LSU indoor track: Zachary's Chris Hilton shows little rust in first competition - The Advocate

Good starts are what the Zachary track team looks for from Chris Hilton, at least in the sprints. In the high jump he’s found plenty of reasons to be patient.

Hilton, the reigning state indoor champion, cleared 6 feet, 8 inches to win the high jump at the LSU High School Classic on Saturday at the LSU Bernie Moore Fieldhouse. He also ran the opening leg of the Broncos' victorious 4x200-meter relay team moments earlier.

The world knows Hilton is capable of better jumps. He went 7 feet to win the LHSAA at the state indoor meet last February, but a month later the coronavirus pandemic put the kibosh on the rest of his track season. He has practiced it little since and competed even less.

“It’s been little over a year since I competed so I’m a little rusty, but I’m not worried,” said Hilton, a senior and LSU football signee. “I did better today than I thought I would. It’s a relief to know I’ve still got it.”

Pole vaulter Heather Abadie also showed she’s still got it and then some. The St. Michael senior and Texas A&M signee set a meet record by clearing 13 feet, 6½ inches for a meet record, her personal best and the No. 2 mark nationally. It was ¼ inch better than the mark of Rachel LeLeux of Catholic High of New Iberia in 2017.

“It was a good meet. The last meet I did well but blew through all my poles,” Abadie said. “That set me up for how I did today. I just have to keep a positive mindset and bring my own energy. It was weird competing with so few people in the stands.”

With the late football season finish, Hilton hasn’t had time to get deep into his practice routine. On one of the early heights he went over the bar easily with a feet-first scissor move. With the bar at 6-9¾, he hit it one the way up on all three attempts.

Hilton said his legs were tired from competing in the relay, but it was clear his mechanics are developing.

“We just took the high jump mat out two weeks ago,” Zachary coach Chris Carrier said. “Basically, we’ve just been working on his steps. His misses were just a technique thing, either being too close or too far. The high jump is so technical. He’ll get better.”

Hilton said he’s aiming for the state record of 7-2 held by J.J. Barton of Lafayette before the season is over. Beyond that, he’d like to continue competing in the same building for the Tigers.

“It’s one of the things we talked about,” said the all-state wide receiver. “LSU is all for it. Coach O (Ed Orgeron) said he liked athletes that competed in two sports. The skills transfer to football.”

So does Hilton’s speed. He ran a 20.91 split to give the Broncos a big lead in the 4x200. Teammates Kenson Tate, Connor Wisham and Jieron Miller did the rest for a 1:30.66 clocking, well ahead of runner-up St. Augustine at 1:32.43.

“Our motto in the relays is be the first one to handoff, and he gave us a big lead,” Carrier said.

Abadie also competed in another event before her specialty, finishing sixth in the long jump at 16-1¾. After clearing her winning mark, she went after the facility record of 16-9 ½, held by Rachel Laurent of Vandebilt Catholic.

“The last attempt it was just being tired,” said Abadie, who holds the Canadian under 18 record. “I had the long jump right before. After the first try it was downhill.”

Lafayette’s Johann Duplantis, sister of world record holder Mondo Duplantis, finished second with a 12-5½ effort.

Other notable local performances in the first session included:

-Woodlawn’s Lanard Harris, who ran 8.13 to win the 60-meter dash with the fifth best time nationally.

-Zachary’s Tate who won the 60-meter dash in 6.94.

-Sophie Martin of St. Jospeh’s Academy, who won the 1600 in 5:22.42.

-Catholic’s Grant Griffin, who won the shot put at 45 feet, 9¼ inches

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LSU indoor track: Zachary's Chris Hilton shows little rust in first competition - The Advocate
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