Boys Track Sectional: Clinton-Earl Brothers Make Mark

Aaron and Cameron Clinton-Earl, twin brothers for Hamilton’s track and field team, have been racing ever since they can remember.

“We used to race in the street all the time,” Aaron said about their childhood.

“We would race friends from the block all the time,” Cameron chimed in. “My mom is actually really fast, and my dad’s really fast so we would actually go out in our back alley or in our street and just race each other.”

That combination of a love of running and genetics paid off for the seniors Thursday afternoon at the Waukesha North Sectional as each of the two brothers qualified for three separate events at next week’s state finals.

“I will never have a set of twins like (the Clinton-Earls) ever,” Hamilton head coach Eric Murray said. “They are such good character guys. The fact that they happen to be fast and be able to throw a shot far is secondary. The character and the hard work that they bring to the program and to the school is second to none.

“Cam and Aaron are special.”

Cameron, the taller of the two brothers, finished second in the shot put with a distance of 53 feet, 8½ inches. He also took third in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles.

Meanwhile, the smaller Aaron used his lightning speed to take second in the 100 meter and then anchored the 400 (first place) and 800 (second place) relays for the Chargers.

“We were just talking with the guys and, unlike last year where we were super excited (to get to state),” Aaron Clinton-Earl said. “This year, it’s more like what we expected. I’m happy to be blessed with the talent I’ve been given and I just thank God for everything He’s done.”

In all, the Chargers will take part in seven different events at the state finals as senior Chris Harrell took second in the 200 earn his way to La Crosse as well.

Brookfield East continued to roll in nearly every event it took place in. The Spartans finished in the top three in 11 different events on Thursday, including going 1-2 in the triple jump as Aaron Dillon and Kyle Rohde each cleared over 44 feet.

East also took the top spots in the 400, high jump, 110-meter hurdles, and the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays.

Crosstown rival Brookfield Central also had a decent day at the track.

Senior Max Reshel ran the 800 in 1 minute, 59.96 seconds, good enough for third place and the 3,200 relay team of Andrew Dusing, Gabe Poser, Carl Hirsch, and Nick Peterson took second with a time of 8:08.00.

The story of the day for the Lancers came on the day’s penultimate race, however. Hirsch, seeded fifth in a pack of highly talented individuals in the 3200, seemingly continued to increase his speed at every turn in the two-mile-long race and won convincingly with a time of 9 minutes, 31.02 seconds.

Wauwatosa West star Keith Brown advanced to state in two highly competitive individual events. He won the 200, defeating Harrell by .01 seconds, then captured second in the 110 hurdles. Brown also anchored the second-place 800 relay team. West's Patrick Campbell was third in the 3,200 and Kyle Hanus was third in the pole vault.

For Tosa East, Dan Gagne was second in the 1,600 and Max Kilpin placed second in the high jump.

State finals are scheduled to take place in La Crosse on Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4.