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Berkeley High sprinters Aisha Margain, Raqueta Margain, T’carra Penick, Katrina Keith and Simone Brooks have repeatedly demonstrated superhuman feats on the track this season, but even Berkeley’s fabulous five aren’t fast enough to be two places at once. 

Competing at the ultra-prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, the girls’ inability to clone themselves cost the Yellowjackets a league win on Thursday afternoon, as San Ramon took advantage of the depleted BHS sprint corps to win the dual meet, 78-49 at the BHS home track. The Wolves also added a 77-46 victory over Berkeley’s boys, to complete the sweep. 

“I didn’t expect we’d win the meet overall,” said Yellowjackets assistant coach Humphrey Garrett, who assumed the head coaching role on Thursday, with coach Darrell Hampton accompanying the sprinters in Pennsylvania. “Overall, everybody put forth a diligent effort to replace the girls that weren’t there.” 

Despite the absence of the record-breaking girls relay teams, the Yellowjackets’ afternoon was not devoid of strong performances. Berkeley’s Tatiana Newman helped the girls’ cause with a first-place finish in the long jump, while high jumper Laura Winnacker elevated 5-feet, 2-inches to win her primary event. Winnacker also stepped up in the shotput, taking second with a throw of 25-feet, 9-inches.  

“I’m feeling good, it’s starting to come together,” said Winnacker, who placed eighth in the state high jump competition last year. “I’m easing off weights a little bit, with the whole state goal in mind. The goal is to win (state) this year.” 

With Brooks out of town, the ’Jackets were also forced to look elsewhere for competitive hurdlers. Picking up the slack was Veronica Lewis, who competed in four events, taking home first place in the 300m hurdles. The sophomore’s time of 50-flat marked a personal record.  

“I really did enjoy the fact that nobody complained, they just stepped up and did things they don’t usually do,” Garrett said. “Veronica Lewis stepped up for us in four events today, she did everything she could do. 

“I think she’s turning into a smaller version of Aisha.” 

The Berkeley High boys’ performance was once again highlighted by hurdler Daveed Diggs, who won the 110m hurdles with a wind-aided time of 14.02, and paced the 300m hurdles event with a 19.42 mark. Sprinter Maurice Lee added another five points for the Yellowjackets with a win in the 100m dash (11.08). 

In the preliminary heats at the Penn Relays, the Berkeley High 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams both qualified for this weekend’s championships. Though poor weather and alternate rules inflated the girls’ times slightly, Hampton expects his squads to get used to the conditions in time to make some noise this weekend.  

“(Darrell) was satisfied that they’re in the finals,” Garrett said. “But they were running in conditions they’re not used to. We know they can go faster.” 

Competition at the Penn Relays continues today, and is slated to run through the weekend.