Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 12, 1994 TAG: 9411140042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Heading the area contingent into the event, to be held today in Warrenton on the 5 kilometer Great Meadows course, will be the Christiansburg boys' team, which has been ranked as high as 18th in the Foot Locker Super 25 poll. The Blue Demons dashed to their sixth consecutive Region IV crown last weekend and have their sights set on the AA state crown.
"Our goal is to win state," said Christiansburg coach Steve Shelton. "We look good on paper, but the only paper we want to look good on is the state meet results sheet. We have talked the talk, now it is time to walk the walk."
Coming off their performance in the regional meet, there is no reason to believe the Blue Demons will not fulfill their goal. Christiansburg swept the top three spots in the individual competition and placed five runners in the top 10. Kevin Nolan won the regional competition and was followed closely by his brother Matt and Justin Mosby.
"To sweep the top three spots in regionals is incredible," Shelton said. "We will have five guys standing at the starting line thinking they can make all-state [top 15 finish], and that may never happen again."
If Christiansburg is going to be defeated its conqueror could very will be archrival Blacksburg, which finished second in the Region IV meet and have defeated the Blue Demons this year. If Blacksburg is to unseat the Blue Demons it will need solid, if unspectacular, performances from everyone on the team.
"The strength of our team is finishing in a real tight pack," said Blacksburg coach Jack Hencke. "Christiansburg is strong at 1-2-3, but we feel we are stronger in the middle of the pack."
Individually the Indians will be paced by Scott Sheppard, who finished fifth in the region and has a chance to finish in the top three in the state meet with a strong performance, Hencke said.
On the girls' side of the track, the tables are turned. Blacksburg captured the Region IV crown with the Blue Demons finishing third.
"We have been peaking for that meet [regionals] all season," said Christiansburg coach Ben Thomas. "We only have five runners and they have done a good job. We don't have the depth we have to have. If we run a perfect race, we could be in the top three."
The Indians will be led by Sarah Hendricks who finished second in the regional meet and captured the 16 team Great Meadows on the same course earlier in the year.
"Sarah has a chance at the overall title," Thomas said. "She has been there before and has the experience. She is ready to roll."
Christiansburg, which captured the the New River District title, hopes to bounce back.
"It has been a tough year for the girls," said Shelton, who coaches the girls' team as well. "Our goal is to be best team from Region IV."
In the single A meet, also to be held at the Great Meadows course, Floyd hopes to make an impression on the state scene. The Buffalos are led by Jason Morisco, who won the Region III meet, and by Ben Cooke, who finished third. Floyd's hopes for a team crown will be damaged by the loss of its No. 3 runner, Aaron Ott, who is ill and will not be able to run.
"We feel pretty good [as a team]," said Floyd coach Kathy Wilson. "They [Morisco and Cooke] should do really well. We are hoping one of them will win."
by CNB