Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 25, 1994 TAG: 9406250026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Games officially begin July 9 with cross country, horseshoes and swimming, but the Olympic-style festival's main weekend is July 15-17, when competition will be held in most of the 41 events.
Entry deadline for most sports is July 1. To obtain entry information, call Virginia Amateur Sports at 343-0987 or 1-800-333-8274.
Late developments with the Games include the possible elimination of the girls' volleyball competition because of a lack of participants and extended registration deadlines (to July 1) for basketball and swimming.
Virginia Amateur Sports, which operates the Games, expects more than 7,000 competitors in this year's event, which will include for the first time the selection of a male and female athlete of the year. Each state event sanctioned by the National Congress of State Games will enter its winners in a national competition sponsored by CITGO Petroleum Corporation. The national honorees will travel to Washington for ceremonies at the White House.
In other sports in the region:
Virginia Tech's Jay Hardwick is the coach of the year and his Hokies dominate the All-State men's golf team selected by the Virginia State Golf Coaches.
Virginia's Simon Cooke was named the state's player of the year and was joined on the team by Tech's Brian Sharp, Sean Farrell and Curtis Deal, Richmond's Steve Jamroz and Old Dominion's Scott Carlson.
Hardwick guided Tech to its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1967. Along the way, the Hokies won three tournament titles, including their second consecutive Metro Conference championship and the Palmetto Invitational.
On Monday night, Billy King thought he had missed a spot in the U.S Senior Open golf tournament after losing a playoff in a qualifier at The Crossings in Richmond.
On Friday, the head pro at Blue Hills Golf Club learned he will be playing after all in the tournament June 30 through July 3 at Pinehurst Country Club's No. 2 Course in Pinehurst, N.C.
The qualifying loss to amateur Gary Strickfaden of Virginia Beach made King the first alternate, and King said he received a call from U.S. Senior Open officials Friday telling him an unidentified player had dropped out, leaving the opening for King.
In Charlottesville, Brandon LaCroix of Roanoke finished third after a playoff Friday in the 18-and-under division of the Nike golf tournament at Birdwood Country Club.
LaCroix, 14, finished at 3-over-par 75, three strokes behind Gilbert Bell. He lost a playoff with Greg Owens for second on the fourth hole.
Three riders for the East Coasters, a Roanoke cycling team, placed in a United States Cellular Grand Prix series race in downtown Bedford. Robbie Robinson finished third in Category 5 (beginner), Mike Glowczynski placed second in Category 4 (intermediate) and Ron Glowczynski finished eighth in Category 1-2-3 (advanced).
Michael Ritch of High Point, N.C., will be seeking his third consecutive victory in the 100-lap Late Model Stock Car portion of the Area Ford Dealers 200 tonight at New River Valley Speedway in Radford.
With his victory June 18, Ritch became the first driver - other than Floyd's Jeff Agnew - to record two victories in the division this season. Agnew heads the list with nine triumphs in the 13 NASCAR Winston Racing Series events held at the track this year. Roanoke's Tony McGuire and Tink Reedy have one victory each.
All five divisions return to action tonight with 35 laps of racing in the Limited Sportsman class and 25 laps each for the Mod Mini, Mini and Pure Stock drivers.
Gates open at 2 p.m., with practice starting at 4 p.m. Qualifying is at 6:15 p.m., with the first green flag at 8 p.m.
by CNB