ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997 TAG: 9703130031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS THE ROANOKE TIMES|
The Indians have a new coach and a big challenge as they prepare to take on Christiansburg and the other Blue Ridge District boys track heavyweights.
He's taken on double-duty coaching responsibilities and the trials of a new district, but Blacksburg outdoor track coach Lee Cross isn't overwhelmed. He's optimistic.
"The boys have shown a lot of competition among themselves early," said Cross, entering his first year as the coach of the boys team and his second season with the girls. "They have a desire to be a good team, and that's become our goal."
Blacksburg will have more depth than in years past but still will be chasing cross-county rival Christiansburg, another defector along with the Indians to the Blue Ridge District.
"I don't know a lot about the new district, except from what we learned during the indoor season," Cross said. "But Christiansburg and Salem proved themselves to be the teams to beat."
Leading the charge for the Indians is a core of long-distance runners who have experience at the state level. Clay Schwabe, the most experienced of the group, will be joined by runners Nathan Hanna, Matt Chisolm and John Patterson in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter events.
"For the first time in years we should go three deep in every event," Cross said. There's not a lot of seniors on this team, but we have a lot of young talent out this year."
Included in the aforementioned group are sprinters Chris Dorman, Scott Long, Kenny Showman and Andre West. Nathan Cumbee, Richie Phifer and Brian Pratt will handle the shot and discus duties.
"We want to finish well in the district, but more importantly is what I want to do with the program," Cross said. "This is my second year at Blacksburg, and I really want to start to establish this program as a strong one. I see it starting already with the numbers that turned out this year. A lot of youth ... and a lot of enthusiasm."
A look at other area teams:
Christiansburg hopes to find its first year in the Blue Ridge as successful as the many years it spent dominating the now-defunct New River District. The Blue Demons won the New River every year but one since 1986 and have been the Region IV champion the past seven years.
"It is definitely a new thing this year," coach Randy Bailey said of the Demons' move into Region III. "There's no question we moved into a tougher region and definitely a tougher district. Do we want to win the district? No question about it, and I think we've got a shot at it, but we'll have to beat some good competition along the way."
Christiansburg lost five all-state performers from last year but still returns several quality athletes. Topping that list is Matt Nolan, who finished fourth in the state last year in the 3,200. School record holder Eric Beasley returns in the discus and shot.
Hurdler Shane Guynn, middle-distance runner DeWayne Allen and sprinter David Vest are expected to lead the Demons in their respective events as well.
"We're still relatively young with all the losses the past two years, but we don't say rebuilding around here," Bailey said. "We don't believe in rebuilding ... we reload."
Pulaski County is looking forward to team competition this year in the Roanoke Valley District. With only eight boys out for the team a year ago, first-year coach Shirley Reese decided to hit the recruiting trail.
"I talked to a lot of athletes, put fliers up in school and just tried to emphasize track more," Reese said.
It apparently worked. There are 22 boys out on the track this season, all but one of whom are newcomers. The only returning member to the team is shot and discus thrower Matt Price.
Andy Kennedy, Daryn Simmers and Tim Teasdale will handle long-distance events for the Cougars, while J.L. McKinney will be looked to continue his indoor season work in the middle-distance events. Reese said she also sees promise in sprinter Brian Clymer and hurdler Daniel Combiths.
Until someone proves otherwise, Giles remains the team to beat in the Three Rivers District. The Spartans have captured the district crown the past five years and took the Region C championship in 1995. Giles placed second in regionals last season.
"I've got about 47 boys out for varsity this year, a lot of which are new faces," seventh-year coach Jerry Huffman said. "Overall, I feel we'll be competitive again, but a lot of it depends on how the ones who have been there before lead the others and get them to perform to the best of their abilities."
Brian Lambert, Raymond Songer, Micah Steele and Shaun Vaught all return from a 1,600 relay team that placed eighth in the state meet in 1996. Vaught and Tommy Workman also will be looked upon to join the stable of sprinters, with junior Michael Peoples showing potential as well.
Jeremy Saunders and Roger Simpkins will handle shot and discus duties.
Floyd County, which finished behind Giles in the district race but then went on to capture the Region C championship last season, again will be strong. Longtime coach Winfred Beale's team no doubt will feel the loss of all-state runners Ben Cooke, Benji Osborne, Aaron Ott and Andrew Weeks, but it has plenty of promising youngsters waiting in the wings.
"We'll be a young team, but we've got a decent person in every event, and that will give us some balance," Beale said. "We won't be as strong as past years in the distance events, but when you lose people like Cooke and Weeks, that has to be expected."
All-state sprinter Nick Wohn will lead the charge for the Buffaloes, with distance runners Tamlin Bason and Justin Lucas filling in the gaps. Chris Mannon and Dale Phillips will handle the throwing events.
A group of four seniors will share leadership responsibilities over the remaining 23 underclassmen at Radford. The Bobcats placed third in the Three Rivers in '96, but have much of their squad returning this spring.
Junior Tony Hash and seniors Eliot Barton and Marlon Wesley will compete in multiple events for Radford. Jeff Kessinger and Bud Redden return in the field events, and middle-distance runners Josh Benson and Mike Fisher also are expected to produce. Slated for the long and triple jumps and relay events are Brian Hudson and Jason Mitchell. Luke Boor returns to the high jump.
Shawsville coaches Dwayne Gauck and Darrel Sutherland said their numbers are up significantly this season, allowing them to participate both in the team and individual competition. Athletes to watch include William Buchanan (1,600 and 3,200); Brian Caswell (sprints); Jeremy Clark (high jump); Dale Fitzgerald (discus); and John Graham (1,600 and 3,200).
"We've got a lot of freshman and sophomores out this year," Gauck said. "Hopefully we'll have enough kids to put together some relay teams and be more competitive as a team."
Auburn again will be unable to field a full team this year but as in year's past will continue to compete individually in the Three Rivers.
Senior Brian Wright will try to improve upon his eighth-place finish in the high jump at the state meet last season, and senior Jason Phipps will provide competition in the 400. First-year coach Mark Love said sophomore Matt Gordon will be the Eagles' top distance runner.
Second-year coach Brian Bowles said things are looking brighter at Narrows, where the Green Wave has 22 members out for this year's team as compared to just eight boys a year ago. Despite the low numbers in 1996, the Green Wave still placed third in the Mountain Empire District race.
"Things are much easier for me now," Bowles said with a laugh. "I'm much more optimistic this year."
Leading the way are multitalented performers Dalton Smith and David Turner, whom Bowles calls the best male athlete at the school. Turner will split his time on the track with the baseball diamond, but is still expected to produce big points. Veteran thrower Chris Martin remains competitive in the district race, and versatile newcomer Bill Scott is one to watch.
LENGTH: Long : 140 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/THE ROANOKE TIMES. Blacksburg High School longby CNBdistance runner Clay Schwabe (center) practices with his teammates.
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