Such is the regard for girls track and field coach Beverly Humphrey that a few years ago the Lancaster school district hierarchy paid the supreme compliment of naming its football stadium after her.
Lancaster, on a rain-soaked Friday night in Austin's Mike A. Myers Stadium came from far behind to catch Wheatley (Houston) in the team standings and share the UIL Class 4A girls state title. For Lancaster and Humphrey, it was state championship No. 10, all in the last 13 years.
Since arriving in Lancaster in 1989, Humphrey has urged, consoled and motivated the Lady Tigers to 24 district championships and 14 regional titles.
Beverly Humphrey, Lancaster head coach
Courtesy photo
In recognition for her ability to build and sustain success over such a long stretch, Humphrey was selected as the Dallas High Yield Coach of the Week presented by Capital One Bank.
Before a thunderstorm delayed the state meet for three hours on Friday, prospects for accomplishing No. 10 looked dim. Lancaster trailed Wheatley in the point standings, 28-8.
Humphrey said the delay was a blessing in disguise.
"It gave us time to refocus on what had to be done,'' the coach said. "For us to have a chance, we needed to be perfect in three races, beginning with the 100 meters.''
Eboni Coby came through in the 100, producing maximum points with a first place finish. Then Lancaster's 4x200 was victorious, meaning the state title would come down to the last event, the 4x400.
Stress was mounting on Humphrey. First she received a call from the team's trainer advising that the relay alternates needed to be ready. Alexis Flores, the 4x400 anchor, was having a hamstring issue.
If that wasn't enough, Humphrey was informed a complaint had been lodged from a rival team about Lancaster's uniforms.
"There was more drama in this state title than in any of the others,'' Humphrey said.
No alternate was needed because Flores decided to race. And the uniform issue was put to bed.
Going into the final event, Lancaster had whittled the Wheatley lead to four points. Humphrey made sure the relay team realized that a win would assure them of no worse than a tie for the team title.
"I talked to them about what they needed to do and how it was our chance at making history,'' Humphrey said. "I could tell they were getting fired up.''
A'Driana Berkhaulter, Taylor Rockwell, Alicia Harris and Flores indeed were motivated, winning in 3:46.50 for the maximum 20 points. Wheatley finished second in 3:49.55, earning it 16 points. Lancaster and Wheatley became co-state champs with 58 points overall.
Nine previous state titles (2001-2008, 2012) didn't make this one any easier for the coach.
"Winning was a relief more than anything,'' said Humphrey, who also serves as director of athletics at Lancaster.
Fate intervened to change Humphrey's life as a senior at Lincoln (Dallas). She was a basketball/volleyball player when the school's track coach spotted her in the hallway and convinced her to give sprinting a try.
Humphrey became part of a gold medal-winning 4x400 relay for Lincoln in 1974, before moving on to set seven national collegiate relay records at Prairie View A&M. She finished eighth in the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 (23.54 seconds).
She began her coaching career in Greenville before settling in Lancaster. Only two stops.
"When I started as a young coach, it was big to win a district championship,'' said Humphrey, who has been inducted in the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame. "My goal was to win 10 state titles. But you don't think about all the things that have to go just right in winning one.''
