Maria De La Cruz, Clayton Burton named J&C Athletes of the Week for May 6-11
LAFAYETTE — Lafayette Jeff senior sprinter and hurdler Maria De La Cruz and Twin Lakes senior baseball player Clayton Burton were voted the Journal and Courier Athletes of the Week for performances from May 6-11.
Burton received 10,312 votes (56.5% of ballots) to finish ahead of Harrison senior setter Conner Blevins, who earned 7,251 votes (37.8%) McCutcheon junior runner Shamar Ray finished third with 675 votes (3.7%).
De La Cruz became the second straight Lafayette Jeff runner to win Athlete of the Week after sophomore Amani Byrd took the achievement last week. De La Cruz earned 3,661 votes ahead of second-place finisher Ashley Dunk from Harrison with 488 votes. Twin Lakes junior track athlete Lydia Redlin finished third with 295.
Here's what De La Cruz and Burton accomplished to win the J&C Athletes of the Week award.
Maria De La Cruz, Lafayette Jeff, track & field, senior
De La Cruz highlighted her versatility as a hurdler and pole vaulter. She took first place in both events, driving herself seven feet over the vault bar. She also ran the 100-meter hurdles in 16.90 seconds during a meet against McCutcheon last Wednesday.
Clayton Burton, Twin Lakes, baseball, senior
The chaos-causing left-handed hitter lined four hits last week and helped Twin Lakes reach the Hoosier Conference Championship finals against Western. Burton is batting .487 with 14 stolen bases this season.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Maria De La Cruz, Clayton Burton named J&C Athletes of Week, May 6-11
