Jacksonville, Fla. –Mitchell’s Taylor Anderson has always been adept in the water. The junior is among the area’s best swimmers with a state title in the 50-yard freestyle this past season.
So it was understandable people did a few double takes when she decided to give pole vaulting a try three years ago. Now, she is just as strong in that event, soaring to heights that have her seeded among the top four heading into Saturday’s Class 3A state meet in Jacksonville.
“(Pole vaulting) was something different and I thought it would be fun,” Anderson said. “It took some time to get used to it, but I’ve improved so much. Technically, this is the best season I’ve had.”
Anderson’s foray into pole vaulting almost had a quick ending. Russell Jerothe, who coached Mitchell’s vaulters three years ago, considered cutting Anderson because he did not think she was coordinated enough to master the event.
“In the end, I knew she was a good athlete and that she would eventually get the hang of it,” said Jerothe, who runs High Standards in Pasco County. more
