Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 8, 1990 TAG: 9007080158
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: tony stamus sportswriter
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Fincastle runner won the Virginia CorEast State Games five-mile road race after a shoulder-to-shoulder duel against former James Madison University runner Peter Wielenmann of Arlington.
"It was a great finish," Taylor said. "I knew it would be difficult at the end because Pete and I were right there together all the way."
Wielenmann, who completed his eligibility at James Madison this year, led by a step or two as he and Taylor entered Victory Stadium for the final lap. Each had reached the two-mile mark in 9 minutes, 17 seconds.
"[With about 300 meters to go] Pete went for it and I countered and covered it," said Taylor, a former Virginia Tech runner who easily won the Dominion Bank Festival 10K six weeks ago. "With about 150 [meters] to go, through the turn, it was like a sprint race. That was where I got my momentum."
Taylor pulled away slightly down the stretch to win by two-hundredths of a second. His time of 23:39 was a record by more than a minute for the McDonald's course, which started at the Jefferson Street Bridge, wound through Wasena Park and finished in Victory Stadium.
Wielenmann, at 23:41, was more than two seconds ahead of bronze medalist Keelyn Wu of Roanoke and Radford University.
"It was the most exciting finish you could ask for," Taylor said. "People in the stands were screaming and clapping. It was a situation where they could see myself and Pete hit the track together, and it was going to come down to the last 100 meters - and who was faster."
Anne Marie Jutel won the women's division in 29:36. Susan Earles-Price and Maria Hartz, both of Blacksburg, finished second and third, respectively.
Taylor's wife, Lori, was fourth among the women.
There was competition in 27 of 29 events Saturday. The State Games, a competition that attracted 4,100 amateur athletes, conclude today at venues around the Roanoke Valley.
In other events Saturday:
Kristi Snow, an 11-year-old competing for the Roanoke Academy of Gymnastics, won the all-around competition in the Level 8 Open class at Cave Spring High.
Snow, the U.S. Gymnastics Federation state champion in Level 8 Open for 9- to 11-year-olds, finished with 36.000 points. She won medals in all four events, finishing first on the balance beam, second in the vault, third on the uneven bars and second in the floor exercise.
"It's sort of like the state meet," said Snow, who commutes nearly one hour each way from Forest to practice five days a week. "It feels better because more people know about this . . . there are more sports."
Snow, who will become a Level 9 competitor next year, said she has aspirations to move up to the Elite class and perform in the Olympics.
"I have gone through times when I told myself, 'Maybe I should quit,' " Snow said. "Then I do really well and say, `Why would I even think about that.' "
Unseeded Erik Simanis of Lexington, who will be a junior in the fall at Wake Forest, will play top-seeded Kevin Manning of Arlington in today's men's open tennis final.
Because of surgery on his right elbow about 18 months ago, Simanis had not played a tournament in almost two years. After taking a cortisone shot about two weeks ago as pain persisted, the right-hander decided to test the elbow again in competition.
Simanis defeated fourth-seeded John Barker and sixth-seeded Nelson Prillaman, then eliminated Chad Ramsey of Great Falls 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinal round. Ramsey will be a sophomore at Pepperdine in the fall.
Simanis said he has been surprised by his success. "I wasn't looking to do well," he said. "I just wanted to see how my arm would hold up. Today was the first day I was able to hit my serve."
Manning reached the final with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Vaidas Cikotas of Alexandria.
Simanis and Manning will meet at 1 p.m. today at the River's Edge sports complex.
Jon Valera, 14, who will be a freshman at Lord Botetourt High this fall, won three gold medals in karate competition at William Fleming High.
Valera won the weapons, kata and kumati events.
Tom Brittain, Virginia Tech's top golfer, shot a 4-under-par 67 for a two-shot lead over three golfers in the open division at Countryside.
Barry Wolfe, Dan Keffer and Gil FitzHugh each shot a 69 and are second going into today's final round.
There also will be final-round play today in the juniors, seniors and women's golf divisions.
Daniel Booker of Langley Air Force Base was selected as the outstanding senior competitor in judo at the old Jefferson High gym. Adam Furrow of the Roanoke Judo Club was voted the top junior competitor. B6 B1 RACE Race
by CNB