Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505240045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: BEN HUR LENGTH: Medium
Andra Beasley and Maureen Jackson came into Friday's Region IV track and field meet ailing. They both left smiling.
Beasley overcame a hamstring injury to score 30 points and Jackson shook off a case of strep throat to sweep the discus and shot put events as Christiansburg won the boys' and girls' team titles at the Region IV meet at Lee High School's Five Star Stadium. The Blue Demons advance to the Group AA state meet on May 27 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.
The boys' team racked up 104 points, 20 more than second-place Lee as the Blue Demons captured their sixth straight regional title. Blacksburg was fifth with 38 points and Carroll County finished 10th with 12 points.
The Blue Demons girls scored 123 points to blow away the field. Virginia High was second with 591/2 points and Blacksburg was third with 58.
Beasley, who won five events at the New River District meet last week, finished first in the long jump and 200-meter dash and was second in the 100.
``It was an all right day,'' said Beasley, who is attending Hampton University next fall and will play football. ``I was in a lot of pain from the hamstring injury, but I did what I could do. We were worried about Lee High coming in.''
Lee High was led by twins Brian and Chris Ricketts, who made a weekly drive from Lee County to Virginia Tech to work in the indoor fieldhouse. Chris Ricketts won the 110-meter hurdles, with Brian finishing second. The twins traded places in the 300 hurdles.
Christiansburg's Larry Carter won the triple jump and the Blue Demons placed second in the 400 relay and third in the 1,600 relay.
``We were on all cylinders,'' Christiansburg boys' coach Randy Bailey said. ``We thought we could score about 90 points coming in and we ended up scoring 104. Lee has such a strong team and we were worried that this was the year we could have been had in region.''
Bailey has come to expect big things from Beasley.
``We think Andra is one of the finest athletes in the state,'' Bailey said. ``He rushed for 1,800 yards and averaged 10 yards a carry in football, and Friday he led our track team to the Region IV title. We're pushing him for Timesland athlete of the year.''
Despite battling strep throat, Jackson led the girls' team by winning the discus with a throw of 124 feet and the shot put with a throw of 36-81/2.
``I was ranked first in both events, but I've had the strep throat this week and I haven't been able to practice,'' Jackson said. ``I'm pleased with the wins, but I was hoping to do better. I was hoping for at least 39 feet in the shot and 134 in the discus. Maybe I can get that next week.''
The Blue Demons also got a strong performance from Bethany Eigel, who won the 800 in a time of 2:18.6 and the 1,600 in a time of 5:05.4, while teammate Leslie Cosgriff won the 400. Blacksburg was led by Elizabeth Sullivan, who won the high jump.
NOTE: Please see microfilom for scores.
by CNB