Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 22, 1990 TAG: 9007200490
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Ray Cox
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The end is nowhere in sight.
Set aside early scouting reports that a team plenty strong last year is expected to be stronger the next couple of seasons. Most people know that.
What many don't know is that a de facto farm system is churning out some excellent young prospects.
Prospects such as brothers Andra (pronounced "An-dray") and Eric Beasley. Andra, a long jumper, is 13 years old; Eric, a shot putter, is 10.
Sure to send a chill through enemy ranks in Region IV and beyond is the news that these young men, tender age notwithstanding, already are competing at the national level; Andra for the second year.
They aren't alone among the talented sprinting and jumping youth of Christiansburg, but more on that later.
Andra long-jumped 18 feet, 5 inches at The Athletics Congress Junior Olympic regional meet at Raleigh, N.C., recently, placing third. At a later meet, this one sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union at Reston, he leapt a personal best 18-9.
Eric heaved the shot 24-1 at Raleigh to finish third in his age group and also qualify for nationals, which will be July 24-29 at Lincoln, Neb.
Andra qualified for both TAC and AAU nationals; Eric, just for TAC. The AAU is in Clearwater, Fla. Travel expenses being what they are for two boys and their coach/mother Constance, a single parent on a budget, the boys will compete only at TAC.
Eric qualified for TAC but not for AAU.
"That was partially my fault," said Constance Beasley, who has chauffeured the boys to six meets in a three-state area this summer alone. "We couldn't afford to spend the night in Reston the night before the meet, so we drove up at 3 a.m. so Eric could compete at 8 a.m.
"I don't think he slept very well in the car and he wasn't himself the next morning."
This will be the first time at a national meet for Eric. Andra made his first national appearance last year, when he finished ninth in the long jump at the Junior Olympics at Spokane, Wash. He jumped 18-1, which gives you some idea to what degree he has progressed since then.
The boys have been coached mostly by their mother, whose previous experience in the sport was when she ran track at Christiansburg High a few years back. She also has read and received a tip or three from other coaches.
As may be surmised, Andra is a good all-around athlete. He'll be playing football and basketball as well as running track at Christiansburg Middle School next year.
"I think you'll be hearing more about him as he gets older," said his proud mother.
Future opponents have heard enough already.
More pint-sized track talent than just the Beasley boys is being developed in Christiansburg.
There is also 12-year-old Michael Lee Jr., a sprinter/pentathlete who has been going to national meets the past four years. Like the Beasley boys, Lee is coached by his mother, Debbie Lee, yet another former runner at Christiansburg High (Class of 1970) and now a health and physical education teacher there.
Michael Lee will be going to the AAU meet in Florida as a pentathlete and as the member of a 400-meter relay team. A pentathlete competes in the 80-meter hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump and 800.
As a member of the relay team, Lee will be teamed with boys from Roanoke and Martinsville.
Another young athlete making the trek to Florida is Valerie Hardee, 12, of Blacksburg. She'll be running the 3,000 meters. As it is now, she'll eventually end up at Blacksburg High, which is only fitting. The many fine distance runners there through the years have been well-chronicled.
To warm up for the trip to nationals, Andra Beasley and Lee also will be going to the East Coast Invitational this weekend at Towson, Md. Lee will run the 200 and participate in the high jump and long jump. Beasley will participate in the high jump and long jump.
At this point, it must be noted that it takes more than strong and skilled young bodies to get to these faraway foot races and jumping matches. It takes major bucks, and these folks do not have pockets bulging with dough.
So they are soliciting tax-deductible donations. For the Beasley boys, checks may be sent to the First National Bank of Christiansburg and earmarked for the Junior Olympic fund for Andra and Eric Beasley.
Checks for Michael Lee may be made out to Shelda M. Wills ("That's a friend of mine," Debbie Lee said. "I don't want people to think I'm taking this money and spending it on myself. We've done it this way for four years now.") and earmarked for the Michael A. Lee Jr. Junior Olympic Fund. Checks may be sent to P.O. 205, Christiansburg, Va. 24073. It is requested that donations be sent by July 25 or sooner.
Not only are these young people good athletes, they have impeccable manners.
They'll send you a thank-you note.
by CNB