ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260017
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
Confidence is not a problem for the Christiansburg High School girl's cross country team. Optimism? No, that's not an issue either.
"Without a doubt, this is the best girls team I've ever coached at Christiansburg," Steve Shelton said. "And that includes the 1993 team that was the district and regional champions."
This season the Blue Demons are off to a 3-0 start, and hope to follow in the footsteps of - and then surpass - that '93 team. Their predecessors are the only girls cross country team in school history to win the regional title.
Christiansburg is led by junior Laura Evans, who has earned one fourth and two second-place finishes individually thus far. Shelton predicts a win is right around the corner.
"She's as good as any girl in Timesland," Shelton said. "She sets an example every day. Last Thursday I went on a 5-mile run with the girls through town and it was one of the best girls' runs ever because she's raising the standards. Laura sets a good pace and the others have to keep up with her ... they're all gunning for her."
Shelton said that type of intra-squad competition is not only a good thing, it's the key to success. He said it's reminiscent of the type of competition that has spurred the Christiansburg boy's team, also under his direction, to five Group AA state titles in the past seven years. Now it's the girls team that aspires to earning a spot on the medal stand at the state meet.
"I think we have a good chance of being in the top three at state," Evans said. "All the girls are really motivated this year, and dedicated, too. Last year was the first time running for most of the girls. Now they've been there, had experience and know they can win."
Individually, Evans said her main goal is to drop her time in the 5K to below the 19-minute mark before season's end. Evans averages a time in the mid-20s, and hopes a time improvement will elevate her in the state rankings. Evans finished ninth at the state meet last season after taking fifth as a freshman. She is the only girl in school history to be named all state as many as two times, much less three.
"I think a return to the top five is within Laura's reach," Shelton said. "Across the board there are a lot of good runners, and there's always someone new stepping in to keep things interesting, but she's right up there. Being at the top is hard to do year in and year out, but her goal is to be all-state again. And a top-five finish would certainly get the team headed in the right direction."
Hampered much of last year by fluke injuries, Evans said her other goal is to stay healthy. She incurred her first injury stepping in a hole, then got her foot caught between the asphalt and gravel walking from the track to the area where the team stretches.
"Those are things you can't control," Shelton said. "As long as we stay away from holes and unusual surfaces she'll be fine."
The challenge now for Shelton is how to get Evans to the medal stand if she, if fact, does place at the state meet - or at any of the district and regional meets along the way. It seems Evans has a habit of disappearing when its time for the awards presentation.
"It frustrates me to no end," Shelton said. "She's just so modest. She'd probably rather not go up there at all. She'd rather have everyone, the whole team, involved. So a lot of times when the race is over and it's time for awards, we can't find her."
"I just always happen to be somewhere else," Evans said with a laugh. "I either go off exploring or on my cool down ... but I don't do it intentionally."
Intentional or not, Evans missed one awards ceremony at a regional competition, and when she placed fifth at the state meet her freshman year she had to come sprinting to the stand after hearing her name called from a distance.
"I guess maybe she's a little bit forgetful, but she's always at the starting line on time - and that's more important," Shelton said.
And if the Blue Demons do fulfill their goals this season and finish in the top three at state, any chance she'll be late in arriving to the awards ceremony?
"Oh, no," Evans said. "I'll definitely be there ... that would just be incredible."
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB