Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991 TAG: 9104030022
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Last season, Floyd finished fourth in the state in Group A. Five state qualifiers return from that squad. And Giles brings everyone back from the team that placed fourth in the Group AA Region IV meet. So there should be fierce competition for the top spot in the Mountain Empire.
And because the teams are unfamiliar with one another, the battle could be even more interesting.
"The kids know the Mountain Empire is going to be tough," said Giles coach Rusty Kelley. "But I don't know who is strongest in the Mountain Empire. I haven't seen a lot of people."
Elsewhere, the New River could be a replay of the indoor season when Blacksburg and Christiansburg went 1-2. Pulaski County faces a rebuilding year in the Roanoke Valley District.
Team-by-team reports:
\ AUBURN: The Eagles have a little bit of everything, but they will be hampered by a lack of depth.
"We know what we're going to do," said coach Jane Carper. "But right now we've got a small team."
Auburn has just three returning athletes: senior thrower/jumper Sherry Akers and sophomore sprinters Stacey Epperly and Allison Quinn. Akers won the district title in the shot put in 1990 and the high jump in 1989.
The Eagles will also be helped by freshman distance runner Celia Eicheldinger, who finished ninth in the MED cross country meet last fall.
\ BLACKSBURG: The Indians will be favored to win yet another New River District title, even though the team consists mainly of juniors and freshman. The young squad only enhanced its role as favorite by winning the district indoor championship.
"With our nucleus, it [the season] sounds promising," said coach Kim Oliver. "I think we'll be a tough team." Blacksburg will depend on good performances from distrance runners Anne Gaines, a junior, and sophomore Lynn Price, junior hurdler Jessica Nichols and sophomore sprinter Katie Olendick.
\ CHRISTIANSBURG: If anyone can stop Blacksburg, the Blue Demons may be the team to do it. They were right on Blacksburg's heels in the indoor season, finishing second. "I think we can have a very competitive season, and we always have to battle against Blacksburg for the district crown," said coach Norma Cox.
Christiansburg returns four individuals who qualified for last year's Group AA state meet. Topping the list is 800-meter state champ Hollie Slusser, a senior. Also back are senior Andrea Calloway, who reached the state meet in the triple jump, senior Katrice Dobson in the 300-meter intermediate hurdlers, and junior Rochelle Johnson in the 110-meter high hurdles.
And the Demons will have in their lineup Carrie Porterfield, who won the indoor district title in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Other returnees include senior middle-distance runner Hong Lee, junior shot putters Tracey Brookman and Meggan Crowgy, junior distance runners Rachell Cosgriff and Angie Dawson, and sophomore distance runners Monica Cochran, Sherry Bourne and Jill Johnson.
\ FLOYD COUNTY: Sprinter/jumper Pam Lemons may have graduated, but the Buffaloes still will be a force in the Mountain Empire. Distance runner Nicky Tessar, a junior who finished third last year at the Group A state meet in the 3,200 meter, returns. So does junior hurdler Geanna Nichols, who was fifth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Three other returnees also qualified for the state meet: senior distance runner Patty Marshall and sophomores Kim Criner, a middle-distance runner, and Samantha Hadaway, a high jumper.
"We have a good nucleus, but we won't have a dominant person like we've had in the past," said coach Winfred Beale. "We'll have to have a lot of people chip in to get those points; then we'll be competitive." The burden of replacing Lemons' speed will fall to a pair of freshmen sprinters: Monica Lucas and Teresa Newbil. Another newcomer is sophomore shot putter Erin Jones.
\ GILES: The best way to describe the Spartans is loaded. The whole squad is back, including senior Tina Tickle and the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. Tickle was fifth last year at the Group AA meet in the discus. And both relay teams placed, as well. "On paper, we should be a pretty good team," said Kelley. "Only time will tell how things will work out and if we'll have the same success as we did last year."
Other returnees include senior sprinter/jumpers April Wilson and Jennie Adams; hurdlers Valen West, a senior, Daphine Atkins, a junior, and Wendy Abel, a sophomore; junior sprinters Carrie Dean, Summer Dowdy and Beth Kirk; and sophomore distance runners Cindy Howell, Susan Kirk and Shannon Dillon. A pair of freshmen, sprinter Crystal Ramos and distance runner Paula Gusler, further strengthens Giles.
\ NARROWS: The Green Wave has some good individuals but not enough of them. "[The returning girls] will do fine," said boys' track coach Dave Mabry. "But with our numbers, we have very little depth. Team-wise we will not be a factor in anything."
Three athletes with state meet experience return. Ruth Turner, a senior, was third in the discus at the Group A state meet last year. She also qualified for the Region C meet in six other events. Sprinter/hurdler Shari Masters, a junior, went to the state meet on the 400-meter relay team. And junior Crystal Linkous was fourth in the state in the discus in 1989.
Beyond that, Narrows will depend mostly on freshmen. They also will have a new coach. Erin Wood, a student at Concord College, took over for Mabry when he learned he could not coach both track teams because of school system policy.
\ PULASKI COUNTY: The Cougars are rebuilding. How rapid their progress has been will become apparent in their first Roanoke Valley District meet next month when they face district favorite William Fleming. "The enthusiasm the girls have is something," said coach Randy Flinchum. "But talent-wise, we're struggling."
Pulaski does have some talent, especially in seniors Natoya Webb, a sprinter, and Christina Jones, a distance runner.
\ RADFORD: The Bobcats hope youth will be served as they strive to catch Blacksburg and Christiansburg in the New River.
"If we can get the team to spread around and accumulate points, then we'll do fine," said coach Tony DeHart. "That's how we'll compete against the two established [teams]."
Radford has only one senior back: shot putter Deitra Dobbins. Also back are several juniors, including sprinter/jumpers Tomica Hubbard and Amy Pridgen, hurdlers Nicki Leighton and Becky Huber, and middle distance runner Arlene Vinion.
Among the youth on the squad is freshman jumper Jadean Curtis. She won the triple jump at the Region IV meet during the indoor season.
\ SHAWSVILLE: The Shawnees will have to overcome a lack of experience with its traditional strength - distance runners.
"We have a very young team; there's not a lot of experience," said coach Rebecca Sears.
Sophomore hurdler Sherri Brown heads the returnees. Shawsville also will depend on freshmen Missy Johnson and Kari Henson, distance runners, and hurdler/sprinter Angie Delaney.
by CNB