Brooks to keep learning, vaulting at Marietta

Published 1:03 am Friday, May 14, 2010

PROCTORVILLE — Imagine if Megan Brooks knew what she was doing.

“I don’t know a lot about pole vaulting. My coaches work with me and help me out a lot,” said Brooks.

Evidently, the Fairland Lady Dragons senior is learning well. So far she’s learned and done enough that Marietta College has signed her to a letter-of-intent to vault for the Pioneers.

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“I really want to go to (college). I’ll get better times and better height. I’ll pole vault the most, but I’ll run, too,” said Brooks.

Marietta coaches have already seen enough of Brooks to know she can compete and improve at the next level.

“They came to some meets and they’ve seen a few things they said I can do to get a few feet higher,” said Brooks.

Brooks not only runs track, but she has been a member of the cross country team and also played softball and basketball.

“I like all the sports but I like (pole vaulting) the most. It’s the hardest and I think that’s why I like it the most,” said Brooks.

While Brooks pole vaults and runs sprints for the track team, Fairland coach Darah Snyder said the senior standout is even more versatile.

“Megan is very athletic. She’s a great pole vaulter, but she can run sprints, long jump and do relays as well. She’ll do whatever we ask her to do,” said Snyder.

Brooks holds the school record with a vault of 11-feet. She tied the mark last week at the Rock Hill Invitational that was also the meet record for girls.

Brooks qualified for the state meet last year where 12-foot won the event. Brooks thinks she can eclipse her own personal record.

Brooks talked to several other schools including Wright State and Muskingum before settling on Marietta.

“I looked at some D-1 schools but I thought a smaller school fit me better,” said Brooks. “(Marietta) is gorgeous and I want a school the challenges me academically as well as athletically.”

Brooks is undecided about a major but said she is leaning toward nursing.