26 Jan. 2011 –
Mike Green in pinching himself. The Classical girls’ track coach has, among other talented people on his roster, a runner who excels at events ranging from the 300-meter dash to the 3000-meter run. She’s Madeline Berkson - and she’s a 14 year-old freshman.
“It’s a great ‘problem’ to have,’’ a smiling Green said. “It’s terrific. She came in with a great attitude. Our job is not to mess it up.’’
“I like to try everything,’’ said Berkson, and indeed, she’s proven the wisdom of that work ethic. In the most recent dual-meet performance list (as of 20 Jan.), Berkson ranked tops in the 1500 meters (4:50.3). “I like that the best,’’ said Berkson. “It combined speed and strategy.’’
But it doesn’t end there. Berkson headed the list of 300-meter runners, having clocked 42.3 (the state record is 40.23). In the 600, the Purple freshman owns a time of 1:40.0, and has run 10:58.3 in the 3000. Berkson won the Rhody Invitational 1000 meters with a time of 3:05.99, and placed fourth in the 600 at the same meet (1:42.06). Berkson also runs a leg on Classical’s 4x200 relay.
Berkson started running in kids’ events at the CVS Downtown races, and continued through middle school. She also trains with the Providence Cobras Track Club. She played soccer in the fall, and segued into track. “She wants to do all these things,’’ said Coach Green, “but we don’t want to push her that hard.
“We pinch ourselves,’’ the coach added, “because she’s ours. We’re really lucky.’’
“I just take one event at a time,’’ said Berkson, who this spring plans to add the pole vault to her repertory. “I put all my effort on one [race] at a time.’’
Is she surprised at her early success? Berkson is asked. ‘Yeah, I am,’’ she answered.
“Royal’’ success story Over at Hope High, coach Thom Spann also has a super underclassman. She’s junior Royal Cheatham, the defending state 55-meter dash champ. Her time at last year’s indoor State Championships was 7.29, over teammate Angie Quiah’s 7.32. Now that the Interscholastic League has added the long jump to its list of indoor events, the Blue Wave junior has been a top competitor. She owns a mark of 5.32 meters (17 feet, 5.50 inches).
“She’s just starting to reach her potential,’’ Coach Spann said. “Before, she was a supporting player, what with Angie [Quiah].’’
Cheatham owns a 7.28 personal-best 55 meters (SR: 7.15), and is close behind Classical’s Maddie Berkson in 300-meter performances (42.6 to Berkson’s 42.3). Cheatham also runs legs on the Blue Wave’s 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams.
Interestingly, the state standards in two of Cheatham’s events - the long jump and the dash - are held by Pam Hughes, a Hope All-Stater in the mid-1980s. (Hughes is one of a number of track stars enshrined in the Interscholastic League’s Hall of Fame).
“She started to mature the last couple of years,’’ said Spann, another RIIL Hall of Fame member, who’s coached at Hope since 1983. “She’s got to stay on top of her game, but she’s improved, definitely.’’
Oval Notes: At a meet against Columbia and Dartmouth last weekend, three Yale University track athletes with local ties had good performances. Former East Greenwich All-Stater (and co-holder of the SR in the outdoor 100 meters) Alexa Monti placed second in the 60-meter dash (8.09). In addition, Monti finished third in the 200 (27.30) . . . Ex-Barrington High distance runner Sarah Barry clocked 2:14.28 to place third in the 800 . . . Jenna Poggi, of Moses Brown School (SR in both indoor and outdoor pole vault), placed third in the women’s pole with a height of 3.20 meters (10-6).
Coach/Media Poll Girls Team Pts. Prev. poll 1. La Salle 138 1 2. Classical 127 4 3. Hope 90 2 4. Toll Gate 86 5 5. No. Kingstown 79 7 6. E. Greenwich 72 3 7. Barrington 59 6 8. Smithfield 36 8 9. Bay View 34 - - 10. Pilgrim 14 - - Other teams: Central Falls 9; Cr. West and Woonsocket 7; Lincoln and Coventry 3; Moses Brown and E. Providence 2; Westerly 1.Boys Team Pts. Prev. poll 1. Hendricken 130 1 2. La Salle 118 3 3. Classical 102 2 4. Chariho 77 4 5. No. Kingstown 75 5 6. Portsmouth 69 7 7. Hope 32 9 8. Central 29 - - 9. Cumberland 22 - - 9. Westerly 22 8 11. Barrington 16 10 Other teams: Cr. West 12; Lincoln 11; E. Greenwich 9; W. Warwick 4; Central Falls 3; Shea and So. Kingstown 2; Woonsocket 1.
