The North Gaston senior has spent lots of effort - and lots of time in the car - on her dramatic improvement in the pole vault.
Sometimes, I get to know an athlete over an entire career, starting with promising performances as a freshman and finishing with a triumphant senior season. It's more common, however, for the top seniors to have been relative unknowns during 9th grade, or even 10th grade. Such is the case for Mariel Finger (North Gaston), who was an 8' vaulter two years ago. She began to distinguish herself with a 10' 8" season best in 2013, but really set herself apart with a breakthrough indoor season this winter. She jumped 11' 7.75", second-best in the state all-classes, and also brought home a 3A state championship in what is now her signature event. So this just goes to show all you younger athletes - find the right event for you, and work very hard at it, and you might be able to go from "just another track athlete" to "Senior Spotlight," too!
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