THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030562
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The Great Bridge boys cross country team has spent all season gearing up for a big race, but today's Eastern Region meet isn't it.
The Wildcats freely admit that a strong showing at the Group AAA state tournament has been their main focus throughout the season. So concentration, not physical skills, could be the biggest key for the Wildcats when the regional meet gets underway at 2 p.m. at Newport News Park.
``We won the region last year. This year, we've got a good chance, but if we don't win I don't think it will affect us too much,'' Great Bridge coach Steve Sawyer said. ``It's definitely one of our goals to win the region again, but now, we're really shooting to be one of the top teams in the state.''
``We're going to do our best,'' added the Wildcats' Eric Adams. ``But I suppose there's a chance some of us couldn't have our greatest races and (our team) not do too well.''
How much visions of state-meet success affect their performance today could go a long way in determining how close the rest of the regional field comes to the Wildcats, the area's top team this season.
Great Bridge finished first in the Newport News Invitational in September, which is run on the same course as the regional meet. Last week, they added the Southeastern District title. And they've also notched a confidence-boosting runner-up finish to nationally-ranked West Springfield during the Oktoberfest Invitational in Great Meadows, the site of the Group AAA meet.
``We finished three points behind (West Springfield),'' Sawyer said. ``That's the closest anyone's come to them this season. My guys know they belong there now. They know they can compete with anyone.''
The Wildcats have been led by Adams and teammate Mike Donnelly, the top-ranked runners in South Hampton Roads. According to Sawyer, however, the biggest factor in holding off the expected challenges from Menchville, Churchland, Kellam and Maury today will be the performances of the rest of the Wildcats. Three runners from a group including Jason Wagner, Drew Cadorette, Eric Cooper, Ricky O'Neill and David Bristow will need to come through for the Wildcats to defend their title.
Great Bridge also figures to be among the contenders in the girls race (beginning at 2:30 p.m.), along with Tabb, Bayside, Western Branch and Maury.
The individual girls race will feature a battle between top-ranked Meredith Turnage of Western Branch and No. 2 Adrienne Parker of Kempsville.
In the boys race, however, there doesn't figure to be much of a battle at all. Defending state champion Seneca Lassiter of Lafayette is a prohibitive favorite.
``Seneca, he's just such an exceptional athlete that it's no longer a race for first, it's a race for second,'' Adams said. by CNB