Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 26, 1990 TAG: 9004260656
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The nearly certain answer is no one.
In Cosmo meets, Fleming plays the role of, take your choice, the New York Yankees of the American League in the 1940-60s, the Boston Celtics of the NBA in the 1970s or UCLA in college basketball in the 1960s-early 70s.
This will be the 25th year of the Cosmo, which will unfold its main day Saturday at Salem High. Trials for high schools and junior high schools will be held Friday.
The Fleming boys haven't lost the championship since 1971. An off year for the Colonels came in 1982 when Salem managed a tie for the crown. So if Fleming wins the Cosmo, it will mark three decades of championships.
There are bigger goals on the minds of the Fleming team, which tied for second this winter in the Group AAA indoors' meet.
"This is a good team and we have a chance to win the state," said Fleming coach Rudy Dillard. "But it depends how we perform. We have better depth than last year and our middle distance people have come on strong."
Keep your eye on Mike Wheatley who anchors a group of fast Fleming dash athletes.
Chris Robinson is defending Group AAA Northwestern Region long jump champion and finished third in the indoor state. Robinson, also an excellent runner, faces stiff competition from Northside junior Curtis Ballard.
In the girls' division, Fleming is a slight favorite, but faces competition from Cave Spring and Patrick Henry. The Colonels edged the Patriots by only seven points in a dual meet on Tuesday.
Some of the top races will be in the boys' and girls' distance events. In the boys' competition, there will be a renewal of the battle between Cave Spring's John Hawthorne and Jay Gentry, and Glenvar' Joey Soltis in the 3,200 meter run.
Hawthorne, Gentry and Soltis finished 1-2-3 in the Metro cross country meet. A year ago, Hawthorne beat Soltis in the Cosmo 3,200-meter race last year. Soltis later won the Group A crown.
Among the girls' entrants, Salem's Lori Archer will battle Cave Spring's Jenny Sheets in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events. They finished 1-2 in Metro cross country.
The Knights' chances of winning a girls' title will also depend on Jill Fountain, a strong performer in the shot and discus. Fountain won the Group AAA indoor shot put title.
Northside's Patti Fisher, who won five Blue Ridge District girls' events last year, won't participate in the Cosmo because of a conflict in softball.
by CNB