#3. ANNA CATHRYN GRIFFIT - Taylor
Taylor's Anna Cathryn Griffit just completed her sophomore season, but she was already in defense mode. Winning the UIL 4A state title as a freshman put a target on her back and had all of the chasing what she had. Taking the title out of her grasp was easier said than done. Griffit was on fire all season winning every outdoor meet she competed except for a fourth place finish at the Texas Relays. Last season, Griffit's best height was 12-0. This season, she rarely jumped lower than that height and upped her PR all of the way to over 13 feet. In fact, to take her 4A state title, it was going to take over 13-2.5, which was her winning jump. Just for good measure, Griffit took her show on the road to the Great Southwest Classic where she won that title over several of other state champions.
#2. MAKENZIE HAYWARD - Marcus
Flower Mound Marcus' Makenzie Hayward knows success. She just completed her sophomore year and now already has two UIL 6A state meet medals. As a freshman, she took the gold with a. 12-9 jump at state. This season, she rarely jumped lower than that, driving her personal best height up to 13-6 at the Region 1-6A meet. At state, she added a second place silver medal to go along with her gold from the previous season. With two more years of high school competition left, Hayward is definitely one to keep an eye on.
#1. COLLEEN CLANCY - Smithson Valley
Smithson Valley senior Colleen Clancy had a goal of a UIL state championship. As a sophomore, she took second at the 2015 UIL 6A state meet with a personal best jump of 13-6. A year later, she came back around to take second at the UIL 6A state meet. At that state meet, she only went 12-6, enabling Flower Mound Marcus' Makenzie Hayward to take the title. Senior year, everybody wants to go out on top and for an athlete who has accomplished second place finishes as a sophomore and a junior, only a state title would suffice. Say no more, this season, Clancy was finally able top the personal best mark she set her sophomore season by hitting 13-7 at the Tivy Antler Relays. Now, all that was left to do was to take care of business in Austin. Clancy did so, as she hit 13-6 at state to take the win over Hayward who won it the year before and establish herself as Texas' top female pole vaulter in 2017!