HILLSBOROUGH, NC – A rising senior at Cedar Ridge High school overcame all odds and placed third in pole vaulting at the 2012 New Balance Nationals outdoor track and field meet.
The New Balance Nationals were split into two categories, elite and emerging elite. Ethan Smith qualified for the emerging elite category, barely missing the cut off for elite.
To qualify for the elite category one’s personal best height has to be 15-feet, 5-inches or better. Even though Smith had a bruised toe, he was able to finish ninth.
In the emerging elite category he came in third. His highest jump was 15-feet, 2-inches, which beat multiple athletes in the elite category.
Smith came just short of his personal best at this event which is 15-feet, 3-inches.  source