Berry backs up award with long jump title

Southeast Missouri State senior John Berry enjoyed a pretty good 24 hours.

Especially for somebody who originally joined the Redhawks' track and field program as a walk-on.

Berry was named the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor male field athlete of the year in voting by the league's coaches Thursday.

He won the long jump title with a career-best performance Friday afternoon on the opening day of the OVC outdoor meet at Southeast's Abe Stuber Complex.

"It does feel good," Berry said, referring to both his conference athlete of the year honor and his long jump of 25 feet, 5 1/2 inches.

Berry, who entered the OVC meet with the best distance in the long jump, said he was surprised to win the conference award and acknowledged that he probably would not have gotten it if not for the misfortune of teammate Brandon Colbert.

Colbert, a sophomore, was the OVC male indoor field athlete of the year and also captured the award outdoors as a freshman last season.

Colbert has the OVC's top marks in the shot put and discus, but he has missed most of the outdoor season with an injury that also sidelined him for the conference meet.

"I was surprised a little bit. I would have thought our thrower would have gotten it, but he was hurt," Berry said.

Southeast coach Joey Haines agreed, but said that should not diminish Berry's accomplishment.

"Since Brandon does two events and John only one, Brandon would have probably won it again," Haines said. "But John was so dominant in his event. ... He really deserves it."

Berry bettered his previous career best Friday by about 4 inches as he now has the second-best long jump in school history. He began the day in third place on the list.

Berry, also this year's OVC indoor long jump champion, said he actually had hoped to break the school mark of 25-6 3/4 set by Shelton Scott in 2003.

"I thought I had a chance today, but I didn't get it," Berry said.

Berry figures he'll still have a solid shot to better that mark during the NCAA Mideast Regional May 30-31 in Fayetteville, Ark.

"They've got a really nice facility for jumping there, and I think I can get it," Berry said.

Berry has accomplished plenty at Southeast since arriving on campus from Parkway South High School.

Haines laughed when he recalled how he first considered Berry for a spot on the team, a process Berry explained.

"Apparently my dad knew somebody on the [Southeast] Board of Regents and he got me in touch with coach Haines," Berry said. "That allowed me to try out for the team."

Said Haines: "He went 21 something in high school. We would have not recruited him, but he's come a long way."

That's something Berry, who said he earned a scholarship as a junior, won't dispute.

"I have come a long way," he said.

Berry, who entered the OVC meet ranked 17th nationally in the long jump, but moved up to No. 9 with his performance, hopes to go a bit further.

Last season Berry placed 10th in the NCAA regional, but only the top five qualify for the national meet.

Berry not only hopes to make the cut later this month, he's shooting for even bigger things.

"I don't want to just get to nationals, I want to place and become an All-American," he said. "I think I can do it."