Harrison's Zion Clopton Shines at State Track Championships

Zion Clopton, a sophomore from Harrison, showcased his hard work this season by excelling at the state track and field finals held on June 6 at North Central High School, despite a rain delay. His impressive performance earned him two medals in the hurdles, marking a significant achievement for the young athlete.

Clopton secured sixth place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 38.24 seconds and finished eighth in the 110-meter high hurdles, clocking in at 14.49 seconds. His accomplishments were part of a strong showing for the Lafayette area, which saw five athletes earn all-state honors during the event.

In addition to Clopton's success, Frankfort junior Owen Hudspith continued to impress, placing third in the pole vault after clearing a height of 16 feet. This marks his second consecutive podium finish at the state meet. Harrison's 3,200 relay team, consisting of Evan Lottes, Jonathan King, Ossama Belal, and River Bender, also made their mark by finishing seventh with a time of 7:45.76. Meanwhile, the McCutcheon 1,600 relay team, featuring Kaiden Konkle, Jaymar Johnson, Andrew Weinman, and Kamarion Ayres, closed the event with an eighth-place finish in 3:20.80.

Seeger senior Landon Dispennett narrowly missed a medal in the 400 meters, finishing 10th just .08 seconds shy of the podium with a time of 48.74 seconds. Several other local athletes also competed, including West Lafayette's 1,600 relay team in 13th place and Harrison's 400 relay team in 19th. Notable performances included Ayres, who placed 13th in the 300 hurdles and 19th in the 110 hurdles, and Ethan Landess from West Lafayette, finishing 15th in the 200 meters.

This year's state finals highlighted the dedication and talent of local athletes as they competed at a high level, showcasing their skills on a significant stage.