Eight area athletes qualify for boys track state finals

LAFAYETTE − Wyatt Curl didn't equal the mark he hit a week earlier in the sectional meet, but the West Lafayette senior still did enough to become regional champion in the pole vault.

Curl cleared 15 feet at Scheumann Stadium on Thursday, more than nine inches short of his sectional-winning vault, to advance to the Indiana High School Athletic Association state finals at Indiana University's Robert C. Haugh Complex on Friday.

Curl is one of eight area athletes who will compete in the state meet, including West Lafayette classmate Connor Blankman, who finished fourth in the 400 meters in an automatic state cut time of 49.11 seconds.

Harrison will be represented at the state meet in three events.

The Raiders finished fifth in the 1,600 relay in a state cut time of 3:21.64 with the foursome of Finley Huber, Bennett McRoberts, Elija Strong and Andres Negron-Carrero.

Negron-Carrero also will run the 400 meters after finishing third in the regional in 48.29 seconds and Huber advanced to state in the 100 meters after hitting a state cut mark of 10.80 seconds on Thursday to place sixth.

Benton Central hurdler Jacob Lewellen finished fifth in the 110-meter high hurdles at the regional, hitting the state cut by finishing in 14.79 seconds, and Frankfort pole vaulter Aidan Hudspith's third-place vault of 14 feet, 4 inches qualified the junior for the state meet.