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

DATE: SATURDAY, November 6, 1993                   TAG: 9311060151
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DEMONS RUNNING FOR STATE CROWNS IN CROSS COUNTRY

As expected, Christiansburg won its fifth consecutive Region IV boys' cross country title this year. The success of the Blue Demons' girls' team has been a surprise. Both teams will be seeking Group AA titles during today's state cross country meet at Virginia Tech.

Led by Bethany Eigel, the New River District and Region IV champion, the Blue Demons unseated eight-time Group AA champ Blacksburg in the girls' regional competition. Eigel, a junior, had not competed in cross country before this year.

"At the start of the season, if you had told me that we would win the region and beat Blacksburg, I'd have laughed at you," said Steve Shelton, Christiansburg's coach.

In the Group AA girls' meet, Christiansburg will face stiff competition from Blacksburg, which features 1992 Group AA individual runner-up Sarah Hendricks, and from a strong Western Albemarle team.

Alleghany, Northside and Lord Botetourt will be representing Region III. Other top individuals from Timesland are Catrese Hairston of Laurel Park, Meredith Hays of Rockbridge County and Sarah Argabright of Radford.

Glenvar's Trish Nervo, the Pioneer District and Region C champ, won the 1992 Group A championship as a ninth-grader and may be the best female runner in Timesland. Fort Chiswell sophomore Akemi Eisenhardt, who finished third a year ago, also is a contender.

Other Timesland runners in the girls' Group A meet include the teams from Giles and Shawsville, as well as Kathy Burns of Bath County and Johanna Neumann of Floyd County.

Christiansburg, which has won three of the last four Group AA boys' championships, and Blacksburg will battle 1992 champ Tabb and Handley in boys' Group AA competition.

The New River District dominated Region IV, with Christiansburg's Jeremy Cosgriff and Kevin Nolan finishing second and third, respectively, and Scott Shepherd of Blacksburg placing fourth. Steven Murphy of Radford will compete as an individual.

Salem, which won the Region III boys' title by outrunning Bassett, Northside and Jefferson Forest, is looking to improve on its seventh-place Group AA finish of 1992.

"We're hoping [to finish] a little bit better than just the top 10," said Tom Roth, the Spartans' coach. "The best finish we've ever had in the state has been fifth."

Giles and George Wythe will compete in the Group A boys' meet, as will Chris Merrell of Covington, Justin Mosby of Auburn, Jeffrey Ross of Galax and Matt Harvey of Bath County. George Wythe's Jason Alexander placed second in Region C, and Giles' Rickie Jennings has finished in the top 10 in Group A for three years, including a second-place finish in 1991.

Timesland runners in the Group AAA boys' meet are Franklin County's David Angel and Cave Spring's Jason Dowdy. Pulaski County's Jennifer Pohlig will run in the girls' race.

by CNB