ALL-AMERICANS - Two Hale High School graduates scored All-American status during the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Track and Field Championships held over the holiday weekend in California. They are Bryant Wilson, left, and Curtis Barclay, right, who are members of the Grand Valley State University track team. Wilson won the pole vault and Barclay finished seventh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. They are pictured with Hale resident, Navy Sea Bee Command Master Chief Daryl Johnson, stationed at Port Wanamie, Calif. Johnson drove two hours to watch and support the two Hale competitors. - Courtesy photo

Two Hale athletes gain All-American status

HALE - Two Hale High School alumni, Bryant Wilson and Curtis Barclay, won All-American awards competing for Grand Valley State University at the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Track and Field Championships held in Walnut, California, at the Mt. Sac track facility Saturday through Monday.

Wilson and Barclay have been teammates beginning from their youth soccer and baseball teams at age 8 through their middle and high school teams and are now in their third year of competing on the GVSU track team.
Athletes from the Division II schools across the country compete at meets during the track season to try to qualify for the National Championships. In most events, usually about the top 15 or 16 performances are selected to compete at the National Championships. Then at the Championships, the top eight finishers in each event are awarded All-American status.

Wilson won his fourth consecutive National Championship in the pole vault. He previously won the 2007 indoor, 2007 outdoor and the 2008 indoor National Championships. He has competed in three indoor seasons and three outdoor seasons and has earned All-American status all six times and been crowned National Champion four times.

At this National, he cleared 5.18 meters (17’) to win the meet, defeating Dan Tierney of Ashland who also cleared 5.18 meters, but had more misses. Wilson has a personal best of 5.33 meters (17’ 5.5”).

Barclay qualified for his first National in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. This race is almost two miles in length and has various barriers to hurdle over each lap and also has a water hazard after one of the barriers to go through after the jump. Barclay was one of 16 competitors that had to run a preliminary race on Thursday to determine the field of 12 that would run in the final on Saturday.

Barclay made the final and then ran a strong race to finish seventh for his All-American status. Barclay finished the race in 9:11.56. The race was won by Daniel Maina of Abilene Christian.

Wilson and Barclay together scored 12 of GVSU’s 30 points to help lead the Lakers to their best ever Outdoor National finish of sixth place. The men’s first place team was Abilene Christian of Texas.

Also attending this event was another Hale resident, Navy Sea Bee Command Master Chief Daryl Johnson, who is stationed at Port Wanamie, Calif. Johnson drove two hours to watch and support the two Hale competitors. Johnson has been in California for months now and has been on several tours of duty overseas, including Iraq.

Also attending this event was another Hale resident, Navy Sea Bee Command Master Chief Daryl Johnson, who is stationed at Port Wanamie, Calif. Johnson drove two hours to watch and support the two Hale competitors. Johnson has been in California for months now and has been on several tours of duty overseas, including Iraq.