Eaton of Abbeville High gets back on track

For some athletes missing out on an entire year of competition can really be a setback to their career, but not for Charlotte Eaton of the Abbeville Lady Wildcats track team.

Eaton as a freshman won a State Championship in the high jump event.

Winning anything as a freshmen is an impressive feat all by itself.

Unfortunately for Eaton, she wasn’t able to build upon her impressive feat of a championship as a freshmen,

Eaton had a personal issue that resulted in her sitting out the entirety of the track season last season.

“It was hard to sit out for the year,” Eaton said. “I just love, love everything about track. So it was difficult to not be out there and doing what I love to do.”

For some athletes sitting out an entire season would almost be the end of their career, but not for Eaton.

“The only way I was able to get through the year was practice,” Eaton said. “I would practice as often as I could. Sometimes it would be twice a day.”

During the second track meet of the year, the Lady Cat Relays, Eaton did something she hasn’t done in well over a year.

She won an event.

Eaton won the girls high jump competition with a jump of 4-08.

Along with winning the high jump she placed second in the long jump with a jump of 14-07.5.

She tallied a total of 18 points for her Lady Wildcats team, and that was good enough for her to be named Co-Outstanding Field Performer of the Lady Cat Relays.

“It’s actually kind of surprising,” Eaton said. “Now that I’m back it feels amazing. I had to sit out a year, and it was just nice to get back out here.

So, it just feels amazing to get back out here and compete and have fun.”

Eaton still has the entire season to go before she can think about winning another state championship, but for the fact that she is able to be out there doing what she loves is what is important.

Everything else can be settled at the end of the year.

Andy Bullard
Sports Editor