Scoring in 11 of the 16 events and highlighted by an individual state champion and a winning relay team, Lawrence North captured its first team championship since 1990 and second title overall by a 16-point margin in the 98^th Annual IHSAA Boys Track and Field State Finals.

After a cold and wet day, the meet was conducted in sunny and breezy conditions with the temperature near 60 degrees before an estimated crowd of 5,500.

Lawrence North finished with 65 points and was followed by North Central (Indianapolis) with 49 points, defending state champion Carmel (34) and Fort Wayne Northrop (32).

It is the fifth IHSAA state title overall for Lawrence North and first since it won the IHSAA wrestling crown in 1993. The Wildcats were coached by Bob Potter, who also directed the 1990 state championship team. Lawrence North’s winning efforts came in the long jump and the 4 x 400 relay.

Individually, Matthew Campbell of White River Valley and Leroy Dixon of South Bend LaSalle shined brightest in a field of stars.

Campbell broke the 14-year-old state meet record in the pole vault by going 16-9 to best Paul Gensic of Carroll (Fort Wayne) in a torrid battle that saw both seniors exceed the previous state record. Campbell won top honors in a jump off, but both vaulters will share the state meet record. Campbell joins Mark Buse of Southridge (1988-90-91) as the only three-time IHSAA state champions in the pole vault.

Dixon was the meet’s only double winner in the 100 meters and 200 meters. Dixon, a junior, won the 100 meters by a comfortable margin in 10.43. He also posted a decisive victory in the 200 meters in 21.3. Dixon is the first athlete to double in the sprints since Trellus Washington of Elkhart Central in 1993.

In the first of two down-to-the wire distance races, senior Chris Swisher of Milan kicked to a furious finish in the 1600 meters to overtake defending state champion Aaron Fisher of Franklin Central at the tape. Swisher, was timed in 4:16.44, followed by Fisher at 4:16.89 and senior Eric Redman of North Central (Indianapolis) in 4:16.94. Swisher is the first Milan athlete to win an individual title in boys track and field.

The 3200 meters also featured a photo finish with Robert Smitson of Brebeuf Jesuit holding off defending state champion Charlie Koeppen as both seniors dove to the tape. Smitson was clocked in 9:05.72, Koeppen in 9:05.73. Smitson is Brebeuf’s first state champion since Greg VanWinkle won the mile run in 1977.

In other events:

• Freshman Lorenzo Swanson of South Bend Clay captured the 100 high hurdles in 14.27.

• Mike Taylor, a senior at Portage, repeated in the 800 meters in 1:52.30. He won 2000 state title in 1:53.47.

• Senior Ronald Elliott of Fort Wayne grabbed the 300 intermediate hurdles title in 38.31.

• Taylor Treesh, a senior at DeKalb, became the school’s first individual state champion since 1971 and second ever with a 182-3 effort to win the discus.

• Senior Garland Porter of Ben Davis won the shot put decisively with a 60-1.5 toss.

• Merrillville senior Ben Daniel prevailed in a tight high jump battle. Daniel was one of six jumpers to clear 6-6. He won on the basis of fewer misses.

• The long jump title went to junior Marcus Lewis of Lawrence North by one-quarter inch over senior Ryan Hahaj of Fort Wayne North. Lewis fouled on five of his six attempts, but made his one good jump count at 23-6. Hahaj finished at 23-5.75.

TEAM LEADERS

EVENT CHAMPIONS

Chris Swisher of Milan High School was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 2001 recipient of the Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award in Boys Track & Field.

Swisher became Milan’s first boys track and field state champion with a dramatic triumph in the 1600 meters. It capped an outstanding high school career that saw him captain the school’s cross country, basketball and track teams during his senior year while serving as class president.

Academically, he ranked in his graduating class of 67 student to earn salutatorian honors. He is a member of the National Honor Society and plans to major in pre-dentistry at the University of Southern Indiana.

The Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award is presented annually to the senior who best demonstrates excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in boys track and field. Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Milan High School in the name of Swisher.