Sydney Gray Qualifies For State Day After Accepting The MVP Award

Head Coach Jeff Fisher and Sydney Gray

By Dupé Aleru|June 1, 2011|7:43 a.m.

Directed by Head Coach Jeff Fisher, BHHS held its track and field banquet last Friday at Bluebird Café, 8572 National Blvd., in Culver City.

Parent’s, loved ones and students joined the track team along with the coaches for a night celebration of the record breaking season and the hard work of its athletes and coaches.

Seniors Sydney Gray, Nick Harper and Erica Hendry were acknowledged by their peers and fellow athletes for their leadership qualities and phenomenal. Poems and letters were written and read to the outstanding threesome.

The night was filled with awards, certificates, harmonious laughter and fun. As track season is over for the team, there is yet one more meet for running sensation Sydney Gray, who qualified for State in the 800m in a time of 2:12.49, at last Saturdays CIF Masters Meet, held at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Duking it out amongst the best of the best in all divisions in CIF, Gray came in ninth place, her personal best 2:12.49, being her qualifying time for state.

Grays time ranks her number sixty-four in the U.S. and currently number fifty (for the high school all American status).

“You have to give all the credit in the world to Sydney. These track meets are very difficult. There is a lot of anxiety approaching the race because of the level of competition and everything that's on the line. For her to not only get the job done of qualifying, but also have her best day doing it, speaks volumes about her character and the type of competitor she is. We are very proud of Sydney. She is a model of what we are about in the Beverly Hills Track and Field program. We look forward to the opportunity this Friday and Saturday at the state track meet,” said Head Coach Jeff Fisher.

What are Gray’s goals for State? Well for starters, making the State Finals top 9 from the State prelims, then breaking Beverly’s school record of 2:11.12 will be a treat, and finally the icing on the cake will be to make the top 50 in the U.S. as a high school all American athlete.