Twin Valley's Miller wins two golds, Wilson captures girls title at Berks track and field championships

Matthew Knaub, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·3 min read

May 13—Competing in her final county championships, Twin Valley senior Sarah Ann Miller was as good as gold.

The lone female athlete to win multiple individual events, Miller won gold in the 400 and the 800 to capture the first individual Berks titles of her career on Saturday on the second day of the William H. Firing Meet at Shillington.

"It means a lot," Miller said. "I really care about the program that we have at Twin Valley and our school. Being able to take that home, that's something that will just stay there forever. That's something that will mean something to me forever."

An East Carolina commit, Miller won the 400 with a career-best time of 56.85, breaking the program record. Miller, also Twin Valley's record-holder in the 800, finished first in that event in 2:15.15.

"Honestly it's just satisfying," Miller said. "It's nice to go out doing everything that I'm trying to accomplish."

Miller entered both events as the top seed. She also finished fifth in the 200 in 26.71 and was a part of the Raiders' 1600 relay team, which finished second.

"She does this for the team, she does it for herself," Twin Valley coach George Read said. "She's been one of the best runners I've ever had the opportunity to coach."

The Raiders finished second to Wilson in the team standings with 73 points. The Bulldogs scored 125 points to win their fourth straight Berks team title.

"We scored in 17 events, and we scored well in them," Wilson coach Doug Dahms said. "Just a great team effort all across the board. They did a great job."

The Bulldogs won the 400 relay in 49.41 and the 1600 relay in 4:02.93. Wilson finished seventh in the 3200 relay.

In his final season as head coach, Dahms was grateful to lead his team to one last county title.

"It's a good way to go out," Dahms said. "Kudos to them."

Bulldogs freshman Violet Houck won the 300 hurdles in a career-best 45.24. She entered the event as the No. 1 seed.

"It actually means a lot," Houck said. "I was not really expecting it, but I'm glad I did it."

Exeter junior Gabrielle Keith won her first Berks title with a career-best time of 4:59.42 in the 1600, 0.02 seconds slower than the 1600 meet record. She also finished third in the 800.

"It means a lot," Keith said. "I was really hoping to go for a win today, and I was really happy with what I did."

Kutztown junior Lauren Akers, another first-time winner, took first in the javelin with a throw of 132-0. She entered the event as the No. 1 seed.

"It's just the first step," Akers said. "It feels great. I knew I had to do this in order to move forward."

Other Berks girls champions: 100: Alexis Hardy, Wyomissing, 12.26; 200: Nadly Gyapong, Muhlenberg, 25.35; 3200: Kaitlyn Highduch, Gov. Mifflin, 11:03.28 (Thursday); 100 hurdles: Katelyn Murphy, Conrad Weiser, 15.13; 3200 relay: Berks Catholic, 9:55.71; High jump: Julia Rosenberger, Berks Catholic, 5-2; Long jump: Annie Gao, Schuylkill Valley, 16-9.75; Triple jump: Clara Engel, Kutztown, 35-1.75 (Thursday); Pole vault: Hayden Adams, Exeter, 9-0 (Thursday); Shot put: D'Mornay Woollery, Muhlenberg, 36-1 (Thursday); Discus: Maddie Henne, Wilson, 115-3.