San Jose Mercury News - Tori Anthony, Castilleja

Sport: Track and field.

Event: Pole vault. Class: Senior.

Accomplishment: Anthony successfully defended her state title in the pole vault and set a national record in the process by clearing 14 feet, 3/4 inch at the state track and field championships in Sacramento. The former gymnast, who is headed to UCLA on a scholarship, cleared the height on her third and final attempt to beat the mark of 14-0

set in 2005 by Tiffany Maskulinski of Iroquois

High in Elma, N.Y. "I've been trying for

that height for so long," said Anthony, who

skipped her high school graduation ceremony to

compete at the state meet. "It's been a long time coming."

San Jose Mercury News - Eric Hersey, Los Altos

Sport: Track and field.

Event: Hurdles.Class: Senior.

Accomplishment: Hersey was a state finalist in the 110-meter hurdles as a sophomore but missed the end of his junior season because of a hamstring injury. After sweeping the 110 and 300 hurdles at the Central Coast Section meet, Hersey ran a personal best of 13.95 seconds in the 110 at the state preliminaries and also qualified for the 300 final. He ran a wind-aided 13.84 to earn fifth place in the 110, and finished eighth in the 300. "I can't complain about a PR in the 110, even if it was wind-aided," Hersey said. "But I have a lot to work on, and I hope to compete in a lot of meets this summer."