Alson Parks article (IN)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 00339/1006

Central's Parks earns pole position

By TROY MEZERA

tmezera@muncie.gannett.com


MUNCIE -- You know the question, "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?"

Most people respond with a no. Central's Alyson Parks might be the first one off.

After all, she is one of a few girls in the area giving the sport of pole vault a chance.

Parks, a senior, advanced to the regional last season and cleared 7 feet, 6 inches in the competition.

Pole vault became an official IHSAA girls' event last season, and her willingness to try and ability to clear opening heights has helped the Bearcats score points where many teams do not.

"When I started track my sophomore year, coach (Tara) Gudger asked if people wanted to do it (pole vault)," Parks said. "No one said anything, so I figured I would try it."

Parks said she took an interest after watching some of Central's boys practice the event.

John Shunk, father of world-class high jumper and Delta graduate Adam Shunk, has been her coach the past few seasons.

Shunk, who pole vaulted in high school, volunteers his time at Central and has done the same at Delta in the past.

"She's (Parks) right at the point where she is building the muscle to get her body off the ground," said Shunk, who cleared 13-8 in high school. "I've noticed a difference in her muscularity this year."

Parks said she took it upon herself to build strength in her upper body, while continuing to run distance events for the Bearcats.

Throughout last summer and this past fall, Parks has lifted weights at home and at school and said she does push-ups and sit-ups each morning before classes.

Her gain in muscle has caused her to move up a pole size since each pole is based on weight.

"She got a lot stronger, but she had to move up in pole size," Gudger said. "It's harder to bend a longer pole, so she is learning that again."

Parks gained less than 10 pounds, but because of equipment restrictions at Central, she had to move from a pole limited to 110 pounds to one limited to 140 pounds.

The spring rain has limited her practice so far, but her points in the vault are one of many reasons the Central girls' track team has seen its name in the rankings early this season.