Berkeley High track and field took a monumental step Saturday.
Meanwhile, Lavar Miller took three giant leaps.
Miller failed to break the Missouri state-meet high-jump record
he coveted, but the Berkeley junior was prolific.
He won the high jump in 6 feet 8 inches and captured the long
jump in 22-7.
This followed Friday's performance when Miller won the triple
jump with a leap of 48-4 1/2.
That's three gold medals and 30 points, which helped carry
Berkeley to an overwhelming victory in the Class 3A championships
at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
The state track title was Berkeley's 10th and second in
succession. The Bulldogs scored 98 points, breaking the state-meet
record of 96 they set last year.
Led by senior David Wilson and sophomore Terrell Brown,
Berkeley also won the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays.
The Berkeley girls shared the spotlight, winning the 3A title
with 84 points behind Meosha Jordan and Zandrea Wilson.
Jordan and Wilson finished 1-2 in the 200 and first and third
in the 100. Wilson finished second and Jordan third in the 400.
In addition, Wilson and Jordan traded off legs on the 800- and
1,600-meter relays, which - along with the 400-meter team -
cruised to impressive victories.
The state title was the fifth for Berkeley's girls and arguably
their most significant.
A disqualification at last season's meet cost them a bounty of
points and the state championship. Wilson was cited for running
in too many races and most of the team's points were taken away.
The Bulldogs lost their medals but kept their resolve to come
back and win the state championship this season.
"It was thrown in our face everywhere we went," Wilson said.
"That's why we had to do the best we could everywhere we went to
redeem ourselves."
Berkeley redeemed itself Saturday - and the field of 3A
competitors could only watch in awe.
Jordan won the 100 in 12.20 and the 200 in 25.12 seconds.
Wilson was third in the 100 (12.40) and second in the 200 (25.27).
In the 400, Wilson (57.09) lost by only three-tenths of a
second to Nevada sophomore Ashley Wysong (57.06). Jordan was third
in 57.59.
In all, the Berkeley tandem totaled 48 points in individual
events (26 for Jordan and 22 for Wilson). And their competitive
rivalry is rooted in friendship.
"I've known Z's been good for a long time and I'm glad for both
of us," said Jordan, who topped Wilson in the 100 for the first
time in three weeks.
Wilson had been a star as a sophomore, when she won the 100,
200 and 400, leading Berkeley's girls to its last state title in
1993.
"I wouldn't say I was in Z's shadow," Jordan said. …
