Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 1, 1993 TAG: 9309010041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Christiansburg may have won three of the last four Group AA state titles, but the top two runners from last year's squad are gone.
The Blue Demons, who finished second in the state to Tabb High School last year, lost Jimmy Osbourne, who finished ninth in the state meet, and Chris Whytal, who finished 14th.
So Shelton has set more-modest goals for this season.
"Our goal is to be the top three in the state," he said. "A state title isn't out of the realm of possibility. With it being at Virginia Tech, it gives us a `home-court advantage.' "
Senior Jeremy Cosgriff will try to be the leader for the Blue Demons. He finished 25th in the state meet last year, and was a part of the Blue Demons' state championship teams in 1990 and 1991.
"He knows how to win," Shelton said.
Other top contributors will be senior Aaron Payne, junior Kevin Nolan, and sophomores Michael Lee and Robby Rakes.
\ BLACKSBURG also lost its top two runners from last year, but it still hopes to end Christiansburg's streak of four straight New River District and Region IV titles. The Indians finished fifth in the Group AA state meet last year, but gone are Jason Kipps, who finished fifth at state, and last year's No. 2 runner, Walter Wierwille.
Leading the Indians will be sophomore Scott Sheperd, who ran in the state meet last year. Juniors David Brown, Eric Brown and Mike Perry will also contribute.
\ RADFORD will barely be able to field a team, but head coach Margaret Hrezo said she likes the few runners she has. The Bobcats are coming off a third-place finish in the New River District, and after losing their top three runners from last year's team, things don't figure to get much better. Sophomores Jeff McWhorter and Stephen Murphy both ran well as freshmen, and junior Mike Anderson has potential.
\ SHAWSVILLE has a young team that could take the Mountain Empire district title from defending champion Galax. The Shawnees finished second in the district last year. Sophomore Doug Ashworth will be the team's top runner. Juniors Keith Armour and Alex Seginger and freshmen Chris Graham and Jeremy Flight round out the squad. Senior Charles Duncan, who would have been the team's top returner, has not reported to practice.
\ GILES, coming off a third-place finish in the Mountain Empire District, has reason to smile. The reason? Five-foot 7-inch, 170-pound senior Rickie Jennings, who has won two straight district titles to go along with last year's ninth-place finish in the Group A state meet, is back.
Also leading the Giles charge is junior Brian Rundgren, the team's No. 2 runner last year, sophomore David Dufault and senior Orion Scott.
\ AUBURN is lacking in numbers yet another year. Sophomore Justin Mosby ran in the state meet last year and looks to be one of the top runners in the Mountain Empire District. Juniors Cullen Morris and Peter Polidora round out the squad.
"We're having real problems," coach Jim Williamson said. "All the boys are playing football, and all the girls are playing basketball."
\ FLOYD COUNTY can count on one finger the number of boys on its team. Junior Kenneth Snare is the lone entrant, and "looks pretty good," according to coach Kathy Wilson-Klatka.
"We're still trying to get a team," she said. "I've been recruiting, and the interest is there."
\ PULASKI COUNTY information was not available.
by CNB