JSU News Wire

Coos Bay - After leaving her mark in Coos Bay, a local track and field star athlete now heads to a university down south on a full ride.

Wearing her new school colors, graduating Marshfield High School senior Amber Wiley signed her papers of intent to play for Jacksonville State University in Alabama on Monday.

It's there that she'll continue her success as a pole-vaulter.

In the past four years at Marshfield, Wiley broker numerous meet records and placed first at the state championships this year. Her best record was at a county meet, where she finished at 11' 5".

Marshfield Track and Field Coach Stanley Solomon says it's her discipline that got her the scholarship.

Wiley says she couldn't have done it without their help.

"Probably more than anything else, the work ethic," says Wiley. "I learned to have here 'cause you don't get anywhere if you don't work hard. That was something I learned from Solomon and all the teachers push you to do everything you can."

She adds she chose Jacksonville for their science department. She plans to major in biology.

Wiley was one of the school's valedictorians and one day, hopes to go to medical or pharmacy school.

By Azenith Smith