THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505130437
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
The Lakeland boys track team, focused on wiping away memories of a disappointing Bay Rivers District meet a year ago, rolled to its first district tournament title Friday at Nansemond River.
The Cavaliers racked up 140 points, easily outdistancing Nansemond River (118). York (74), Bruton (49.5) and Poquoson (43.5) rounded out the top five.
In the girls division, Rhonda Ellis won three events to pace Bruton (101 points) to a 12-point victory over York (89).
The top six finishers in each event, along with anyone else who met the Region I qualifying standard, advance to the regional meet May 20 at Christopher Newport University.
That the Lakeland boys team won was hardly a surprise, since the Cavaliers won the regular-season title. But Lakeland won the regular season last year, too, only to finish third in the district meet.
``I don't want to say we choked,'' Lakeland coach James Dabney said. ``We just didn't perform.''
There wasn't anything wrong with the Cavaliers' performance Friday. Senior Chauncey Dildy in particular stepped up big-time, as he sailed 22 feet to win the long jump. His previous best was 20-6.
And a shiny gold brass put did the trick for Dwayne Wiggins, who set a meet record with a throw of 51-7 1/2 in the shot put.
Wiggins throws in the 48-foot range with the traditional steel put, but uncorked a 52-foot throw earlier in the season after borrowing one made of brass, which weighs the same but has a smaller diameter.
``I told coach if he got me a gold one, I'd throw it 50 feet,'' Wiggins said.
The Cavaliers coaches called Wiggins bluff and ordered the gold-colored ball, which arrived at the school Thursday.
``You should have seen him,'' Dabney said. He was smiling from ear to ear.''
Ellis, a junior, was the star of the girls meet as she won the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and the triple jump.
Smithfield's Monique Jefferson, suffering through what by her own standard was an off-meet, regrouped to win the 200. And Lakeland's Christina DuBois, angry with herself after losing to in-city rival Christy Saunders in the 1600, blew away Saunders and the rest of the field in romping to the 3200 title. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER/
Lakeland's Harry Saunders gets over the high-jump bar Friday in the
Bay Rivers district meet.
by CNB