Colorado State University Athletics
The Berryhill Thrill
5/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
Growing up, sports were a fixture in my life. I was going to be the next Ken Griffey Jr., Joe Montana and Michael Lewis and no one could stop me. Needless to say, my ability level did not take me towards the places these childhood fantasies hoped.
There are many kids who discover their god given athletic talents, but few end up cultivating them into an end result where they are mentioned alongside Olympians. Not many of us, who long ago dreamt of being an all-star center fielder, starting quarterback, or standout track and field figure, end up realizing those dreams. More often times than not, we are left with stories about the ?glory days? and reiterateations of phrases such as ?if only I would have made the game winning hit, had thrown the winning touchdown, or only been a split second faster things could have been different for me?. However, this is not a story about ?what if?s?. It is a story about someone who did make it from those childhood dreams into a superstar.
Bryan Berryhill grew up in Central Point, Oregon. He attended Crater High where he was a track and field standout turned legend. Bryan came to Colorado State University in 1998 with high expectations and did not disappoint. While running for the Rams, Berryhill was an All-American and national champion, both in outdoor and indoor classifications in the 1500 meters and the mile, respectively. He holds too many Ram records to count. Running is much more than just running and I am sure he would say the same. It takes discipline, endurance, strength, coordination and much more. Long distance running is a whole different mile, no pun intended.
?Berryhill Captures NCAA 1,500 Title? Berryhill Sets School Mark, Easily Wins? Berryhill Buoyant? Berryhill Wins National Title? First Indoor Title In School History?, are only a handful of headlines in the archives of editorials capturing Bryan?s truly historic career while running for the Rams. The list is literally endless. He is one of the finest athletes to ever come out of Colorado State. However, like every good meet, there is a finish line. He graduated with a bachelor?s degree in forestry from Colorado State. But where is he now?
Following his departure, Bryan settled down, married his girlfriend Toni Zander and currently is a resident of Windsor, Colorado. But what happens to someone who is in the limelight one day and the next is merely a name and timestamp in a record book? Was his fate already decided for him? Did he become like so many collegiate stars that end up not making the final hundred meters of their careers and become disenchanted and removed? No. Bryan still runs and still competes, although it is no longer for the green and gold but for the three stripes of Adidas.
Last summer while running at the U.S qualifier for the IAAF World Championships, Bryan was mentioned among Olympians Gail Devers and Maurice Green, by finishing second and earning a bid to the world championships in Paris.
Success is not something which is easy to obtain. From the days of wishing and hoping in Central Point, to the headlines of newspapers and eventually the blocks at a World Championships, it is obvious that Bryan Berryhill was meant to run and has succeeded. Quick, rapid, fast, sudden and swift are all words which he would love to have tacked onto his name when his career is all said and done. However, a synonym of these words, brief, is anything but what Bryan is, was and will be for years to come.
By Dominic Giarratano
CSU Media Relations Student Intern
