THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512030004
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 34 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
WESTERN BRANCH might have a little trouble repeating as girls indoor track champions this year.
Although the Bruins have won the last two Southeastern District titles, the team is limping at the start of the season with two of its best distance runners still affected by cross-country injuries.
Western Branch is also hurt by the loss of several key competitors from last year's squad, including Meredith Turnage, Heather Allen, Tanisha Johnson and Dionne Dunston. ``They were the heart and soul of the team,'' Bruins coach Bill Volkman said.
The following is a capsule look at all the teams in the league. The regular season opens Wednesday.
CHURCHLAND
The Truckers normally don't field a complete team, but should have a few runners compete for individual honors.
DEEP CREEK
The Hornets will be paced by senior Afreeka Hardison, the defending district high jump champ. Hardison competed in the state indoor meet last season and also runs on Deep Creek's 800 relay team. Four other seniors return for the Hornets - state qualifier Delicia Hurdle (shotput), Bobbie Jo Hess (55 meter dash), Monica Harvey (distance, relays), and Ashley Marshall (distance, relays).
New to the team this year is junior Karley Green, who competes in the 500 and 800 relay team, and freshman Karen Heely, who narrowly missed setting a Chesapeake Middle School League record in the 400 last year as an eighth grader.
INDIAN RIVER
The Braves' not-so-secret weapon is Kathy McNeely, a four-sport athlete who just came off an MVP season for the Indian River cross country team. McNeeley will run the 1,000 and mile events and compete in the distance relay.
Indian River will be strong in the shotput with sophomore Bobbi Lewis and senior Latisha Grevious, who placed second in the district last season, returning.
Sarah Jones and Jessica Sanderlin are two top newcomers for the Braves and will have to contribute immediately in the mile and two-mile events if Indian River is going to improve upon last season's sixth-place finish in the district.
NORCOM
The Greyhounds finished fourth in the district last year and are led by senior Jennifer Cook, the defending district champ in the 55 and 300 who also placed third in the national age group 100 hurdles this summer.
Junior Missy Banks also returns to compete in the shotput, an event where she placed first in the district, second in the state, and fourth in the nation. Lakeisha Graves was second in the 55 hurdles last year, and senior Tieshia Pickett was runner-up to Cook in the 300.
Newcomers include senior Brandi Smith (triple and long jump), Erica Hines (55, relays), Robin Fulp (300, long and triple
jump), Deandris Townes (500, high jump), and a quartet of distance and relay runners in Tiffany Davis, Loren Moore, Tenisha Stith and Tenisha Gray.
OSCAR SMITH
The Tigers finished seventh in the district last season but are bolstered by the return of senior sprinter Torres Artis. Sherita Spencer also returns to run the sprinting events, and Oscar Smith has a trio of experienced distance runners - Dianna Golt, Laura Denyes, and Tabatha Nothnagel.
Tameka Eason and Andrea Smith are two freshmen who should stand out as sprinters.
WESTERN BRANCH
With distance runners Emily Thomas and Melissa McManus still nursing injuries, sophomores Angela Cusick and Cheri Newman will be counted on to pull in the points in the 800 and 1,600.
Defending district triple jump champion Erica Hudson, who also competes in the long jump and sprinting events, is one of the Bruins' top returnees along with junior Shawnita Jackson (300, 500). Junior Tenisha Pugh will participate in the long jump and sprinting events as well.
WILSON
Wilson is traditionally strong in the relay events and set district records in both the 800 and 1,600 relays last season in finishing second in the team competition behind Western Branch.
Senior Jenita Harris returns for the Presidents with hopes of defending her district title in the 55 hurdles. Chamae Barringer (triple jump, relays), Michael Farrell (relays, distance), Naomi Lowe (55, relays), and Catherine Riddick (55, 800) also return.
Top newcomers include freshmen Tallia Rouhac and Brandi Upton in the distance events. Upton also competes in the hurdles.
Great Bridge did not provide information for this preview. ILLUSTRATION: GIRLS INDOOR TRACK
File photo
Missy Banks will compete in the shotput, an event where she placed
first in the district, second in the state, and fourth in the
nation.
by CNB