Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990 TAG: 9005300567
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Ray Cox
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Anne Fontaine of George Wythe and Desmond Wesley of Christiansburg were in on eight first-place finishes as they dominated the Region IV track meet at George Wythe High School.
Between them, Fontaine and Wesley either personally scored or were part of relay teams that produced 98 points.
Wesley's efforts helped produce almost half of his team's meet-winning total of 103. Fontaine helped account for all but 21 of her team's second-place total of 71 points.
Fontaine won the high jump (5 feet, 4 inches), the triple jump (36-3), 100- meter hurdles (15.4 seconds) and 300 hurdles (46.8), and was a member of the fourth-place 1,600 relay team. She also finished third in the long jump.
"I was disappointed with my long jump, but I hate to use the word `disappointed' because I had such a great day otherwise," said the senior. "But on my next to last long jump, I scratched and they said I probably would have had an 18 [feet] or been in the high 17s. At least I know I can do it, but it would have been a big help to have been in the top flight [at the Group AA meet] next week."
Wesley truned in a similar performance, winning the long jump (22-1), triple jump (43-11 1/2) and 200 (22.5) and anchoring the victorious 1,600 relay. His winning performances were all personal bests.
His lone disappointment was a second-place finish in the 400.
"I was trying to save myself for the 200 and when the guy [Orlando Wheeler of Virginia High] passed me, I couldn't catch back up with him," he said. "But that just made me upset for the 200."
Both of Wesley's jumps exceded his expectations, particularly the triple jump.
"My first jump, I hit a 41-10, but then a guy [Tony Jackson of Lebanon] jumped 43-7 and that woried me a lot. I corrected what I'd been doing wrong, stretched my stride out, and gave it all I had."
Christiansburg won its second regional title in a row and third in the past five years. The Blue Deamons outdistanced second-place Blacksburg by 40 points.
In the girl's meet. Blacksburg utilized splendid depth to win its first regional championship since 1985. The Indians scored 99 points to second-place George Wythe's 71.
Blacksburg was paced by 800 and 1,600 champion Jenny Adkisson, 200 titlist Katie Ollendick and the winning 1,600 relay team.
Blacksburg's Lee Cross also has a big meet. The defending state cross country champion churned to victories in the 1,600 and 3,200, setting a personal record with a time of 4:23:8 in the 1,600.
"I've been doing a lot of good workouts lately and some of my teammates, particularly Dave Perry, have been coming on strong in practice to push me," Cross said. "Plus, my coach, Dennis Hinkle, had got me ready so that I am peaking just in time for state."
Cross matched strides with Christiansburg sophomore Brian Eigel in the 3,200 before pulling away in the last laps.
"That didn't surprise me at all that Brain was running with me," Cross said. "I have a lot of respect for him and [Christiansburg's] Harley [Johnson]. They've been pushing me every time we race, and that's helped my times a lot. It's good to have that kind of competition in the district and region when you're getting ready for the state."
Keywords:
TRACK
by CNB