Ian West, Fike, Pole Vault
Despite a disappointing result at the 3A Indoor State Meet, West was the leading vaulter in the state both indoors and outdoors in 2014. His breakthrough jump came over the summer, when he cleared 16' 1" in the Winston-Salem Street Vault (US #9 Returning and NC #3 All Time). Apex teammates Drew Pedersen and Michael Utecht both cleared 15' during the winter, then Pederson improved to 15' 6" and Utecht to 15' 2.25" in the spring. All three are among the top 20 returners in the nation based on their indoor jumps. In the high jump, Keon Howe (Mallard Creek) and Jamie Brown (Knightdale) both cleared 6' 6" during the 2014 indoor season, but neither had a strong outdoor season. It was Christopher Garrick (Marvin Ridge) that posted the top returning mark from the spring at 6' 8", and he articulated to me that he had a goal of getting to 7 feet this year.