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PIAA track and field: Delone Catholic's Grace Riedel picks up another pole vault medal


SHIPPENSBURG >> After missing her final attempt at 11 feet, Grace Riedel sat quietly on the Seth Grove Stadium football turf while her remaining competitors finished the Class AA pole vault.

"I was just trying to remember back on different meets and what to be proud of," she said.

There was plenty to think about. Her performance at Friday's PIAA championships at Shippensburg University added a sixth-place state medal to a career with plenty of other accolades. She earned a fifth-place medal last year and was a district runner-up and YAIAA champion this season. She said this year's league meet, where she set a personal record of 11-6 on the way to the title, stood out the most as she reminisced.

Friday, she cleared 9 feet, 9-6, 10 feet and 10-6 on her first attempts before missing at 11 feet.

Riedel will continue to pole vault for Messiah College next year, and will continue to train with coach Dusty Lehr this summer.

"(I'm looking forward) to a new experience, vaulting at a college, and hopefully more good memories," she said.