John L. Braese
VALE – The road to running collegiately for Vale senior Brynlee Hartley has been interesting. Starting off her track and field career as a high school freshman, Hartley was a member of the Nyssa Bulldog team bringing home a state team title. Her sophomore season saw Hartley place sixth at state in the pole vault, upping the finish to fourth last season with both coming as a Nyssa student athlete.
Now, in her final year before taking the track as a Chukar for Treasure Valley Community College, Hartley is working on placing points on the board as a Vale Viking. The senior has already started, setting a new personal record of 8 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault at the Wayne Invitational while winning the 100-meter hurdles at the same meet. Still early in the season, Hartley is currently tied for fourth in the pole vault rankings for state 3A female athletes.
On Wednesday, April 9, Hartley placed pen to paper to continue hitting the track next season as a Chukar.
“I wanted to stay close to home while obtaining a good education,” said Hartley on her choice of Treasure Valley Community College. “It has always been a dream of mine to be a college athlete.”
While not on the track next season for TVCC, Hartley will be in the classroom pursuing business marketing with future plans of entrepreneurship and owning her own business.
Unlike many, Hartley has two schools to thank for her accomplishments.
“I need to thank all my teammates both here in Vale and in Nyssa as well as the coaching I have received at both schools,” Hartley said. “My family has been terrific and my strength through all this as has been my friends.”
Hartley is hoping to make a new memory with Vale standing on the podium as state champions, one that will match her favorite memory to date.
“I will always remember being named as state champions my freshman year,” she said.
The newly signed Chukar has plans to continue in pole vault and hurdles for her collegiate career.
“I will do whatever the coaching staff of TVCC ask of me,” she said.
