O'Dea, Holy names extend title strings at Metro championships | Prep track and field

WEST SEATTLE — On an afternoon when Rainier Beach senior Michael Berry ran a state-best 47.08 seconds in the 400 meters, O'Dea ran off with its 13th straight Metro League track championship and Holy Names won its seventh league girls title in the past 10 years under coach Kali Roberts.

Berry said he eased up at the end of the 400 because he had to run the 200 only 45 minutes later.

"I saved some," the defending Class 3A state champion in the 400 said.

He won the 200 in 21.59.

"In this league, we have a lot of fast people in the 200," he said. "I just got out fast in the 200 and relaxed."

Among the runners he beat in the 200 was defending 3A state champion Markeem Adams of West Seattle, who was second in 22.32. Adams, who will play football and run track at Eastern Washington, won the 100 Friday in 11.09 with Berry third in 11.17.

Another top performance in the meet at the Southwest Athletic Complex at Chief Sealth High School was the state-best 1:53.38 clocking by Kyle Blume of Bishop Blanchet in the 800. This is only the senior's second year of track after he played tennis the spring of his freshman year and soccer as a sophomore. He had spent time on Blanchet cross-country teams and joked that the "nagging" of track coach John O'Leary finally got him out for the sport.

O'Dea scored 119 points to finish ahead of Blanchet (106) and Seattle Prep (103).

Irish senior Ben Riva, a University of Washington football recruit, got victories in the shot (50-10 ½) on Wednesday and the discus (165-4) Friday, both personal bests.

"I wanted to do my part so we can get another Metro title," said Riva, who is 6-6 ½, 290 pounds and will play offensive line for the Huskies.

Holy Names' girls had a pair of double winners in scoring 128 points to beat runner-up Lakeside (107).

Senior Michelle Fero, who injured her left ankle last weekend and walks in a protective boot, won the 200 in 25.53 and the 400 in 58.51.

"She only takes the boot off to run," said Roberts, who noted that the 58.51 was her personal best.

Notes

• Holy Names freshman Cecelia Jackson won the 100 hurdles (14.95) and 300 hurdles (45.62). There also was a double winner in boys hurdles as West Seattle senior Montez McGee won the 110 highs in 14.7 and the 300 hurdles in 37.92.

• Seattle Prep senior Drew O'Donoghue-McDonald won the 3,200 in 9:23.17 after winning the 1,600 in 4:15.83 Wednesday.

• Lakeside junior Madeline Rathbun won the 800 (2:20.8) and the 1,600 (5:09.34) Friday.