Riley to join IUP track and field
For The Spirit
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Kierstin Riley, a current senior at Punxsutawney Area High School, has signed with Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a track and field athlete to start during the 20222023 school year.
During her participation with Punxsy track and field, Riley was ranked on the all-time Punxsutawney
girls track and field performances: 12th in the 100-meter dash, fifth in long jump, 14th on her best 4x100-meter relay team, and 14th on her best 4x400-meter relay team. In 2021, Riley was ranked third in the long jump at the District 9 meet. During the 2021-2022 season, she placed first in the long jump at the Altoona Mountain Lion Classic and sixth in the long jump at the Mars Invitational. She is expected to perform well during the District 9 meet of 2022.
IUP is a Division 2 school that participates in the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference). Current 2022 performances at IUP include jumps of 15’6”, 15’2”, 15’0” and 13’11.75”. With a current best jump of 16’1.5”, Riley looks to be a great addition to the field of competition. Looking to automatically qualify for PSAC championships, long jumpers have to hit 17’4.75 ”.
As Riley looks to attend IUP for track and field, she is really looking forward to working with the coaching staff at the facilities offered by the school. Experiences she has her sights on include going to Penn relays, hitting new personal bests and meeting new people. Aside from athletics, Riley will be studying pre-dentistry and will be working hard to pursue her non-athletic dreams.
Her advice to underclassmen as she graduates is to “work hard, but have the best time, because it goes by fast.”