Elizabeth Olesen (Hickory Ridge) leads a trio of North Carolina jumpers that enter the season with national rankings on their resumes.

The lists below are separated into the state's top national-caliber stars, plus those athletes that should be contenders at the state meet.  Only FAT times were used to determine these lists.  There is always someone who doesn't quite make the list, or improves enough to become a "surprise" contender - if you think someone that's not in this article deserves recognition, add their name in the comments section!

Overall:

The state has some elite athletes at the top of the rankings, but North Carolina will be best known for depth in the field events this spring.  There will be some very intense battles for state rankings and state championships in the coming months!

• Elizabeth Olesen (Hickory Ridge): 5' 9.75" High Jump US #14 (5' 8" US #4 this winter)

• Sydnei Murphy (Apex): 19' 4" Long Jump US #8 this winter

• Chelsey Hargrave (Williams): 39' 2.5" Triple Jump (39' 8" US #13 this winter), 17' 11" Long Jump this winter

NCHSAA 4A

This classification is loaded with throwing talent, as there are no less than six legitimate contenders in that event.

• Jocelyn Culbreath (Reagan): 5' 8" High Jump

• Bojo Jada (Ragsdale): 5' 6" High Jump

• Jamie Durham (Ashley): 18' 10.5" Long Jump

• Alexis Davis (Butler): 37' 7.5" Triple Jump

• Anna Eaton (Apex): 12' 0" Pole Vault (12' 6" this winter)

• Zoe Early (Green Hope): 11' 7" Pole Vault

• Alycia Springs (Mallard Creek): 43' 4" Shot Put (44' 3.25 this winter), 135' 1" Discus Throw

• Khayla Dawson (Olympic): 43' 2.25" Shot Put (43' 10.25" this winter)

• Lauren Evans (Pine Forest): 42' 6.5" Shot Put

• Ashley Wingo (Mallard Creek): 42' 2.25" Shot Put

• Bryanna Hames (Myers Park): 143' 2" Discus Throw; 42' 2.25" Shot Put this winter

• Hasana Clark (Southeast Raleigh): 41' 4.5" Shot Put this winter

NCHSAA 3A

The long jump in this classification may be as competitive as any event in the state this spring, with 6 girls that have jumped within 2 inches of each other.  About the only event with a clear favorite is the shot put, where Dickerson is dominant, although Olesen is a slight favorite in the high jump.

• Qizeah Jackson (Westover): 5' 6" High Jump

• Julia Scoles (South Iredell): 5' 6" High Jump, 18' 1" Long Jump

• Courtney Crawford (Western Guilford): 19' 0.5" Long Jump

• Kacia Vines (Cedar Ridge): 18' 1" Long Jump

• Toya Anding (White Oak): 18' 0.5" Long Jump

• Takeyra Thomas (Rocky Mount): 17' 11.25" Long Jump

• Carlecia Spivey (Douglas Byrd): 17' 11" Long Jump this winter

• Mikaela Siebert (Cuthbertson): 38' 8" Triple Jump this winter

• Marial Finger (North Gaston): 11' 7.75" Pole Vault this winter

• Taylor Helms (Marvin Ridge): 11' 0" Pole Vault this winter

• Alexis Dickerson (Western Alamance): 41' 1.25" Shot Put this winter, 120' 3" Discus Throw

NCHSAA 2A

Talk about a logjam at the top of the rankings!  There are 5 returning girls with the same high jump mark, not to mention 3 36-foot triple jumpers.  Several girls that didn't make this list are within definite striking range of the returning favorites, and that makes this an incredibly competitive classification.

• Charity Snelling (Franklinton): 5' 4" High Jump

• Tainasha Vines (Bunn): 17' 6.5" Long Jump, 36' 10.75" Triple Jump

• Kayla Moore (Cummings): 18' 3" Long Jump, 36' 9" Triple Jump

• Kenyae Majors (Cummings): 17' 10" Long Jump, 36' 0" Triple Jump

• Ashley Parker (Draughn): 5' 4" High Jump, 36' 4.5" Triple Jump

• Danielle Brown (Franklin): 11' 0" Pole Vault

• Alex Cooke (North Surry): 39' 10" Shot Put (40' 7.75" this winter)

• Samantha Layko (Croatan): 122' 1" Discus Throw

NCHSAA 1A

Versatility is the name of the game here, with the classification's three top field-event athletes each ranking at the top in multiple events.

• Samantha Welborn (Starmount): 38' 0" Shot Put, 113' 9" Discus Throw

• Hunter Welborn (Starmount): 5' 6" High Jump; 36' 5" Triple Jump this winter

• Vanisha Wilshire (Louisburg): 5' 4" High Jump, 17' 1" Long Jump, 34' 7" Triple Jump

• A'Jah Williams (Tarboro): 17' 3" Long Jump

• Erin West (Andrews): 37' 0" Triple Jump

• Maddie Cole (Robbinsville): 9' 6" Pole Vault

NCISAA 3A

There are some excellent jumpers in this classification, but the throws appear to be up for grabs this season.

• Cha'Mia Rothwell (Durham Academy): 5' 4" High Jump

• Kaytlyn Gill (Charlotte Christian): 17' 7.5" Long Jump, 36' 9" Triple Jump (37' 3" this winter)

• Kathleen Brandes (Ravenscroft): 10' 0" Pole Vault

• Alexus Baldwin (Ravenscroft): 32' 3" Shot Put

• Renee Paris (Providence Day): 102' 0" Discus Throw

NCISAA 1A/2A

Cary Christian has a solid 1-2 scoring punch in the field, to help support their run at a team title.

• Olivia Goodwin (Cary Christian): 4' 8" High Jump, 15' 6.5" Long Jump

• Josie Barger (Gaston Day): 4' 8" High Jump

• Victoria Workman (Burlington Christian): 33' 2" Triple Jump

• Julie Thompson (Cary Christian): 32' 0.5" Shot Put

• Kelly Post (Fayetteville Academy): 31' 9" Shot Put, 88' 2.25" Discus Throw