Published Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:23 AM
Updated Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:24 AM

 

Stags qualify eight for state

Overcoming a difficult week that coach Eric Gambrell cited as being full of distractions, the Berkeley Stags track team qualified in 10 events for the state track meet with eight athletes.

Sprinter Raven White, Region 7-AAAA champ in four events, qualified fifth in the 100 and 200 meter races while setting school records in both with times of 12.37 and 25.12, respectively.

White then qualified third in the 400 meters with a time of 58.19.

White and Dateka Thompson, Catrina Morrison, and Leanna Morrison set a school record qualifying in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:59.32.

“I was very pleased with our performance after many distractions this past week,” said Gambrell, whose track team was faced with a Saturday state-qualifying meet following a Friday night prom. “With all of the distractions these athletes were able to perform very well.”

Gambrell will take a strong girls team to the state meet next week that he feels has an outside chance of winning.

“Our girls’ team looks strong going into the state meet and we still have an outside shot at being crowned champions. Kalib (Law) and Tarik (Reid) look very strong on the guys side in their indivdual events.”

Law qualified in the 800 meters with a time of 2:01.96.

Reid qualified in the long jump with a leap of 22’5.5” which is a personal best.

Other qualifiers include Catrina Morrison in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.06; Leanna Morrison in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:04.63, a school record; Grace Butler in the discus with a throw of 103’3” a personal record and Deja Shaw in the discus with a toss of 102’2”.

“Sy'Asia Grant, DeAndre Richburg, Evan McKelvey, and Ni'Asia Hazelton all performed great but their marks were just under 8th place and did not qualify for state,” Gambrell added.

The track spring sports banquet will be held on May 15.