ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997 TAG: 9703130030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: CHRIS LANG THE ROANOKE TIMES
A new region and a new district have inspired renewed enthusiasm for the girls track team at Christiansburg High School.
"It's going to be good competition," Blue Demon coach Norma Cox said. "They've always had good teams in the Blue Ridge [District]."
The Demons finished fifth at the Region IV meet last season, and with four returning seniors, Cox hopes to reach loftier goals this season.
"My goal is that we place high in the district," Cox said. "Track's a funny thing because if we have a couple of people blossom at the right time, it could really make a difference."
Heading the list of returnees for the Demons is senior discus thrower Lisa Dalton. She finished third in the region and first in the old New River District at the event and made her second straight trip to the state meet.
"She definitely could go all the way," Cox said. "This year could be the year she takes a place at states."
Also returning for the Demons are senior Jenny Lambert and junior Laura Evans in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays. Both qualified for the state meet a year ago. Laura Dangerfield, the Timesland cross country runner of the year, will run the 400.
The Demons also return the 400-meter relay team that made a trip to the state meet last year. Kim Bishop, Marsha Jones, Angela Palmer and Amber Alderman will try to qualify again this season.
"I've got that good nucleus of people coming back," Cox said. "With the 12 freshmen you just never know what you have. It's exciting. The freshmen may end up being the perfect complement to this team."
After finishing third at the AA meet last season, the Blacksburg girls hope for an encore.
Coach Lee Cross has five key returnees. He also loses three girls who placed at state a year ago. Returning for the Indians are seniors Liz Sullivan (high jump, 300 hurdles) and Kelly Houghton (shot put, 200 and 400); junior Shannon Spragg (100 and 200); and sophomore Katie Hill (100 and 300).
Cross expects freshman Lacey Brown to make a contribution in the half-mile.
"This is not your typical Blacksburg team where we're strong in the middle and long distance," Cross said. "You never want to really rebuild, but it will be a learning year, and we hope by the end of it to be competitive."
First-year coach Shirley Reese has two more girls to work with than last year, as she tries to help Pulaski County continue to improve in the Roanoke Valley District.
The top returnee for the Cougars is senior Stephanie Wohlford. She is a strong sprinter who will be tried on the hurdles. She placed in the triple jump and long jump at the RVD meet last season and advanced to the Group AAA Northwest Region in both events.
Other returnees include senior Renee Ridout (hurdles) and junior Melissa Blevins. Pulaski loses Lea Hallstead, who tore ligaments in her knee during basketball season. She was the district champion in the high jump last season.
"I've lost some," Reese said. "But I've gained a whole lot that I can work with. I'm hoping we'll be more competitive."
At Floyd County, coach Winfred Beale has 21 girls on his team but not one senior.
The Buffaloes will look to junior Laura Profitt to lead the way. Profitt is a sprinter and jumper who made it to the Group A state meet last year. The Buffaloes' top distance runner is Michelle Quesenberry.
Floyd finished third in the Three Rivers District last season and aims to improve on that finish with a youthful squad. Three freshman should make an immediate impact. Ryah Cain (distance), Nicole Hylton (sprints) and Rhonda Marshall (shot and discus) all will help.
"I feel like we've got some decent girls that can score in the events," Beale said. "We have some quality people in each event. We don't have the numbers, but we'll be strong."
Second-year Radfordcoach Elaine Argabrite returns the defending state 800-meter champion in senior Charlee Taylor.
Radford finished second behind Giles in the TRD last season, and with a nucleus of juniors and seniors leading the way, the Bobcats hope to challenge the Spartans for the district title.
Also returning is the only other senior on the squad, Mary Madeline Gilmore, who runs the 800- and 1600-meter races. Junior Jenny Greco runs the 400 meters and was the anchor of the 400 relay team last season.
Junior Amanda Day, who also went to the state meet last season, runs hurdles along with the long jump and triple jump.
"I think we've got a really good nucleus," Argabrite said. "But the bottom line is that we've got a lot of underclassmen, so I think we're going to have a rebuilding year. I think we'll have a successful year and we will be competitive."
Defending TRD champion Giles returns seven seniors from a squad that finished second in the Region C meet a year ago. Seniors Megan Noble and Lori Talbert are both good hurdlers and jumpers.
Noble finished first in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles along with the long jump and triple jump at the district meet last year. She also placed in the triple jump and the 100-meter hurdles at the state meet.
Talbert also placed well in hurdling and jumping events last year.
"It's pretty obvious where our strength is this year," Spartan coach Rusty Kelley said. "I'm not going to make any predictions, but we'll be competitive. I lost a lot of good kids. Five or six of them were state-type kids."
Auburn will not field a girls' team this year, but there are five individuals who will compete in the TRD.
Junior Bonnie Alderman placed second to Radford's Crystal Hubbard in the 100-meter relay in the district meet last season. Alderman went on to place fifth in the Region C meet and qualified for the Group A meet, but could not compete because of an injury, coach Sherry Akers said.
Three sophomores also will compete. Tammy Stiles, a hurdler, finished third in the 300-meter hurdles in the district as a freshman. Taryn Snider finished fourth in the shot and discus at the district meet last year. Susan Wirt competed in the long jump as well as the 100- and 200-meter relays.
Shawsville returns sophomore Megan Forster, who placed fifth at the state meet in the 400-meter relay. Forster also runs the 200-meter and competes in the discus.
Other returnees include seniors Kristi Henson, a middle and long distance runner, and Jackie Cerva. Sophomores Cindy Yopp (long jump, triple jump, hurdles), Jesse Smith and Heather Hall (shot) also will look to make an impact for the Shawnees.
Two-time defending Mountain Empire District champion Narrows returns all-everything senior Bud Lucas to try to propel to Green Wave to another district title.
"Lucas is my key performer, no doubt about it," Narrows coach Brian Bowles said. "For our level, she's just such an excellent athlete. She works at it, too."
Lucas holds the school record in the long jump and triple jump, but her best events are the shot and discus, Bowles said.
Other returnees for the Green Wave include April Conley and Kristan Conley, both sophomores. Kristan Conley competes in the long jump, the triple jump and the 100- and 200-meter relays.
"She was one of the top people last year as a freshman," Bowles said. "She reminds me of Bud. She's one of the hardest-working females I've been around."
LENGTH: Long : 133 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON. Senior discus thrower Lisa Dalton is backby CNBwith the Demons again this year. color.