Downingtown East’s Berecz leaps to state gold, earns DLN All-Area ROY honors
Downingtown East junior Evelyn Berecz simply wanted to put together a strong, consistent season.
In the end, it culminated in the ultimate prize.
Berecz put together a solid effort to win the gold in the triple jump at the PIAA Class AAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University in May.
The versatile Berecz jumped and ran her way to being named the Daily Local News 2016 All-Area Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
“I had a pretty good year,” Berecz said.
She had a steady dual meet season, helping the Cougars to a 5-1 mark and the Ches-Mont League National Division title.
Starting the postseason, Berecz proved to be a valuable point producer for East. She finished second to Oxford’s Katie Dodson in the 100 hurdles, while winning the long jump and the triple jump.
Moving to the District 1 meet, Berecz’s highest placing came in the triple jump, where she finished second with an effort of 37 feet 8 1/4 inches, half an inch short of winner Madison Langley-Walker of Cheltenham.
Berecz turned the tables at Shippensburg. On the first day of the meet, she leaped 39-5 1/2 — her best effort of the year — to win gold.
“I fouled earlier,” she said. “I calmed down and focused on my technique and got off a good jump.”
Her meet wasn’t over, on Saturday, she came back to finish 12th in the 100 hurdles and fifth in the long jump. However, she turned in her best efforts of the year in both events.
“I was able to keep my wits about me,” she said on jumping on the hot day. “I had hurdles in the morning when it wasn’t too warm, so it wasn’t too hard.”
It was during the long jump when her accomplishment from the day before started to kick in.
“I was doing the jump when I started thinking, ’Hmm, I won the triple jump,’” she said.
The effort of competing in multiple events provided Berecz with more reason to focus than a reason to stress.
“I like doing multiple events because it keeps me focused,” she said. “I use the hurdles as kind of a warmup, and it keeps me sharp.”
Berecz took a circular route to track. She was an accomplished gymnast for most of her childhood until she grew out of the sport.
“I was in the seventh grade when I decided to try track,” she said. “I didn’t do it in eighth grade, but I picked it up again when I went to high school. When I got taller, I transitioned to track and it’s been pretty good.”
Her versatility is something coach George Read has appreciated.
“She can do sprints or jumps, and it helps us out so much,” he said. “She works hard and has a lot of talent.”
Berecz is spending the summer working on the technical aspects of jumping. She admits most of it is pure athleticism.
“I’m trying to be more technical,” she said. “I think I can break 40 feet (in the triple jump) next year.”
Next season, Berecz will be one of the leaders of a squad that will not lose much from this spring’s team, as the Cougars attempt to defend the Ches-Mont National title.
“I’m super excited for next year,” she said. “We had some freshmen contribute, and they will get better. We know each other and get along very well.”
She will also be balancing the attention she is beginning to get from colleges.
“I have a couple of colleges looking at me,” she said. “It’s pretty exciting.”
