ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE AND STAFF REPORTS
Colonial Downs is on course to open the state's first pari-mutuel race track on June 15, 1997, track owner Arnold Stansley told the Virginia Racing Commission on Wednesday.
But commission members later blasted Stansley and Colonial Downs for suggesting a delay of live racing until 1998 to build purses large enough to satisfy area horsemen.
``I was embarrassed and taken aback,'' said Commissioner Robin Traywick Williams, who said she repeatedly has defended Colonial Downs to those skeptical that live racing will come to the New Kent County track. ``There is an image problem, and you need to be more aware of the image you are presenting.''
The 1998 date was included in a letter Colonial Downs sent to leaders of area horsemen's groups, with whom Colonial Downs is mired in negotiations on how to divide track profits. The proposal was aimed at addressing a demand made by horsemen to have $150,000 in daily purses - or a total of $7 million - saved when the track opens, track officials said.
PREPS Patriots, Knights run to titles
Patrick Henry's Raheem Barnwell and Cave Spring's Leahann Agee each won three events to help the Patriots and the Knights capture the boys' and girls' team titles, respectively, at the Roanoke Valley District track and field championships in Lynchburg.
Barnwell won the triple jump and the 110- and 300-meter hurdles as the Patriots racked up 196 points to finish 18 points ahead of second-place William Fleming.
Agee won the 400, 800 and 1,600 to help Cave Spring accumulate 185 points. William Fleming was second among the girls, with 132 points.
nTimesland high school track teams will be involved in three regional meets Saturday.
The Region C meet will be held at Glenvar High School, where Giles figures to battle Lebanon's boys and Narrows rates as the girls' favorite in the team competition.
In the Region III meet at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Staunton River's boys and the Appomattox County girls are the team favorites.
Christiansburg will be seeking an unprecedented seventh consecutive boys' crown in the Region IV meet at Tazewell. The Blue Demons are favored, but no matter what happens, the streak will end after this year with Christiansburg moving to Region III's Blue Ridge District in the fall.
No Timesland schools figure in the Region IV fight for the girls' team title.
nIn Rocky Mount, Brian Sharp scored on a penalty kick with 30 seconds left to lift Cave Spring over Patrick Henry 3-2 for its second consecutive Roanoke Valley District boys' soccer tournament championship.
In the girls' championship game, Carrie Moore scored both goals for Patrick Henry as the Patriots knocked off Cave Spring 2-0 to win the tournament.
nE.C. Glass swept singles and doubles semifinals from Patrick Henry in the Northwest Region boys' tennis tournament at the River's Edge sports complex.
The Hilltoppers' Mike Hendricksen defeated PH's Addams England 6-1, 6-4 in singles. The duo of David Basten and Kean Marks of E.C. Glass battled past the Patriots' Hunter Carson and Andrew Thomas 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
The team semifinal, matching the Hilltoppers and Patriots, will be played today at E.C. Glass.
nAmy Rumbley was 4-for-4 with three RBI to lead Roanoke Valley Christian to an 8-0 victory over Timberlake Christian in the first round of the Blue Ridge Conference softball tournament.
COLLEGES Virginia 13th in NCAA East golf
Virginia was 13th among 23 teams after the first round of the NCAA East Regional golf tournament in Kiamesha Lake, N.Y.
N.C. State led the way with a 302 total, 12 strokes better than the Cavaliers. UVa's Andrea Brotto and Lewis Chitengwa were tied for 10th in the individual competition with 3-over-par 75 totals. They trailed three leaders by two strokes.
nDave Manzer, a one-time VMI assistant, has been named head basketball coach at Division III Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.
Manzer, 34, was a Keydets aide from 1986-92, then spent two years as an assistant at Miami (Ohio) before spending two years on former Radford coach Oliver Purnell's staff at Dayton.
nJunior John Donato, 29-4 in the regular season at 177 pounds and an NCAA Championship participant, was named Virginia Tech's most valuable wrestler for 1995-96 by Hokies coaches Jerry Cheynet and Keith Mourlam.
Ryan Baker of Chesapeake was named most improved wrestler, and David Inkman was selected rookie of the year. Richmond's Matt Mogel, who finished his Tech career with an 84-39-1 record, was named outstanding senior.
nRoanoke College's Kirsten Wagner has been chosen as an alternate for the Division III North-South All-Star women's lacrosse game. Only seniors are eligible for the game, which will be played June 1 at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field in Baltimore.
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines KEYWORDS: HORSE RACINGby CNB