44°
IRVINGTON, N.Y. Sleepy Hollow High School's Gillian Berger is not an imposing physical specimen as athletes go, but what she lacks in size she makes up in speed and agility as she proved again Monday by winning three individual events at the League II-C track and field meet at Irvington High School.
"Some of the girls have more size, but I depend on quickness and being able to do all the fundamentals well," Berger said between events. "I have good speed and that helps my long jump and triple jump. Getting from one event to the others is the tough part at outdoor meets when you have events back to back."
Berger jumped 16-feet, 8-inches to win the long jump event, but between jumps had to dash for the 100-meter dash preliminaries before returning to the pit to make her finals jumps. She took a few minutes to relax and then raced to a first-place finish in the 100 finals before competing in the triple jump.
Berger, who is a 55-meter sprinter, triple jumper and long jumper during the winter indoor season, jumped 37-feet, 3-inches in the triple jump at the state indoor championships in March. She placed 17th in the 55 meters in a time of 7.5 seconds and 15th overall in the long jump with a leap of 16-2 at the state track and field competition.
"I play soccer in the fall and then indoor track in the winter, so I stay in pretty good shape," Berger said. "But you can get a little tired in the jumps because there's a lot of planting and landing. The sprints aren't as tough. I just try to enjoy all of the events and do the best I can."
And Berger's best is usually the best on the track and in the pit.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Tarrytown-SleepyHollow and receive free news updates.
