the night, finishing first in the 100 hurdles (14.17) and 300 hurdles (41.36), establishing a new state record in the latter event.

Anna Rohrer, a junior from Mishawaka, ran a blistering 10:14.43 in the 3200, setting a state finals record. This is Rohrer’s second state title in the event, and third overall for her career; she was the cross country individual champ in 2012.

Senior throwers Adriana Brown (Lawrence Central) and Liz Iversen (Martinsville) each duplicated their state championship performances from a year ago; Brown’s toss of 160-02 was good for top honors in the discus, while Iversen’s mark of 47-09.75 in the shot put bettered her results from a year ago by nearly a foot (46-10.5 in 2013). Brown finished second to Iversen in the shot put, her best throw registering at 47-02.5. Demara Compton, a senior from Lawrence Central, finished third in each event with marks of 142-11 in the discus and 46-10.75 in the shot put.

The official attendance for Friday's event was 4,414.

41st Annual IHSAA Girls Track & Field State Finals
Friday, June 6, 2014
Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex
Indiana University, Bloomington

Top 10 Teams     
1.   Lawrence Central: 47
2.   Pike: 38
3.   Warren Central: 35
T4. Fort Wayne Northrop: 28
T4. Hamilton Southeastern: 28
T6. Noblesville: 23
T6. Carmel: 23
8.    Fort Wayne Concordia: 22
9.    Bellmont: 21
10.  West Lafayette: 19

State Champions
Pole Vault: Kayla Smith, 11, Lawrence Central, 13-0. 
Long Jump: Yamani Hunter, 11, Evansville Bosse, 19-07.75.
Discus: Adriana Brown, 12, Lawrence Central, 160-02. 
High Jump: Rachel Mather, 12, Noblesville, 5-9.
Shot Put: Liz Iversen, 12, Martinsville, 47-09.75.
3200 Relay: West Lafayette (Erin Brophy 12, Lauren Johnson 10, Kristen Johnson 10, Susan Hubbard 11), 9:07.45. 
100 Hurdles: Symone Black, 12, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 14.17.
100 Meters: Lynna Irby, 9, Pike, 11.61.
1600 Meters: Taylor Nicholson, 9, Avon, 4:51.88. 
400 Relay: Warren Central (Ashley Baker 9, Bryeana Byrdsong 10, Reagan Jarrett 10, Ashanetta Harris 12), 47.33. 
400 Meters: Lynna Irby, 9, Pike, 54.38. 
300 Hurdles: Symone Black, 12, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 41.36. State Meet Record.
800 Meters: Ashleigh Macleod, 9, Penn, 2:11.32. 
200 Meters: Lynna Irby, 9, Pike, 24.07. 
3200 Meters: Anna Rohrer, 11, Mishawaka, 10:14.43. State Meet Record.
1600 Relay: Fort Wayne Northrop (Amber McGee 11, Breanna Phillips 9, Latrice Bolton 12, Victoria McCuiston 12) 3:49.73.

Bellmont’s Holly Hankenson Wins Mental Attitude Award 
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Holly Hankenson of Bellmont High School as the winner of this year’s Mental Attitude Award in Girls Track and Field.

Hankenson made a home for herself on the podium at the 41st Annual Girls Track and Field State Finals, finishing second in the 100 hurdles (14.32), third in the 300 hurdles (43.5) and fourth in the long jump (18-5). The talented senior has earned a total of 10 medals throughout her career. The dual sport athlete was also a part of Bellmont’s state championship volleyball team as a freshman in 2010.

Hankenson volunteers at several sports and church camps in the summer, and coaches a local youth team. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and German Club. Hankenson will attend the University of Arkansas in the fall and is the daughter of Steve and Bridget Hankenson of Decatur.

The IHSAA Executive Committee presented a $1,000 scholarship to Bellmont High School in the name of Holly Hankenson.