Anna Eaton, Apex, Pole Vault
Two former cross-town rivals are now teammates, and they are also the top 2 returners in the state in the pole vault. Eaton was the best in North Carolina all last year, posting 12' 6" marks both indoors and outdoors; that makes her the 12th-best returner in the country from indoor season, and also ranks her third in state history. Zoe Early, who has moved to Apex from Green Hope, cleared 11' 1" indoors and improved that to 11' 8" outdoors. Taylor Helms (Marvin Ridge) was the only other vaulter to break 11 feet last winter, and she also cleared 11' 5" during the spring season. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Olesen (Hickory Ridge) looks like a dominant favorite in the high jump: her 5' 8" indoor mark is 4" better than any other returner, and it puts her at US #5 Returning and NC #7 All Time. She improved that to 5' 9" outdoors, and there is no other returner in the state that was better than 5' 6".