Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 6, 1990 TAG: 9007060148
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TONY STAMUS SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Buchanan, a Roanoke native who has a medical practice in Williamsburg, blew away the field Thursday in the 45-49 age group licensed women's 60-kilometer (37.2 miles) race. Her time of 1 hour, 49 minutes, 30 seconds was the only one under two hours among the women.
Cycling is one of the 29 events in the State Games, which opened Thursday and will run through Sunday at venues around the Roanoke Valley. More than 4,100 amateur athletes from Virginia are expected to compete.
At 45 years old, Buchanan has been riding competitively for only six years. In that time, she has won six national championships and was voted the top woman rider in 1989 by the United States Cycling Federation.
However, her performance Thursday, in many ways, was as satisfying as any of her others.
"There were three people entered in my age group," Buchanan said, "but the thing that was most satisfying was that I didn't just beat them, I beat all the women."
Buchanan crossed the finish line well ahead of the pack, and she did it on a Blue Ridge Parkway course she hadn't seen until she arrived around noon, about an hour before race time.
"It looked a lot tougher than it rode," Buchanan said. "When I rode it in the car, I thought it would be a bear.
"It was a really interesting course. The hills were fairly steep, but the climbs were a mile or less, so there was plenty of time to recover."
Hills usually do not agree with Buchanan, who said she has lost to several of the other State Games riders because of that weakness.
"The women in this race have dropped me on many occasions," said Buchanan, specifically referring to Leslie Selden of Burke, Ruth Stornetta of Charlottesville and Charlotte Miller of Newport News in the 35-39 age group, and Belinda Heerwagen of Norfolk in the 30-34 division.
In addition to driving to Roanoke the day of the race, Buchanan was up all night Tuesday delivering a baby, went to bed at 3 p.m. Wednesday and woke up in time to hit the road Thursday.
"I'm pretty busy during the season," said Buchanan, an obstetrician. "You have to be pretty directed, very organized, with the family and medicine. In March through late September, I work and train after work, and sometimes go for an easy ride if I have an hour, hour-and-a-half for lunch."
James Montgomery, a 16-time national champion expected to race in the 45-49 licensed men's division, was a no-show. Race director Peter Teeuwen said he didn't know why the Northern Virginia cyclist didn't compete.
The North and West squads were opening-day winners in the junior girls' volleyball tournament. The North, led by the net play of Mary Moffett and Ashlee Van Horssen, defeated the South 15-4, 15-3, 15-2. The West defeated the East 15-6, 15-4, 15-9 behind Radford University's Laurel Tanner, who had six kills.
James River and the Roanoke Stars won first-round games in the 13-and-under girls' basketball tournament at James Madison Junior High. James River stopped Glenvar-Salem 22-15 and the Roanoke Stars trounced Marion 66-18.
At Patrick Henry High, Larry Bell of Manassas and the Roanoke Hawks won first-round games in 15-and-under boys' action. Bell defeated the Roanoke Colonels 86-67 behind Jason Bell's 30 points. The Hawks stopped the Roanoke Patriots 75-65. Greg Smith scored 16 and Pedro Edison added 14.
Also at Patrick Henry, Rocky Mount defeated the Roanoke Hawks 57-35 behind Carlos Holland's 15 points in the 13-and-under boys' opener. Glenvar stopped the Northern Virginia Vogues 57-53 as Matthew Woolwine had 18 points and Justin Porterfield added 16.
Hawks coach Joe Gaither said the heat slowed his team, but "they need the conditioning. It'll help us in the nationals in New Orleans [later this month]."
Teams from Prince William and Glenvar-Salem won their openers in the 11-and-under boys' division at North Cross' Carter Athletic Center.
Glenvar-Salem outscored the Roanoke Hawks 21-4 in the third quarter en route to a 58-46 victory. Ricardo Stovall had 21 points and Marshall Wooldridge added 18 for the winners. Prince William broke away early and went on to a 51-42 victory over the Northern Virginia Vogues.
by CNB