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Lawrence Central claimed the IHSAA Boys Track and Field State Championship Saturday at Indiana University’s Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.  This is the third state title for the Bears (1998, 2005, 2012), who were led by head coach Tim Richey.

Lawrence Central accumulated 78 points while runner-up Hamilton Southeastern tallied 53.5 and Carmel with 41 was third.

The Bears were paced by senior Jeron Brown who claimed individual titles in the long jump and 400 meter dash.  Junior teammate Da Quan Brown outran the field in the 300 meter hurdles, taking the title with a time of 37.49.  Strong showings by the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meter relays contributed valuable points, each finishing second in their events.

North Central (Indianapolis) senior Futsum Zienasellassie concluded his dominant prep career by winning his fourth consecutive 3200 meter championship in a record time of 8:51.15.  The previous record of 8:55.10 was established by Rudy Chapa of Hammond in 1975.  Zienasellassie also became the first in state history to record four titles in the 3200 meter run.  Last fall, Zienasellassie captured his third individual championship at the IHSAA Cross Country State Finals.

Carmel’s Langston Newton concluded his high school career with two individual championships, owning the throwing events. The senior took the discus title with a throw of 192-9 and came back to capture the shot put with a distance of 61-2.

Jermaine Parrish, a junior from New Albany, captured his first state title in the 100 meter dash and finished second in the 200.  Junior Lucas Wallace (Lafayette Jefferson) finished first in 21.7.

The middle distance events both concluded with come-from-behind finishes in the final stretch.  In the 800 meter run, senior Gary Austin of Pike took the individual championship in 1:52.17.  In the 1600 meter run, Franklin Central senior Jason Crist overcame a deficit in the final 100 meters to claim the title with a time of 4:09.12.

The official attendance for Saturday’s event was 4,631.

109th Annual IHSAA Boys Track & Field State Finals
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex
Indiana University, Bloomington

Top 10 Teams
1.    Lawrence Central: 78
2.    Hamilton Southeastern: 53.5
3.    Carmel: 41
4.    Penn: 28
5.    Pike: 27
6.    Chesterton: 23.5
7.    North Central (Indianapolis): 23
8.    Ben Davis: 20
8.    Lafayette Jefferson: 20
10.  Fort Wayne Snider: 19

State Champions
Pole Vault: Kyle Johnston, 12, Penn, 16-1.
Long Jump: Jeron Brown, 12, Lawrence Central, 23-7.
Discus: Langston Newton, 12, Carmel, 192-9.
High Jump: Will Schott, 12, Roncalli, 6-8.
Shot Put: Langston Newton, 12, Carmel, 61-2.
3200 Relay: Carroll (Fort Wayne) (Eric Claxton 11, Alexander Hess 11, John Hester 12, Jonathan Harper 11), 7:41.29.
110 Hurdles: Zach Bray, 12, Hamilton Southeastern, 14.01.
100 Meters: Jermaine Parrish, 11, New Albany, 10.75.
1600 Meters: Jason Crist, 12, Franklin Central, 4:09.12.
400 Relay: Penn (Joseph Weller 12, Thomas Grant 11, Timothy Deal 10, Conner Sowders 11), 41.76.
400 Meters: Jeron Brown, 12, Lawrence Central, 48.08.
300 Hurdles: Da Quan Brown, 11, Lawrence Central, 37.49.
800 Meters: Gary Austin, 12, Pike, 1:52.17.
200 Meters: Lucas Wallace, 11, Lafayette Jefferson, 21.70.
3200 Meters: Futsum Zienasellassie, 12, North Central (Indpls.), 8:51.15. State Meet Record.
1600 Relay: Fort Wayne North Side (Mohammed Bangura 12, Tyvon Kelley 10, Ed Benson 12, Kersten Barnfield 12), 3:16.95.

Will Schott of Roncalli Named Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award Winner
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Will Schott of Roncalli High School as the winner of this year’s Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award in Boys Track and Field.

Will cleared 6-8 to claim the high jump state title.  The Rebel was this year’s regional high jump champion, and was victorious in both the long jump and high jump at the 2012 All-Catholic Meet.  Will is a member of the Spanish Club and has volunteered with the Lord’s Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Our Lady of Grace Monastery, and the Knights of Columbus.  Will plans to attend Purdue University in the fall.

He is the son of Eric Schott and Jennifer Schott of Greenwood.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the proud corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Roncalli High School in the name of Will Schott.