Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508310029
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Blue Demons are the defending New River District champions. They finished third in the regional finals and sixth in the Group AA state finals in 1994.
Despite all the success Shelton's team had last season, Shelton says that this team might turn out to be something magical.
``We have a real young team this year, but it's the most excited I've been about my girls team,'' Shelton said.
Out of Christiansburg's 11 runners, eight are freshmen or sophomores.
``The freshmen have looked really good thus far, and the group of five sophomores can be as good as they want to be,'' Shelton said.
The Blue Demons are led by sophomore Laura Evans, who finished fifth in the Group AA finals last season. Joining Evans at the front of the pack is senior Christina Wolfe, an All-Region performer for Christiansburg last year.
``Both are really good runners and really good kids,`` Shelton said. ``Getting good kids in your program is half of the battle to becoming a winner.''
Here's a look at the rest of the area high schools:
Blacksburg: Seniors Sarah Hendricks and Amy Feuervach will front the attack for the Indians and coach Cecille Newcombe in 1995. Hendricks and Feuervach each placed in the New River District championship last season.
``Sarah is an excellent runner who will do really well, and Amy is in excellent shape,'' Newcombe said.
Blacksburg may have to do without the services of another all-district performer from last season. Senior Sanh Ngo recently underwent sinus surgery and may miss part of the season.
Floyd County: Floyd County coach Lee Wells is hoping his cross country program can turn the corner in '95.
``Last season we barely had a team,'' Wells said. ``This year our goal is to make a showing at the district level.''
The Buffaloes return one of the state's best runners, junior Johanna Neumann, who finished fourth in the Group A state finals last season as a sophomore.
``Johanna can realistically finish second in the state this year,'' Wells said. ``Everyone has pretty much handed the title to Glenvar's [Trish] Nervo.``
Giles: Last season's Three Rivers District champion returns five runners and looks to be this year's district front-runner.
``We have a lot of experience on this team,'' coach Stacy Ramsey said. ``We've looked good in practice so far. I like our chances to go far this year. We're hoping to make it to states.''
Giles will be paced by junior Jessica Clark and sophomores Tiffany Bowman, Angie Schrader, and twins Jackie and Tarah Phillips.
Pulaski County: First-year coach Scott Frye, taking over for Lauren Hall, first wants to build his program, then make it competitive in the Roanoke Valley District.
``We have a few girls out here now that can run,'' Frye said. ``I am just hoping to get some more to come out and join the team.''
One who did come out for Frye is returning starter April Childress. Childress, a sophomore, should rank among the best runners in the RVD according to Frye.
``April is a very good runner,`` Frye said. ``She's going to do very well.``
Radford: Coach Dan Britten's Bobcats return a number of runners from last season's Group A state championship qualifying team.
``Last season was the first time in a long time we have been to the state finals,'' Britten said. ``We feel like we can make it back there again this year.''
Sophomore Carol Castleberry is Radford's top runner in '95. She will be joined by a talented junior from Sweden, Anna Sundberg.
Sundberg, however, injured her hip during a marathon in Sweden over the summer, according to Britten.
``Hopefully she can recover from the injury,`` Britten said. ``She was looking really good before it.''
Shawsville: The Shawnees return to competition in the Three Rivers District following a one-year hiatus.
``We didn't field a team last season because we just didn't have the numbers,'' coach Marvin Ballard said.
Shawsville is led by junior Kristy Henson. Henson was an all-district and all-region performer her last season and was the only Shawnee to qualify for the Group A finals.
Juniors Marlynna Christian and Lynn Woods should contribute heavily for Shawsville this season.
by CNB