Lance Everhart of Asheboro is a versatile track and field athlete with big goals. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record)
Asheboro senior sets high bar in field events
ASHEBORO – Lance Everhart has found plenty of worthwhile events in track and field, but he knows what he likes best.
“High jump, most definitely,” the Asheboro senior said.
He has jumped into the conversation on a statewide level as one of the top leapers. The next phase of the postseason comes with Saturday’s Class 3-A Midwest Regional at Robinson High School in Concord.
Everhart has a personal-best mark of 6 feet, 6 inches – reaching that twice this year – in the high jump.
He became involved in track and field at Southwestern Randolph and through Amateur Athletic Union competition. He transferred to Asheboro as a junior.
He first was focused on sprints, hurdles and the jumps.
“After that, I picked up pole vaulting,” he said.
Everhart, 17, is focused on improving his marks. Sometimes, a slight improvement can bring big rewards.
“Every day I can, I come out and put in as much practice as I can,” he said. “Everyone puts in work here. There’s always people to compete with.”
Everhart stays busy in most meets.
“Because my coach wants to win and we want to get as many points as possible,” he said. “In track, I don’t have to depend on everybody else, but there is a team aspect to it. I have my whole team.”
Everhart won four events in last month’s Randolph County championships and claimed three titles in last week’s Mid-Piedmont Conference championships. He has mostly been right on target.
“He has been working,” Asheboro coach DeNeal McNair said. “Sometimes it’s best to leave them alone and get them in shape.”
Everhart, who placed third in three events in the Class 3-A indoor state meet in the winter, has goals for better finishes later this month in the outdoor state meet.
“I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now,” Everhart said. “Hitting some good marks and consistent with that.”
As a sophomore, Everhart played football as a running back and outside linebacker at Southwestern Randolph and suited up as a senior on the defensive line for Asheboro. That was mostly just an activity to state in a competitive mode.
He’s full speed ahead in track and field.
“I found track and love this,” he said. “I didn’t want to stop.”
