THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506160215
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
When they pass out medals at the State Special Olympic Track and Field Meet every year, it's becoming routine for three to go to Portsmouth's Tynusia Wesson.
And three is the most one person can win.
The 18-year-old Wesson won the Senior division titles in the girls 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash and ran the anchor leg on the winning 4x100-meter relay unit in the 1995 meet at Richmond.
Wesson has been competing since she was nine years old. In 10 years of competition, she has earned 29 medals of a possible 30.
``I can't remember the one I didn't win,'' said the Churchland High School junior. ``It was way back there.''
Wesson won the 100-meter dash in a time of 14.5 seconds. She captured the 200 meters in a clocking of 30.1.
She earned her other gold medal in the boys division, running anchor on a unit that included Ralph Rivers, Marvin Raby and James Pellkofer. The time was 1:12.4.
``She is just an excellent sprinter,'' said her coach, Barbara Schiffler. ``She can outrun most of the boys.''
Unfortunately, neither Wesson nor any of her Portsmouth teammates will be advancing to the International Special Olympics in Connecticut. A drawing from all winners was held for the 12 Virginia positions and none went to entries from this city.
``That's disappointing,'' said Schiffler, ``because we probably had the best team in the state.''
Portsmouth qualified 21 for the state meet in regional competition at Western Branch. The youngsters were from Churchland, Cradock Middle School, Mount Hermon, Waters and the Naval Hospital. The Naval Hospital sponsored older contestants (over 21) in the Masters division.
Fees for each participant are about $60. The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament long has been a major sponsor of entries from this city.
Portsmouth had several winners of two gold medals in the state meet.
Keysha Moore was a state champion in two wheelchair Senior events - the 25-meters and the shotput. Her 25-meter time was 17.2 seconds. She had a 2.5-meter shotput toss.
In addition to running on the winning 4x100 relay team, Pellkofer won the boys Senior 200-meter dash in 28 seconds. Another relay member, Raby, won the Division 8 Senior standing long jump.
In addition to Schiffler, other Portsmouth coaches included Karen Leigh, Kathy Pallette, Ray Lowery, Penny Rucker and Tripp Richie.
Other gold medal winners in Division 1 were Miranda Akers, Masters 200 meters; Annesah Rhodes, Senior running long jump; Allenneyea Smith, Senior 100-meter race walk; and Ronald Taylor, Junior 100 meters.
Taylor also won the Division 1 Junior standing long jump.
Sallie Hernandez was the champion in the Junior girls 100-meters and the Junior standing long jump. Franklin Mickle won the Division 2 junior softball throw. Donald Cousey placed first in the Junior 50-meters and Stefon Johnson won the Junior softball throw. The Junior running long jump title went to Kenneth Peoples.
The Division 3 Senior softball throw went to Lisa Bell. In Division 6, Monet Eley won the Senior standing long jump and Ruthann Ormond won the same title in Division 7.
Silver medalists as state runners-up in Division 1 were Rivers (Senior 800 meters), Smith (Senior shot put), Mickle (Junior shot put) and Marvin Roseboro (Junior 100 meters and running long jump).
Other division silver medal winners were Sharri Garri (Division 7 Senior standing long jump and Division 3 Senior 100 meters), Luke Grossman (Division 4 Senior 100 meters), Johnson (Division 2 Junior 50 meters), Donald Couey (Division 4 Junior softball throw), Peoples (Division 2 Junior 100 meters) and a Division 2 Junior 4x100-meter relay unit composed of Johnson, Peoples, Roseboro and Aaron Johnson.
Bronze medal winners in Division 1 were Akers (Masters 100 meters), Pellkofer (Senior running long jump), Rhodes (Senior 400 meters) and Ormond (Senior 100-meter race walk).
Other division bronze medal winners were Bell (Division 3 Senior 100 meters), Rivers (Division 2 Senior 200 meters), Raby (Division 3 Senior 100 meters), Grossman (Division 4 Senior 200 meters) and the Division 2 Senior 4x100-meter relay unit of Ormond, Bell, Smith and Hernandez. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Tynusia Wesson won three gold medals at the Track and Field Meet in
Richmond.
by CNB