Gergel (IL) fighting injury
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:50 pm
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/03/29 ... 713be8.txt
Injury won't keep Marian's Gergel from eyeing a state pole vault title
Thursday, March 29, 2007 12:43 AM CDT
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BY MIKE NIETO
mnieto@nwitimes.com
219.933.3232
GIRLS TRACK | SEASON PREVIEW | MARIAN CATHOLIC'S MELISSA GERGEL
She was a Junior Olympic pole vault champ last summer.
A three-time state qualifier, she finished second in last year's Class AA state meet. And the athlete who bettered her effort in Charleston has graduated.
Then with a scholarship to Oregon already signed, Marian Catholic's Melissa Gergel went out and won an open meet at Illinois State against college athletes.
All was perfect until early February, when the senior pulled a hamstring in her right leg.
"She was right on the edge of one very big jump when she got hurt," said Tim Johnson, Gergel's pole vault coach.
The always-cheerful Gergel has a change of voice when she talks about being unintentionally grounded.
"It's very frustrating," Gergel said. "I've been waiting all year for track season and now that it finally is here, it stinks that I can't do anything."
Gergel has not vaulted since then, but anticipates being back for the outdoor season. In fact, she may try to compete in Saturday's Illinois Top Times indoor meet in Champaign.
"She can go half-speed and beat anybody in the state," Johnson said. "We'll just have to wait and see how she does. She can win it with just one jump."
While Gergel has her eye on a return trip to Charleston for the state meet, it remains a blurred image because of her situation.
"Right now, I am just trying not to think so much about it because it frustrates me," Gergel said. "(The state meet is) always in the back of my mind and it is definitely my goal. I just want to jump high."
Gergel went 12 feet, 6 inches last year at the state meet and is the school record holder in the pole vault. She went a personal-best 13-2 1/4 at the Junior Olympics.
Gergel spends time working out at a local health club and doing a lot of pole vault drills. One involves a pole attached to the wall on which she hangs, while another features Gergel contorting her body into an "L" and doing push-ups on parallel bars that are on the floor.
"They're a little goofy," Gergel said of the drills. "If someone didn't know track, they would be completely confused."
There is no confusing Gergel's strong classroom work and her involvement in many activities, including the school's Kairos and service programs. She helped set up a carnival for local Catholic school kids at Marian, and last summer Gergel went to Appalachia to help dig a ditch for plumbing and build a wheelchair ramp.
"You realized that you could help so much more people," Gergel said. "Hard work? Definitely, it was manual labor, but I'd rather be doing something for somebody and help people. You don't realize how lucky you have it.
"Even though they did not have everything we would want, they are happy and appreciate things more than anyone I know."
Injury won't keep Marian's Gergel from eyeing a state pole vault title
Thursday, March 29, 2007 12:43 AM CDT
Post a Comment
BY MIKE NIETO
mnieto@nwitimes.com
219.933.3232
GIRLS TRACK | SEASON PREVIEW | MARIAN CATHOLIC'S MELISSA GERGEL
She was a Junior Olympic pole vault champ last summer.
A three-time state qualifier, she finished second in last year's Class AA state meet. And the athlete who bettered her effort in Charleston has graduated.
Then with a scholarship to Oregon already signed, Marian Catholic's Melissa Gergel went out and won an open meet at Illinois State against college athletes.
All was perfect until early February, when the senior pulled a hamstring in her right leg.
"She was right on the edge of one very big jump when she got hurt," said Tim Johnson, Gergel's pole vault coach.
The always-cheerful Gergel has a change of voice when she talks about being unintentionally grounded.
"It's very frustrating," Gergel said. "I've been waiting all year for track season and now that it finally is here, it stinks that I can't do anything."
Gergel has not vaulted since then, but anticipates being back for the outdoor season. In fact, she may try to compete in Saturday's Illinois Top Times indoor meet in Champaign.
"She can go half-speed and beat anybody in the state," Johnson said. "We'll just have to wait and see how she does. She can win it with just one jump."
While Gergel has her eye on a return trip to Charleston for the state meet, it remains a blurred image because of her situation.
"Right now, I am just trying not to think so much about it because it frustrates me," Gergel said. "(The state meet is) always in the back of my mind and it is definitely my goal. I just want to jump high."
Gergel went 12 feet, 6 inches last year at the state meet and is the school record holder in the pole vault. She went a personal-best 13-2 1/4 at the Junior Olympics.
Gergel spends time working out at a local health club and doing a lot of pole vault drills. One involves a pole attached to the wall on which she hangs, while another features Gergel contorting her body into an "L" and doing push-ups on parallel bars that are on the floor.
"They're a little goofy," Gergel said of the drills. "If someone didn't know track, they would be completely confused."
There is no confusing Gergel's strong classroom work and her involvement in many activities, including the school's Kairos and service programs. She helped set up a carnival for local Catholic school kids at Marian, and last summer Gergel went to Appalachia to help dig a ditch for plumbing and build a wheelchair ramp.
"You realized that you could help so much more people," Gergel said. "Hard work? Definitely, it was manual labor, but I'd rather be doing something for somebody and help people. You don't realize how lucky you have it.
"Even though they did not have everything we would want, they are happy and appreciate things more than anyone I know."
oak forest was my 1st meet back, and of course it was pouring. I hate this weather!
. But good luck the rest of outdoor, im sure you will do fine!