
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 9, 1993                   TAG: 9310090066
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RUNNERS READY FOR METRO MEET

Cave Spring's Jason Dowdy and defending girls' champion Trish Nervo of Glenvar are the overwhelming favorites to win the 20th annual Metro cross country meet this afternoon at the Salem Baptist Children's Home.

Nervo, a sophomore, won last year's meet as a freshman and then went on to claim the Group A title.

Nervo has a chance to do something no one else has done in the previous 19 years - become a four-time champion. Only Salem's Lori Archer, boys or girls, has won the Metro more than twice, winning three times.

Dowdy, who was sixth last year, is the highest returning boys' finisher. He has had a sensational fall and figures to be the runner to beat.

Nervo faces competition from Pulaski County's Jennifer Pohlig, who has ruled the Roanoke Valley District competition. However, Pohlig finished seventh a year ago behind Cave Spring's Claire Rotramel and Patrick Henry's Amy Speas, both entered today.

The Knights are huge favorites to win team crowns in both boys' and girls' races. Molly Rutherford, Rotramel and Laura Henry will try to lead Cave Spring to a repeat girls' title.

Cave Spring's boys were eighth a year ago. Dowdy anchors a young Knights boys' team that might get some competition from Franklin County.

Other outstanding boys' runners entered today are Salem's Kasey Motley and Jason Herron, Northside's Scott Bray, Jamie Edwards of William Byrd and Lord Botetourt twins Robert and Michael Pauley. The Pauley's older brother, Andrew, was boys' runner-up a year ago as a senior.

In the first 19 years, William Byrd claimed seven boys' titles, followed by Cave Spring with five. Cave Spring and Salem each have won five girls' crowns.

If Dowdy wins, he'll become the seventh Knight in 20 years to win the boys' title. Byrd has had six individual boys' winners. Salem leads the girls' competition with five individual crowns, while Byrd has had four individual winners.

There will be a developmental race at 2 p.m. for younger runners followed by a varsity B boys' race at 2:30. The girls' championship run is slated for 3:15, while the boys' title race starts at 4.

by CNB