SLIPPERY ROCK — Melissa Sopher made one huge mistake, one more devastating than falling over a hurdle and much more damaging than failing to win a race.

Sopher, who won two PIAA Class AA championships in the 300 hurdles while at Slippery Rock High School, found herself suspended as a student at Slippery Rock University and its track and field team for one school year because of a theft charge in 2004.

Sopher and SRU track and field teammate Andi Rose were charged with one count each of theft after taking a projector from the Spotts World Culture Building.

As part of their punishment, they were banned from campus and booted from the track and field team last spring.

"We weren't even allowed on campus," Sopher said. "We couldn't go watch the team practice or watch any of the meets. We deserved it."

Instead, Sopher worked at a full-time job as a waitress and worked out when she could at the Grove City YMCA.

She had no idea what kind of shape she would be in when she did return to the track.

"Oh my goodness, (track) is my life," Sopher said. "It was a stupid mistake.

"Andi and I would sit around and bawl to each other. We didn't know what would happen when we came back, how well we would run. It was the worst year in my life, probably."

But with a hard lesson learned and put behind her like opponents on the track, Sopher is enjoying much better days now.

Returning this winter as a part of the SRU women's indoor track and field team, Sopher has picked up right where she left off in 2004.

Last week at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships, Sopher and Rose teamed up with Alison Gardner and Butler graduate Jill Rekich to set the school and PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships record in the 1,600-meter relay.

The foursome ran a blistering time of 3 minutes, 57.08 seconds.

For Sopher, it was an affirmation that she had returned to form.

"I'm sure other people in the conference look down on us," Sopher said. "I'm sure they think we shouldn't be allowed back on the team. To go out and win, it's like 'In your face! I was gone for a year, and I can still beat you.'"

Through it all, Sopher and Rose had Rekich to lean on.

Sopher, Rose and Rekich lived together and are close friends.

Sopher and Rekich, in particular share, a special bond. They are almost inseparable.

Both were born on the same day — Feb. 1, 1984 — and both share the same middle name, Marie.

"We have a lot of fun on our birthday," Rekich said, laughing.

Rekich saw how tough it was for Sopher and Rose during the last year.

"Every time I would go to practice, they'd get upset about it," Rekich said. "It was pretty hard on them."

Rekich said it didn't take long for Sopher and Rose to fit in with the team again.

From the first time they ran the 1,600-meter relay together, Rekich said she knew the school record would fall and the PSAC championship in the event would belong to The Rock for the first time in the meet's history.

"It's wonderful," Rekich said. "It's so wonderful to have my girls back. It was hard going from being basically the best to the worst without them."

Rekich has forged herself quite a career at The Rock.

She left Butler with a state medal, but wasn't as highly regarded coming into the SRU track and field program as Sopher and Rose were when they arrived in the same season.

Rekich has worked tirelessly to become one of the best athletes at The Rock.

"I have butterflies in my stomach thinking about that," Rekich said. "It makes you have the biggest smile on your face because you know you have reached your potential through hard work and pushing yourself hard."

Sopher and Rekich have some big plans for the outdoor season as well.

Both want to take the 1,600-meter relay team to nationals and Sopher would like to get over the hump in the 400-meter hurdles and punch her ticket to the national meet.

She was just seconds off the provisional qualifying time two years ago. She said the way she ran during the indoor season, she could definitely shave those seconds and make it this time.

"That's a big goal of mine," Sopher said. "This whole last year has done nothing but motivate me."

Because of their suspension, Sopher and Rose are both considered juniors now. Rekich is a senior and the PSAC meet was her last chance at indoor glory.

She picked a great way to go out.

In fact, winning the championship prompted Rekich's mother to anoint her with a new nickname.

"She called me 'Bettis,'" Rekich said. "Because I went out on top."