June 03, 2005
Asbury Park Press
BY DEBBIE WALDEYER
Julianne Toto's four-hour round-trip drive three times a week has now become a four-hour drive once a week.
But that doesn't mean the intensity is any less.
The Middletown South senior and Shore Conference pole vaulter extraordinaire continues to fine-tune her skills as part of the Vertical Assault Pole Vaulting Club in Bath , Pa. , despite the fact that she's a lock to continue her career at the University of Georgia .
"During the indoor season I worked really hard on my vaulting technique," Toto said. "I was going out to Pennsylvania three days a week. But I needed to improve my running and strength. So I've been doing sprint workouts on the track and lifting more. Now my running's faster and my general fitness is better."
Toto's best came indoors with a 12-6 she cleared at both the Pole Vault Summit in Reno , Nev. , in January and the Varsity Classic in February.
Toto continues to re-write the record books. She set meet records at both the Monmouth County and Shore Conference Championships by clearing 12-0. At the latter, she was named Most Outstanding Field Performer.
All of this came on the heels of Toto becoming Middletown South's first Penn Relays winner when she cleared 12-4 at Franklin Field in April.
"My coach, Mike Lawyrk, had 15 girl pole vaulters there," Toto said of her Vertical Assault coach’s proteges sprinkled throughout the final Penn Relays results — with Toto at the top of that list.
Toto's success has come in a short time with pole vault being competed on the county, conference and state level beginning in 2003.
"Lately I've been noticing how well you jump depends on what kind of mood you're in," Toto explained. "If you think positive and go for it, you'll be on. If you're in a bad mood, you won't even get off the ground."
© 2005 Vertical Assault