Perkins makes Valley history by taking 7th in high jump

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Tippecanoe Valley junior Dawson Perkins cleared 6-6 to finish in seventh place at the IHSAA state finals in the high jump at Ben Davis High School Friday.

Historical records are unclear, but Perkins is believed to be the first athlete in Valley history of either gender to make the podium at the state finals.

Perkins cleared 6-0 on his first jump, cleared 6-2 on his second attempt and cleared 6-4 on his first try. He then set a personal best at 6-6 on his second attempt.

He missed on all three tries at 6-7.

Lawrence Central’s Kamyren Garrett won the state title with a jump of 7-0.

In other state boys track news, Ezra Lewellen, a senior from Pioneer, finished fourth in the 400 meters in 49.31 seconds. This came after he won the state title in the 100 meters earlier Friday in 10.67 seconds. Lewellen was also 15th in the 110 hurdles in 15.27 seconds.

Fellow Pioneer senior Addai Lewellen finished 27th in the 100 meters, 20th in the long jump with a jump of 20-8 ¾ and 25th in the 300 hurdles in 42.77 seconds.