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PITTSBURG —
Sometimes in life, decisions are easy to make and require no second thought.
Girard High School senior Randi Pierce signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to compete in track and field at Pittsburg State University.
“I am so happy,” Pierce said. “This is my dream, it's always been my dream to go to Pitt and I love track. I am very excited.”
Pierce, a state qualifier both her sophomore and junior years, specializes in the pole vault and the high jump. She established a school record in the pole vault last year at the LCHS Invitational (10 feet, 6 inches), breaking her previous mark.
“I want to pole vault and I might do some high jump and whatever else he (Pitt State head track coach Russ Jewett) puts me in, I'll do,” Pierce said.
She's already shown her talents on the Prentice Gudgen Track, last year in the Girard Optimist Invitational held at Pitt State rather than Girard High School. Pierce claimed individual victories in the pole vault and the high jump.
"We knew she had a ton of ability," Girard head track coach Matt Logue said of Pierce after the Optimist Invitational. "I'm pleased to see her step up and perform like a junior. She's older and she's competing like an older athlete. She's more experienced, more confident and she had a great day in the high jump and pole vault. And, she did well in the triple jump."
Pierce finished seventh at the Class 4A state track meet last May with a mark of 9-6 in the pole vault. Jaimie House of El Dorado won at 12-0 and Maggie Wilson of Iola placed second at 11-6.
On Wednesday, Logue briefly expressed his thoughts on Pierce and what she's meant to the perennially successful Girard girls track program.
“She's a good character kid, a hard worker who's always done what we've asked her to do,” Logue said. “She's not done yet but she will be missed and she will be a great addition to Pitt State.”
Pierce still has one more track season at Girard High School on the horizon.
“I'm still a Girard Trojan right now and I'm very excited for this season and to progress,” Pierce said. “This year, I want to have a new personal record and go to state again.”
Pierce follows a long family tradition at Pitt State. Her father, John Pierce, lettered three years in football at Pitt State (1977-1979) and has served 24 years as a Pitt State assistant football coach. Her mother, Sunny (York) Pierce, played two years on the Pitt State women’s basketball team and earned membership in the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Her older sister, Nikki (Pierce) Webster, played basketball at Pitt State and lettered four years.
Sometimes in life, decisions are easy to make and require no second thought.
Girard High School senior Randi Pierce signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to compete in track and field at Pittsburg State University.
“I am so happy,” Pierce said. “This is my dream, it's always been my dream to go to Pitt and I love track. I am very excited.”
Pierce, a state qualifier both her sophomore and junior years, specializes in the pole vault and the high jump. She established a school record in the pole vault last year at the LCHS Invitational (10 feet, 6 inches), breaking her previous mark.
“I want to pole vault and I might do some high jump and whatever else he (Pitt State head track coach Russ Jewett) puts me in, I'll do,” Pierce said.
She's already shown her talents on the Prentice Gudgen Track, last year in the Girard Optimist Invitational held at Pitt State rather than Girard High School. Pierce claimed individual victories in the pole vault and the high jump.
"We knew she had a ton of ability," Girard head track coach Matt Logue said of Pierce after the Optimist Invitational. "I'm pleased to see her step up and perform like a junior. She's older and she's competing like an older athlete. She's more experienced, more confident and she had a great day in the high jump and pole vault. And, she did well in the triple jump."
Pierce finished seventh at the Class 4A state track meet last May with a mark of 9-6 in the pole vault. Jaimie House of El Dorado won at 12-0 and Maggie Wilson of Iola placed second at 11-6.
On Wednesday, Logue briefly expressed his thoughts on Pierce and what she's meant to the perennially successful Girard girls track program.
“She's a good character kid, a hard worker who's always done what we've asked her to do,” Logue said. “She's not done yet but she will be missed and she will be a great addition to Pitt State.”
Pierce still has one more track season at Girard High School on the horizon.
“I'm still a Girard Trojan right now and I'm very excited for this season and to progress,” Pierce said. “This year, I want to have a new personal record and go to state again.”
Pierce follows a long family tradition at Pitt State. Her father, John Pierce, lettered three years in football at Pitt State (1977-1979) and has served 24 years as a Pitt State assistant football coach. Her mother, Sunny (York) Pierce, played two years on the Pitt State women’s basketball team and earned membership in the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Her older sister, Nikki (Pierce) Webster, played basketball at Pitt State and lettered four years.
