THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502080184
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Notes on a frayed white cuff. . . .
Former Wilson track star LaTasha Colander and Batanya Poole, a standout when the school was Manor, exhibited the talent that won them major college scholarships in the Patriot Games indoor meet at George Mason Saturday.
Colander, only a freshman at the University of North Carolina, finished second in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.68 seconds. The only runner to beat her was Miami's Gillian Russell, a two-time indoor and one-time outdoor NCAA champion. Russell, a three-time All-American, had a 7.48 time. It was a George Mason Fieldhouse record.
Colander pushed the previous record of 7.59, which Russell had set earlier in a preliminary heat.
Poole, a senior and captain of the Georgetown team, won the 500-meter dash in a time of 1:13.
The Portsmouth women didn't run head-to-head, but they also competed in the same mile relay. Poole ran the anchor leg as Georgetown finished second to LSU. North Carolina was third with Colander running the second leg. Georgetown finished in 3:42, UNC at 3:48.
Wilson coach John Crute had expected to watch his former pupils compete but snowy weather upstate kept him from making the trip.
The meet featured more than 50 NCAA All-Americans and eight individual champions.
Marvin Rodgers made his return to the Churchland High School basketball team in the Truckers' 81-67 victory over Oscar Smith.
Rodgers registered 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. He had six blocked shots.
Churchland coach Mac Carroll did not start Rodgers on his midsemester return to the team and inserted him in the lineup with 3:03 left in the first quarter.
A foul-line jumper with 49 seconds remaining in the quarter produced Rodgers' first points. The 6-8 senior brought the crowd to its feet when he crammed in a slam-dunk on an up-the-lane pass from D.J. Dunbar with 6:21 to play before the half.
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament player selection committee held its first meeting Monday in choosing the 64-player field for this year's tournament.
Letters have been sent out to college athletic directors at 78 schools, as required by the NCAA since the PIT is sanctioned by that group. It's primarily to get approval for contacting the players. Only college seniors are accepted in the PIT.
The first official invitations will go out in the near future.
The Portsmouth Athletic Club believes it has a star on the rise in ``Tuff'' Tony Pope, a middleweight boxer who has won all eight of his professional fights. Seven of Pope's victories have been by knockouts.
The latest win was a third-round knockout of John Mitchell of New York at Atlantic City on Super Bowl weekend.
``In the past, Virginia boxers have not done well when they traveled across the Bay Bridge tunnel to the bright lights of the boxing capital of the East coast,'' said Susan Beavers, PAC's general manager. ``Tony has changed that.''
Charles Wright, president of the Churchland Football Association, has sent an unusual letter to individuals and area businesses in seeking funds for the operation of the league.
The league has a registration fee of $40 for football and $35 for cheerleaders, which helps to cover league fees, insurance costs, salaries for game officials and the basic football player uniforms and equipment.
Wright is hopeful the league itself, through sponsorships, can assist in this cost.
Says Wright: ``It is the association's goal to raise financial funds to assist a cross-section of ethnic and economic family situations. We hope to raise enough funds to eliminate the monetary shackles that prevent some children from participating.
``If we can motivate and encourage these kids at an early age, half of the battle against drugs, alcohol, teen killings and teen pregnancy can be won.'' by CNB