Berry restarts SEC Indoors pole vault streak

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Joe Berry has seen good times and bad times during his time on the Tennessee track and field team.

Saturday, Berry had his best of times, winning his fourth SEC title in the pole vault.

Berry never missed in clearing 16 feet, 5 1/2 inches, 16-11 1/2, 17-3 1/2 and 17-7 1/2 in the Randal Tyson Track Center. He finally went out at 17-11 1/4, but with good reason.

"I ran out of sticks to jump on. That was my biggest pole," Berry said of his 16-foot implement. "I'll definitely be prepared for the NCAAs, bring a bigger stick so I can hopefully get those next heights."

Berry's victory was the daily highlight for Tennessee, which stands sixth in the team standings with 16 1/3 points. Top-ranked Florida will take a 41-39 lead over Arkansas into today's final day. LSU is third with 30, while Auburn and Georgia are tied with 22 1/3.

What made Berry's fourth title so sweet was his journey.

Having won SEC titles outdoors in 2008 and '09, as well as indoors in '09, he tried to compete despite an ankle injury and tied for eighth place at last year's indoor meet.

Two ankle surgeries later, Berry resumed training. On his first day back, he broke a bone in his foot.

So he came into this meet on all of eight weeks of training.

"Of course it's the sweetest," Berry said of his fourth title. "Every single time you win, it just gets a little bit better and a little bit better.

"Last year, we tried to come back and my ankle was still bothering me. Taking eighth last year was just a stab in my back. We had eight (SEC vault titles) in a row and I kind of dropped the ball on that one. So the fact that I've re-started the streak, it's just awesome."

LSU's Marcus McGehee also cleared 17-7 1/2, but had missed at two lower heights. UT's Robert Rasnick finished seventh at 16-11 1/2.

Also scoring for the Vols was Justin Hunter, fifth in the long jump (25-4).

"We're definitely getting traction, so to speak," said UT coach J.J. Clark, who is looking to move the team up from last year's program-worst 10th-place finish.

In addition to points earned by Berry and Hunter, the Vols qualified for finals in four other events.

"That's a positive direction," Clark said.

Freshman Dentarious Locke ran the third-fastest qualifying time in the 60-meter dash at 6.67 seconds, and qualified sixth in the 200 in 21.02. Sophomore Terry Benson also advanced to today's finals in the 60 hurdles. Peter Siglai and Joe Franklin moved on to the finals in the 800.

Mark Maloney is a freelance contributor.