Six local athletes reach podium at girls state track meet

Sam King, Lafayette Journal & CourierSat, June 6, 2026 at 2:04 AM UTC·1 min read

INDIANAPOLIS — Six area athletes earned spots on the podium at Friday's IHSAA girls track and field state finals, including two each from West Lafayette and Harrison.

A trio of juniors highlighted Greater Lafayette's performances.

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North White junior Olivia Dahlenburg cleared 5 feet, 6 inches in the high jump for a sixth-place finish. Harrison junior Eva Stokes and Faith Christian junior Ashley Caplinger each took home seventh-place finishes in individual events, highlighting Greater Lafayette's participants.

Stokes offset a disappointing shot put mark that placed her 12th with a throw of 138 feet, 7 inches in the discus.

Caplinger broke her own school record in the 800 meters, shaving off nearly 3/4 of a second from her regional run last week to place seventh in 2:11.75 at North Central High School.

Senior Kaitlyn Manfra joined her Raider teammate Stokes with a spot on the podium, finishing eighth in the 1,600 in 5:04.20.

West Lafayette had just two competing athletes Friday night, but both earned a ninth-place finish. Senior Audrey Alexander, who was 28th in the discus, placed ninth in the shot put with a toss of 41-7. Senior pole vaulter Kynlee Dunbar outdid her regional performance by three inches to place ninth by clearing 11-3.

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More: Here are the Lafayette area athletes to watch at IHSAA track and field finals

Other state competitors from the area included: Makayla Ketterer, Harrison (11th, high jump); Sophia Zarate, Benton Central (14th, discus); Kimberly Caplinger, Faith Christian (15th, 1,600); Nami Inoue, McCutcheon (16th, 800); Carla Rodriguez, Harrison (17th, 3,200); Katya Hupy, Harrison (19th, pole vault) and Allison Caplinger (DQ, 400).

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Greater Lafayette athletes place at state track meet

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