THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605260220
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: 66 lines
Kempsville's Adrienne Parker broke the Eastern Region's longest-standing running-event record in Saturday's girls region meet at Todd Stadium. For 16 years, it had belonged to her coach.
In the 1,600-meter run, Parker posted a time of 5 minutes, 2.15 seconds to shatter the mark set by Kendall Tata in 1980. Parker, a junior, shaved 2.05 seconds off Tata's mark.
Bayside's girls won the team title for the second straight year. But the day belonged to Parker.
``I don't know what to say,'' she said. ``I can't even explain how happy I am.
``Breaking the record is kind of a sentimental thing since it was my coach's record.
``But it was my goal. And just to get down to that close to 5 minutes is really exciting for me. I really can't wait for state meet because hopefully my times will go under five minutes.''
No one was happier than Tata.
``She is a coach's dream,'' the coach said. ``If anyone had to break my record, I glad it was her.''
Parker attacked right from the race's start. At about the 600-meter mark, she was running all by herself.
``I knew if I stayed focused and worked hard, I would have a chance at breaking the record,'' Parker said.
Parker also won the 3,200 with a personal-best time of 11:25.70.
The Marlins scored 67 points. Great Bridge, leader after the first day, took second with 58. Denbigh was third (44). Bethel and Deep Creek (43) were tied for fourth.
``We did real good,'' Bayside senior Tamika Williams said. ``We knew that we would run fast. We just had to come out and prove it.''
Bayside was led by Lashonda Cutchin. The junior won the 100 (11.98 seconds) and the 400 meters (56.54). Then she teamed with Davon Lamb, Ebony Shelton and Williams to set a meet record in the 4x100 relay (47.09), breaking the 47.6 run in 1983 by Menchville.
``We knew we were going to go fast,'' Williams said. ``So before the race we were ready to get out there and run like we knew we could.''
Williams, Lamb and Shelton then took fourth (25.51), fifth (25.56) and sixth place (25.57) in the 200.
And the threesome joined freshman Tanyia Simpson on the winning 4x400 relay. Their time of 3 minutes and 52.50 seconds is the area's fastest time this year.
The Marlins also received valuable points from Carolyn Zanelli. Zanelli took third in the 1,600 (5:17.00) and third in the 3,200 (11:38.85).
Ferguson's Shontel Powell also won two events, taking first in the 100 hurdles (14.65) and 300 hurdles (42.02).
In other events, Norcom's Missy Banks won the shot put (39-3 1/2). Salem's Maro Mitchell took second in the triple jump (36-6). Jenita Harris of Wilson took third in the 300 hurdles (44.78).
The top six individual performances and the top three relays qualify for next weekend's Group AAA state meet at Todd Stadium. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Kempsville's Adrienne Parker, left, embraces her coach Kendall Tata
after breaking Tata's 16-year-old mark in the 1,600 meters.
``Breaking the record is kind of a sentimental thing since it was my
coach's record,'' Parker said. by CNB