THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504110136
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 151 lines
BOILED DOWN, the expected race between Kellam and Green Run for the Beach District track title is a classic tortoise vs. hare affair.
Green Run sprinted away with the district title last year, taking the first four spots in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the district meet to snap Salem's four-year title run. The Stallions will be loaded with sprinters again this year.
But Kellam won this year's indoor title, on the strength of its distance and middle-distance runners. If the Knights can get some point production from their sprinters and jumpers, they could prevent Green Run from repeating as outdoor champions.
``We can contend for the district title,'' Kellam coach Bill Bernard said. ``This year's team has excellent balance between the sprints and distance events. We should score points in a lot of areas.''
So should Green Run, especially if the Stallions can find a distance runner or two.
``Kellam and Green Run are going to walk on everybody,'' Cox coach Tim Webb predicted.
Here's a capsule look at the Beach District:
GREEN RUN
Coach: Elisha ``Cadillac'' Harris.
Last year's record: 1st in district, 2nd in region.
Top returnees: Cedric Warren (sprints); Glenwood Ferebee (sprints); Brian Mackey (shot put, discus); Will Brooks (jumps, sprints); Ben McCool (shot put, discus).
Top newcomers: Roger Lee (hurdles, jumps, sprints); Munuye Mulaneh (distance).
Outlook: Harris is trying to put together a team ``that can be competitive in every event.'' Last year's district champions were built around four sprinters, two of whom, Warren and Ferebee, are returning. The Stallions will have more sprinters than anyone else, but Harris is hoping for someone to emerge in distance and middle distance. As for the field events, Brooks is a talented high jumper and McCool and Mackey will be competitive in the throws.
KELLAM
Coach: Bill Bernard.
Last year's record: 6th in district
Top returnees: Dan Daugherty (1,600, 3,200); Matt Morgan (800, 1,600); Lehland Tims (sprints, jumps); John Green (400, jumps); Chris Henry (pole vault, jumps, hurdles).
Top newcomers: Ralph Denton (800, 1,600).
Outlook: Morgan and Daugherty give Kellam the district's best one-two distance/middle-distance punch. The key to winning the district will be the performance of Tims, Green and Henry, Bernard says. If that versatile trio can come through, Kellam could add an outdoor title to go along with its district indoor crown.
KEMPSVILLE
Coach: Doug Paschall.
Last year's record: 3rd in district
Top returnees: Jarvis George (sprints); David Banyard (sprints); Lamont Hardy (sprints, hurdles); David Scott (distance); Kevin Eaton (shot put, discus); George Banyard (jumps).
Top newcomers: Alex Bynum (distance); Marcus Garrett (200, 400, 800).
Outlook: Kempsville surprised some people by finishing third in the district last year and could finish that high again this year. The Chiefs are loaded with sprinters, and their 1,600-meter relay team could again be the best in the district.
BAYSIDE
Coach: Lanny Doan.
Last year's record: 4th in district
Top returnees: Curtis Adams (distance); Warren Clark (sprints); Beau Daniels (pole vault); Justin Morgan (400); Maurice Person (400, 800).
Top newcomers: Danny Tepovich (distance); Marcus Riddick (high jump); Lamont Miller (shot put).
Outlook: Doan says his team doesn't have the depth to challenge for a district crown, so he's hoping for a finish in the top four. The strength is in middle distance with Adams, Morgan and Person.
TALLWOOD
Coach: George Versprille.
Last year's record: 5th in district
Top returnees: Billy Edwards (1,600, 3,200); Joe Starchia (distance); Matt Kuhn (distance); Ken Myers (shot put, discus); LaMont Mosley (sprints, jumps); Calvin Wilson (sprints, jumps.)
Top newcomers: Tyrone Wade (sprints, jumps); Gilbert Harris (sprints, jumps) Falanzo Perry (hurdles).
Outlook: The strength of the team is middle distance and distance, with Edwards and Starchia leading the way. Mosley can hang with the district's top sprinters, but most of the rest of the team is young. Tallwood could be in the middle of the pack again.
SALEM
Coach: Curtis Hopkins.
Last year's record: 2nd in district, 4th in region, 2nd in state.
Top returnees: Mark Felton (hurdles); Gary Abra (jumps, hurdles).
Top newcomers: Curtis Sanders (sprints).
Outlook: Gone are Charles Reid and Mike Brown, two of the best in the nation at their respective specialties, the 110 hurdles and the 1,600-meter run. The pair carried Salem to a second-place finish at the Group AAA meet last year. Felton is no Reid, but he is the latest in a long line of fine Sun Devil hurdlers. Abra has cleared 6-5 in the high jump and Sanders won the 55 meters at the Beach indoor meet. ``Almost everyone else is a freshman or sophomore,'' Hopkins says. ``We're young.''
FIRST COLONIAL
Coach: Charlie Fishel.
Last year's record: 7th in district
Top returnees: Dan Baxley (400, 800); Ben Rivera (sprints); Juan Colon (sprints, hurdles).
Top newcomers: Emanuel Baker (shot put, discus).
Outlook: Baxley, just a sophomore, is one of the region's top quartermilers and can also run the 800 and even the 1,600, turning in a 4:37 last week against Tallwood. The Patriots are strong in the sprints and the jumps, and have an improving thrower in Baker, who won the discus at the Norfolk State Relays last week.
PRINCESS ANNE
Coach: Eddie Diehl.
Last year's record: 9th in district
Top returnees: Jon Stroud (800, 1,600), Mike Adair (800, high jump); Matt Favor (hurdles); Jerrad Anderson (shot, discus); Ajack Scott (sprints, jumps).
Top newcomers: Mike Majette (sprints); Dan Abernathy (jumps, middle distance); Coleman Winstead (middle distance).
Outlook: Participation is up at Princess Anne, which slipped to last in the district last year. Stroud was second in the district in the 800 last year, and fourth in the 1,600. The addition of Majette, an all-Tidewater football player, should help the sprint corps.
COX
Coach: Tim Webb.
Last year's record: 8th in district
Top returnees: Pat Hunt (800, 1,600); Jamie Marsh (pole vault); Jason Gustavson (pole vault); Quint Van Deman (800, 1,600); Brian Wilson (shot put, discus); Craig Reed (shot, discus).
Top newcomers: Kris Beck (1,600, 3,200).
Outlook: Hunt could be in the hunt for a district title in the 1,600. Marsh and Gustavson will pick up points in the pole vault. Wilson and Reed provide depth in the throws.
OCEAN LAKES
Coach: George Piccillo.
Last year's record: N/A.
Top performers: Lavoy Harrell (sprints, jumps); Mike Peeler (sprints, jumps); Matt Berdey (distance); Ken Hannah (sprints, jumps).
Outlook: Piccillo came over from Green Run to start a new program at Ocean Lakes. ``We're facing the obstacles of youth and inexperience,'' he says. But ``the kids do have good attitudes and work ethic. We should be improved by May as we continue to build our foundation.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Glenwood Ferebee, left, and Cedric Warren are the top returning
sprinters for Green Run High and among the best in the district.
by CNB