Staff Writer
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| Eaton clearing her personal best of 12' 3" |
Over the winter season the men’s
and women’s pole vault squad under Coach Trezona achieved sweeping victories at
the regional and state meets. On the boys’ side, senior Joe Devries and juniors
Michael Utecht and Drew Pederson finished first, second, and third respectively
at the Men’s 4A Indoor State Championship Meet.
Devries set a new personal record with a height of 15’16”, Utecht tied
his best with a 15’, and Pederson vaulted 14’6”. Friendly rivalry between
teammates has brought the boys together and created one of the strongest pole
vault teams in school history. Utecht explains how he is motivated because,
“the competition is standing beside you every day.”
On the girls’ side, junior Anna Eaton
placed first in the Women’s 4A Indoor State Championship Meet with a height of
12’. Having never vaulted before high school, Eaton describes how excelling at
pole vaulting began with steady progress. “About a third of the way through my
freshman year things started to click, and I have been making changes and
improving since then.” In addition to her persistent work ethic, Eaton’s background
in competitive gymnastics over the years has given her the base to develop into
North Carolina’s current state champion vaulter.
The team is looking forward to a
successful spring season. Practicing Monday through Friday with a combination
of workouts and drills, and occasionally changing daily routine in accordance
to the weather, the vaulters are working to defend their winter titles at the
spring state meet. Devries assures he has plenty of room to improve his
technique. “It’s my greatest weakness,” he says. Eaton and Pederson both hope
to finish as best in the state, and place at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Utecht
aspires to reach 16 feet by the end of the spring season. “There’s no better
feeling than after you’ve cleared a few bars, warmed up, got a good rhythm
going, and know nothing is holding you back. So you just let it fly…”
This weekend Devries, Eaton,
Pederson, and Utecht will be competing at the New Balance Indoor National meet in New York City.
