THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 11, 1994 TAG: 9411100186
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
ANTHONY RUSSO sped around the Tallwood High School track, covering 800 meters in 2:27.
An outstanding time for someone who can run on two good legs - a time made even more remarkable because Russo raced the metric half-mile in a wheelchair.
The 12-year-old seventh-grader at Virginia Beach Middle School was one of four wheelchair athletes and hundreds of others in spikes who participated in the city middle school track championships on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.
Elizabeth Howell, Betsy Bondourant and Carrie Shaw of Larkspur Middle School guided their specially equipped, three-wheel chairs around the track in the 200 and 800-meter events.
The three classmates race together often in school meets and special events, they said. They looked pleased with their performance at the city meet.
``Today felt very fast,'' said Howell, who is also hearing-impaired.
Because they use their arms rather than legs, that is the body part that feels most fatigued after racing.
The weather made the fatigue more acute for both days of the track championships. Because of rain, the meet was postponed after the three Larkspur teammates finished the 1600-meter race.
``They were so disappointed because the rain started during their event and people began leaving,'' said Lori Leffew, a teacher and coach at Larkspur who works with the girls.
``The girls are mainstreamed. They practice with the team, warm up with the team,'' said Leffew. Cheryl Utz and Jerri Rille work with them, also.
Rain forced the week's delay in the action - with the remaining events being completed a week after the meet began. Only a couple of events in boys and girls had been completed when the downpour began on the first evening.
The second day brought sunshine, but winds were gusty at times. It also also brought a boys track championship to the team from Larkspur. The brand-new school posted 44 points to edge second-place Bayside by four.
The top four teams among the boys were separated by just nine points. Brandon came in third with 37. Independence took fourth with 35.
Larkspur was led by double-winner Rasheen Frierson, a sprinter who took first in both the 100- and 200-meter races. Frierson's 20 points accounted for nearly half of the team's total.
He was one of several multiple winners at the meet.
Tiffany Purham of Salem Middle School captured three first-place finishes to propel her team to victory in the girls competition. Her 30 points provided exactly half of Salem's 60 and gave the individual scoring leadership among boys and girls. Purham won the 100- and 200-meter races and the long jump.
Jessica Enders provided strong support in helping Salem to the girls championship. She finished third in the 100-meter sprint, and also participated in the 200-meter, the long jump and the 800-meter medley.
Plaza Middle School girls finished in second place with 37.5 points.
Pam Edwards of Brandon won the 800- and 1600-meter girls events to finish her season undefeated.
The Bayside boys may have finished behind Larkspur, but don't blame Lashawn Lindsey. He won the 400-meters and the long jump and anchored the winning Raiders team in the 1600-meter relay. Lindsey and teammates Harrell Glenn, Ryan White and Ryan Baker blew around the track in 4:04.
J.J. Sanford made it a distance event sweep for Brandon by winning the boys 800- and 1600-meter runs.
The Salem girls and Larkspur boys were led to victory by first-year coaches, Peggy Ricks of Salem and Ed McClendon of Larkspur.
``I was pretty happy (about the title). The girls went out to win all year,'' Ricks said of her unbeaten squad. ``They're all good girls, no temperamental problems, and all should do well in high school. They were scouted all season.''
Eight of her 23 girls participated in the city meet and five return to the team next year.
McClendon led the team to a 4-1 dual-meet record. That was a daunting task in itself.
``We had only about five guys who came out the first day of practice,'' said McClendon, a guidance counselor at the school who ran track in high school and college. ``I recruited 20 guys or so in my spare time.
``I'm real proud of those boys. We surprised people. We were like an expansion team.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Joseph Jones of Salem Middle School tries to stay warm while waiting
for his race to begin at Tallwood.
Jim Roster strikes an intimidating pose as the starter for a sprint
in the middle schools track and field meet.
by CNB