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Running to a title Former Crater High star Bryan Berryhill wins the 1,500 meters By DON HUNT EUGENE - Bryan Berryhill couldn't have scripted a better ending to his college running career. The former Crater High standout romped to victory in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA Track & Field Championships here Saturday. He did it in front of his family, his friends and many of his former coaches at Crater. And he did it at Hayward Field, the site of his greatest accomplishments as a high school runner when he won five state championships from 1994-96. Berryhill, concluding a distinguished if unspectacular career at Colorado State, led from wire-to-wire and held off defending champion Gabe Jennings of Stanford to triumph in 3 minutes, 37.05 seconds. His time was the fastest in the event at the NCAA meet since 1987, the fifth-fastest ever in the meet and the fastest ever by an American in the meet. "This was truly a dream come true," Berryhill said. "I've known for a couple years that the NCAA meet was going to be here for my senior year. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time, and to have it turn out like this is really special." Berryhill won his first outdoor championship in front of a Hayward Field crowd made up largely of University of Oregon fans. He badly wanted to run for the Ducks, but former Oregon coach Bill Dellinger and his staff never recruited him. Berryhill was highly disappointed at the time, but the twists and turns his life took at Colorado State have been positive. He blossomed as a runner under Rams coach Del Hessel. He met his wife, Toni, at CSU. And last month he earned his degree in forestry. "I'm not the least bit bitter about not coming here," said Berryhill, meaning the UO. "It would have been great to run here because these fans are the best in the world and they pack this place. At our home meets we're lucky to get 200 people. "But things have worked out just fine." Berryhill awoke Saturday morning feeling more nervous than ever about a race. He felt some added pressure knowing he would be running in front of his friends from the Rogue Valley, he felt extra anxiety knowing this would be his last chance at an NCAA outdoor title - he won the NCAA indoor mile in February - and he didn't like the looks of the overcast skies and brisk wind. The weather could be a significant factor, he knew, because his strategy was to take the lead from the start and hammer away for the duration. He didn't want anyone with a big-time kick - notably Jennings - to be hanging on his shoulder with 200 meters to go. "I talked it over with my coaches and we decided to stick with the game plan," said Berryhill, who finished third at the NCAA outdoor meet the past three years. "If I had to do all the work at the front, then so be it. I wanted a fast pace." True to his word, Berryhill shot into the lead immediately, with Kenyan David Kimani of Alabama on his heels. He reached the 400-meter mark in 57.8 and the 800-meter juncture in 1:58.3. By then, Stanford's Michael Stember had moved into contention, along with Christian Goy of Illinois State. Jennings, a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, was back another six or seven meters but suddenly launched his noted kick with about 250 meters to go. He shot past several runners within a 100-meter span and quickly took over second place, with an eye on Berryhill. Berryhill looked a bit vulnerable as he reached the homestretch, but he found another gear of his own and churned out a 54.8-second final lap to finish in 3:37.05, improving on his previous best time of 3:37.23. Jennings was second in 3:37.56, Kimani finished third in 3:38.74 and Stember grabbed fourth in 3:39.15. Another Stanford runner - freshman Don Sage - took fifth in 3:39.27, giving the Cardinal three runners in the top five. "To go out there and fight the wind like he did took some guts," Jennings said of Berryhill. "He's one hell of a tough runner." Berryhill will now set his sights on the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships later this month at Hayward Field. He's looking forward to competing against some of the same runners he encountered in the mile at the Prefontaine meet last weekend, including high school sensation Alan Webb, who beat him. "I'm in the best shape I've ever been in," said Berryhill, noting that Saturday marked his fifth straight race in which he's registered a personal best time. Berryhill hopes to advance to the World Games this summer - he'll need to meet a qualifying time and finish in the top three at the USA outdoor meet - and from there he'll begin looking toward the 2004 Summer Olympics. But no matter what happens during the rest of Berryhill's career, Saturday's milestone victory in his home state will always be special. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.