ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, May 20, 1996 TAG: 9605200144
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TAZEWELL
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
It was a fitting end to an amazing reign for the Christiansburg High School boys' track and field team. In their last year as a member of Region IV, the Blue Demons came from behind late in the meet to capture their eighth consecutive championship Saturday.
Christiansburg and Blacksburg will move into Region III next year as members of the Blue Ridge District.
``It probably would have felt a little incomplete if we hadn't won the last one after winning seven straight,'' said coach Randy Bailey, whose Blue Demons finished with 99 points. ``We wanted to close it out right.
``But I really have mixed feelings about leaving Region IV. I look forward to Region III and to competing in the Blue Ridge District, but I've got a lot of friends here that I'd like to express my gratitude to for their great competition.''
It was the seniors who led the way for Christiansburg, highlighted by Larry Carter's first-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 61/2 inches. Carter also took third in the triple jump and the 100-meter dash.
Christiansburg's defending 400 regional champion, Stephen Trail, was hampered by injuries but took second in 53.94 seconds. Lee-Jonesville's Chester Riggs took first in 53.14.
``We thought we had a legitimate shot at getting 13 [athletes] through to states and we did, so we're pleased,'' Bailey said. ``We'd like to think we're one of the contenders for the state title, but there's a lot of excellent teams out there on the horizon ... so I guess maybe we could be the dark horse.''
Lee took second place overall with 80 points, a good send-off to coach Charlie James, who is retiring after 34 years on the job.
Blacksburg finished eighth with 39 points. The Indians will send eight athletes to the Group AA meet May 25. Blacksburg's only regional champion was Clay Schwabe, who ran the 1,600 in 4:33.3. Teammate Scott Shepherd took second.
On the girls' side, the competition not only was closer but a little controversial, too. A disqualification in the 3,200 - the next to last event - left Blacksburg seven points shy of the win. As a result, Tazewell captured the victory on its home track with 87 points. Blacksburg finished with 81.
Indians freshman Sasha Harrison ran the 3,200 in 13:45.5, a time good enough for a second-place finish. But it was later ruled that Harrison shortened the course by running out of bounds, and she was disqualified. Blacksburg coach Lee Cross appealed the ruling, but was denied.
The second-place finish would have given Blacksburg eight points - enough for a one-point overall victory.
``They were right, she was on the inside but it wasn't intentional,'' Cross said. ``She's a freshman and it was real hot ... but it's their call and you just have to roll with it. It hurt her more than it did the team. We could have pulled points from elsewhere. She's the one that's hurting.
``She's a freshman who could have gone to states ... now she's crushed. I didn't even tell her about the team score. The fact is there were points we could have pulled from other athletes and we didn't. It was a team second-place finish.''
Starr Anderson provided the majority of the points for Tazewell, taking first in the long jump (17-113/4) and the triple jump (35-7) and finishing third in the high jump.
Four Blacksburg girls captured individual regional championships: Sarah Hendricks in the 800, Amanda Neill in the 1,600, Shelli Stevens in the 100 hurdles and Liz Sullivan in the high jump.
Christiansburg finished about as expected, taking sixth place with 50 points. The Blue Demons were the defending regional and state champions, but lost 14 members of last year's team. The Blue Demons will send nine girls to the Group AA meet, including Laura Evans, who took first in the 3,200 and second in the 1,600.
``I'm real proud of them,'' said Norma Cox, Christiansburg's coach. ``When you get the state championship, it's always great to think you'll win it many, many times, but that's a dream that comes few and far between. I think with such a young team they really fulfilled their expectations.''
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB