H.S. TRACK: Riverside's Vanessa Munley sets personal record and wins gold

BY JOBY FAWCETT (STAFF WRITER)
Published: December 12, 2010
Scranton Times-Tribune

Riverside senior Vanessa Munley got her final track and field season off to a flying start.

On Saturday, in her first indoor meet of the season, Munley captured a gold medal at the Kutztown High School Maroon and Gold Invitational in the pole vault, clearing 11-feet, 6-inches, establishing a personal best.

"That means so much," Munley said. "That really raises my confidence. Last season in my first meet, I only cleared 9-6, so I am two feet better."

Following her second All-Region season as a pole vaulter, the two-time PIAA medal winner is practicing twice a week at Vertical Assault in Allentown and working on her conditioning.

As a junior, Munley established a Riverside school record at 11-3 during the regular season and is already the District 2 record holder at 11-1½, but she had failed every attempt at in her career at 11-6.

But Saturday, she cleared the crossbar. The competition ended when Munley missed on her next goal, 11-9.

Former Susquehanna standout Amber Gaffey has the best pole vault mark by a Lackawanna Track Conference girls performer, having soared 12-3 as a senior in 2007.

"Making 11-6 felt so good," said Munley, who is receiving college recruiting attention. "Right when I started to run, I had that feeling that I was definitely getting over it. I knew that would make my whole family proud."