June 6, 2008

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - The wait is over and Southeast Missouri State University senior long jumper John Berry is in the NCAA Track & Field finals next week at Drake University in Des Moines, Ia.

The original list of finalists had 25 athletes not including Berry, but when the final list was prepared late Thursday night, Berry, who has the nation's 20th best jump of 25-feet 5 1/2-inches, was added to the finals.

"We felt confident that John would be added to the field, but you never know for sure until you get the call," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "Going in ranked 20th, John will have an opportunity to move up. He is ready for a big final meet of his career."

Berry, originally a walk-on from Parkway South High School in St. Louis, won both the indoor and outdoor Ohio Valley Conference long jump titles this season.

The long jump competition at the NCAA finals at Drake Stadium, will begin at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday with the finals scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Berry joins four-time All-American Miles Smith in the NCAA finals. Smith, an Olympic hopeful from Riverview Gardens High School in St. Louis, has the 11th fastest time in the nation this season at 45.67.

The first round of the 400-meters will be at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday with the semi-finals at 8:25 p.m. Friday with the finals at 3:12 p.m. on Saturday. The semi-finals and finals will be nationally televised.