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With the nationally recognized Arcadia track meet scheduled for this weekend, Berkeley High head coach Darrell Hampton considered Thursday’s league meet with Granada as more of a pre-race warmup lap than a competitive event.  

When all was said and done, the final scores would reflect Berkeley’s apathy, as the Matadors went home with victories on both the boys and girls sides. Though Granada’s 112-26 pounding of the Berkeley boys was expected, the Matadors’ 71-67 win over the vaunted BHS girls was surprising, even in light of Berkeley’s relaxed approach to the meet. 

“It would have been nice to win the 4x400 (the deciding girls event), but it was a combination of things (that caused the loss),” Hampton said. “We’re trying to rest up for Arcadia this weekend. The goal has always been to make a national mark. In the bigger picture, you have to look (past) these dual meets.” 

Berkeley High hurdler Daveed Diggs’ time of 14:29 in the 110m hurdles highlighted the boys’ effort, as the senior finished almost two full seconds ahead of his closest competition. Justin Cary registered the Yellowjackets’ only other individual boys win with a first place in the 400m, and the BHS 1600m relay team picked up the only team victory, running a 3:42.2. 

The girls’ competition yielded first-place Berkeley High finishes in eight of 15 events, with the ’Jackets sweeping the top three positions in both the 200m and 400m races. Aisha Margain went home with the 200m title, while T’carra Penick won the grueling 400m. BHS hurdler Simone Brooks also turned in a convincing first, winning the 100m hurdles by four seconds over Granada’s Jessica Yersak. Though Berkeley High was outnumbered in the field events, high jumper Laura Winnacker and long jumper Penick managed to win their respective events to help disperse the field points. 

“We won the (girls) 4x100, and Laura going five feet (in the high jump) is great,” Hampton said. “It was business as usual for the girls.  

“We’re not running against the teams around here, we’re running against the country.” 

Following this weekend’s tournament action, the Berkeley boys and girls squads get back to league competition next Thursday on the road against Foothill.