THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411040923
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Great Bridge pulled off a rare double victory Thursday, while Kempsville's Adrienne Parker continued the Chiefs' strong distance-running tradition during the Eastern Region Cross Country Championships at Newport News Park.
Great Bridge's girls and boys teams rolled to the team titles, marking only the third time in 15 years one school has won both events.
Parker, a sophomore, ran a 19:10 to outdistance defending champion Meredith Turnage of Western Branch (19:27) and become the sixth Kempsville runner to win the girls individual title since 1978. That year, current Chiefs' coach Kendall Tata took the crown.
Defending state champion Seneca Lassiter of Lafayette fought off a game challenge from Nick Valenti of Menchville to win the boys individual title in 15:28, the third fastest time at Newport News Park since 1988.
The top four teams and top 15 runners in each division will advance to the Group AAA state championships Nov. 12 in Warrenton.
Maury, the only school besides Great Bridge to advance teams in both divisions, qualified the Eastern District's first boys team since 1979 and the league's first girls team in meet history.
The Wildcat boys placed five runners among the top 17 finishers to top Menchville, 53-69, and win the region for the second straight year.
``Menchville took it out hard in the first mile, and there was a lot of pushing and shoving around the turns,'' Great Bridge's Mike Donnelly said. ``But once we started passing Menchville, things started to look pretty good for us.''
Great Bridge's Eric Adams, the top-ranked runner in South Hampton Roads, finished fifth in 15:55, one place and one second ahead of second-ranked Donnelly. Jason Wagner (16:33), Erik Cooper (16:34) and Andrew Cadorette (16:34) placed 15th through 17th.
The Wildcat girls prevailed with a simple strategy - the team that sticks together, wins together.
``We wanted to stay in a pack most of the race, then pass people as a pack,'' Jessica Scott said.
Tracy O'Neal (sixth overall) was the first Great Bridge finisher, followed by Melba Brown (12th), Huston (15th), Melinda Trueblood (21st) and Jessica Scott (23rd).
Defending champion Western Branch finished second.
In the individual race, second-ranked Parker and top-ranked Turnage dueled as anticipated for the first half of the race. But Parker gradually pulled away from the defending champ.
``I'm a little disappointed because this is my senior year,'' Turnage said. ``But she's very good competition.'' by CNB