THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510010172
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
A scintillating, record-setting performance by West Springfield's Sharif Karie highlighted the 33rd annual William and Mary Cross Country Invitational Saturday in Williamsburg.
Karie, a junior who fled war-ravaged Mogadishu, Somalia, two years ago, settled with relatives in Springfield and has been dominating track and cross country events ever since, ran a course-record 14:56 to win the boys A division. The previous record was 15:15, set two years ago by former Lafayette star Seneca Lassiter.
``I used to say Lassiter was the best high school runner I've ever seen,'' Kellam coach Bill Bernard said. ``But this kid is better.''
Spectators literally gasped as Karie, the Group AAA defending mile and two-mile champion and the ninth-place finisher at last year's Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals, roared across the finish line before the digital timer had reached fifteen minutes.
``How'd he do that?'' one onlooker exclaimed.
So fast was Karie that he had already picked up his trophy and was conducting an interview some 25 yards from the finish when the second-place runner finished.
The Christian Brothers Academy, a private school in Lincrost, N.J. ranked eighth nationally, took top team honors. Great Bridge, hampered by sub-par performances by its top runners, came in 10th.
``I'll take the blame for that,'' Great Bridge coach Steve Snyder said. ``We've been training awfully hard lately. Everybody's a little flat.''
In the girls A race, Centreville, ranked 16th in the country by one national publication, swept team honors. The Wildcats' Shannon Sarabyn led the way as she placed first in 17:54.
Defending Eastern Region champion Adrienne Parker of Kempsville took sixth in 18:38, two seconds off her personal best.
Seventh place went to Tallwood's Pam Edwards in 18:56.
``I ran the way I wanted and it felt pretty easy,'' Edwards said. ``I guess that's a good sign.''
Kellam finished third behind champion York and Quince Orchard in the boys B race, while Great Bridge finished sixth to Western Branch's seventh in the girls B division. by CNB