Track and field: Permian's Berryhill takes his best shot

Jamison Berryhill always has felt right at home during track and field meets.

But it took the Permian High School senior most of his life to figure out just what he could do best.

Berryhill gave the shot put a try late in his junior season at Midland Christian and everything clicked. He finished fourth at the TAPPS Class 5A state meet for the Mustangs and was hooked.

Those talents should provide dividends for both Berryhill and the Permian boys today when he competes in the District 3-5A Track and Field Championships at Elmer Gray Stadium in Abilene.

"I've done pretty much every event there is to do," Berryhill said. "I used to be a lot smaller, so when I got bigger I thought I'd try the discus out. I tried that and it's a little too technical, so I went with the shot and I picked it up pretty easy.

"I enjoy it a lot and I just like being out here. I just like going to the track meets and getting to compete, really."

Berryhill isn't stretching a tall tale about participating in many events throughout his life.

From the long jump and sprints early in life to hurdles and the pole vault - he represented Midland Christian in the vault at state as a freshman - he's done a little bit of everything.

Though better known for his football exploits, like scoring 17 touchdowns last fall for Permian, track and field is the sport that tugs at Berryhill's heartstrings.

The bloodlines include older sister Angie Aguilar, who won NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor pole vault titles in 2006 for Abilene Christian University.

"I've been around it my whole life," Berryhill said. "It's something that my family always did together and we always worked on it really, really hard.

"Football was more of like a job for me because it's what I'm gifted more at, and track's like the thing I have to work harder to do, so that's why I like it more."

Football is part of Berryhill's plans for the future, as well. He will have preferred walk-on status on the University of Texas football team this fall and plans on starting school in June.

Throwing the shot put for Permian is Berryhill's present, though, and he appears to be building steam in the event at the right time for district.

Berryhill threw a career-best 52 feet, 3.5 inches, last week in Arlington after going 50-6.5 the week before at the TCU meet in Fort Worth.

Permian junior Garrett Porter threw 50-5 last week in Arlington, so Berryhill hopes a strong showing is in store.

"We've just been working out where we didn't peak too early," Berryhill said. "We're just getting better and better every week, both me and Garrett. We're hoping to finish up there, 1-2 hopefully, and help the team out for the district title."