Oliver also placed fourth in the long jump Saturday, narrowly missing third. She also helped Lewis place seventh in the 1,600 relay and 10th overall in the 1A meet.
Three months earlier, Oliver won the 500 and 800 meters at the 1A state indoor championships in February, lowering the state record in the 500 by nearly two seconds and earning a place on the All-Metro first-team in indoor track.
"She did what she was supposed to do," Sye said. "I told her that was our goal [Saturday] - to set a 1A record. Our goal at the indoor was to get a record for the [500], and she did. She's done really well. I'm proud of her. She had a rocky start this season, but I'm proud of her."
Oliver's face was the one people saw on public transportation last year as the face of someone who had succeeded despite having lived in a foster home. It's a message that has resonated throughout the city, as well as through the halls at Lewis, which has a number of students from foster homes.
"She's a really good kid with a positive attitude. That's good to see," Sye said. "A lot of negative is brought up in the media, but she's never had any type of conflict in school. She's never had a problem with a teacher. She always stays positive, does her work. If she has a problem, she'll go about [resolving] it the right way. A lot of kids are like that growing up today, but they just don't see that it can be done."
That is, until they see Oliver taking off her pink-and-white shoes after another win.
milton.kent@baltsun.com
