Berkley High School Track & Field Wins Two OAA Gold Division Championships

Berkley High School Track & Field Wins Two OAA Gold Division Championships

On Thursday, May 11, the Berkley High School Track and Field team competed at the Oakland Athletics Association (OAA) Blue and Gold Division championships, and both the boys and girls team took top place in the OAA Gold Division! In addition, both teams also went undefeated in dual meets this year!

Coach Jared Purcell shared the following highlights from the championship meet.

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Matthew Short won the 1600 meter and set a new school-record with the time of 4:16.41! The time shattered the old school record of 4:18.7 set by Shawn Dupuis in 1993! Matthew now owns the 3200 and 1600 school records. Matthew also finished 2nd in the 800 (1:56.89) and won the 3200 with a time of 9:34.32. All three finishes earned Matthew All-League status.
• Junior Quinn O'Shea earned All-League status for the following events: Placing 5th in the 1600 meter with a PR of 4:42.50, 5th in the 800 with a PR of 2:06.90 and 6th in the 3200.
• Senior David Rolands earned the shot put league title by tying his personal-best of 51-feet-2.5 inches. He won by 2.5 feet! David also took 5th in the discus with a throw of 125-feet-0.
• Senior Nolan Wesner earned All-League status in the shot put by finishing 7th with a toss of 41-feet-7 inches.
• Senior Johnny Coleman finished 2nd in the 200 meter dash with a PR of 22.41.
• Senior Marvin Slappy won his heat and ran a 54.12 in the 400 meter and recorded his best FAT time of his career.
• Junior Mohamed Erreghaoui won his 300 meter hurdles heat with a new PR of 45.21.
• Coach Purcell gave a shout out to senior Jacob Sheriff, who stepped in to run the 4x200 meter relay after being injured all season and ran a very strong opening leg.
• Sophomore Christopher Lofton jumped a PR of 19-feet-3.25 in the long jump and just missed the finals by one place.

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior DaKya Cunningham finished in 2nd place and All-League in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes.
• Freshman Blessing Nweke finished in 6th place and All-League in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes. She ran a new PR in the 100 at 13.30.
• Freshman Karai Jackson earned a PR in the 100 meter dash prelims with a 14.05.
• Freshman Lece Shoulders ran a PR in the 200 meter dash prelims with a 29.24.
• Junior Sophie Owens placed 5th in the 1600 meter with a new PR of 5:43.32 (a 25-second PR) and placed 6th in the 800 meter with a new PR of 2:34.97. Sophie earned All-League status for both races.
• The 4x800 meter Relay Team (freshman Rachael Wychuyse, freshman Lydia Binelli, sophomore Abby Short, junior Sophie Owens) earned All-League honors by finishing in 3rd place.
• Junior Lilly Tuite took All-League honors in the 3200 meter, placing 5th with a PR of 13:02.92.
• Senior Christian Sanders, earned All-League status in discus with an 8th place finish.