THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9510310114
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
THE LARKSPUR Middle School boys have only been around the track a few times, but the trips have included two city championships. That fleet feat is made more remarkable because the school opened its doors just two years ago.
The Larkspur boys continued the proud, but young, tradition last Wednesday by defending their title at the citywide middle school track championships at Tallwood High School.
Coach Ed McClendon's boys team won despite losing a sprinter, Roderick Sharp, early on. Sharp pulled up three-fourths of the way through the final heat of the 200-meter dash. He stopped and slumped to the asphalt of lane 5.
The injury appeared to be a ``major quad pull,'' said Tallwood trainer Stu Bender. Sharp was taken to a hospital emergency room for X-rays and treatment.
``We were the team to beat,'' said McClendon after Sharp departed. ``We should still do OK, finish either first or second.''
Even without Sharp, the Larkspur boys the 400-meter relay won going away.
``They did 47.7,'' said McClendon. ``That's an unbelievable time for that age.''
The team went 4-0-1 during the dual season, winning the Southern Division title.
The boys made the Lions king - and McClendon a prophet. They scored 67 points, 21 more than second place Independence. Brandon finished third with 39.
James O'Rourke, a Brandon Charger, was a triple gold-medalist. He won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 400-meter run.
Coach Paula Hirst's undefeated Lynnhaven Blues girls team won the city championship as expected. Tiffany Palmer accounted for 40 of the Blues' 57 points. She won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump, and ran the final leg on the winning 400-meter relay team.
``She's amazing, just awesome,'' said a rival coach, shaking her head in equal parts admiration and dismay.
Rachel Taylor would probably agree. Taylor, an eighth-grader at Great Neck Middle School, finished second to Palmer in the 100 and the long jump - for the second time in a week.
``If I could just run a little faster, jump a little farther,'' Taylor said, after losing the long jump by, ``a quarter of an inch.''
The Independence Middle School girls team rode strong performances in the distance runs to a second-place team finish. They picked up 34 of their 48 points in the 800- and 1600-meter runs. Melissa Mantel won both races, and Rebecca Cummings finished second to her in the 1600 and third in the 800.
The cool weather caused a few problems. Sharp wasn't the only athlete to suffer injury, though his proved the most serious. Sharp will be on crutches and out of action for eight weeks, said McClendon. He tore his quadriceps and chipped a piece of hip bone.
Andre Marshall, a Lynnhaven sprinter, pulled up halfway through a qualifying heat in the 100-meter dash. Coach John Wise said that Marshall had pulled his right hamstring.
Shanika Smith, a Kempsville Middle School sprinter, was treated for leg cramps after running in the medley relay.
The runners are used to practicing in the afternoon and are usually finished by 4:30 or 5 p.m. The city championship ended at about 8.
Athletes should take precautions, too, said trainer Bender:
``They stretch before the meet, but sometimes forget to stretch right before their event,'' he said. ``They get excited about participating maybe, but the muscle contracts, and then when they push themselves it pulls.''
Elizabeth Hollowell was one athlete who wasn't bothered by the cool weather or anything else. The 14-year-old Larkspur Middle School student knocked a half second off her personal best in the 400, winning in 1:38.03.
How did she feel?
``Excellent,'' she answered from her wheelchair.
The Middle School League baseball championship was won by Salem in a 6-3 victory over Plaza. Salem had finished the regular season tied with Lynnhaven at 7-1 overall. Salem was 5-0 in the Southern Division.
The softball championship was won by Kempsville in an 11-0 victory over Great Neck. The Braves finished the season as the only unbeaten team at 8-0 - 5-0 in the Southern Division.
Now that the first half of middle school fall sports is over, it's time to get on to the second.
Beginning Nov. 14, middle schoolers will start boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball, and wrestling.
Championships in soccer and volleyball are slated for Dec. 14, with the citywide wrestling tournament set for Dec. 16. MEMO: Sports editor Lee Tolliver contributed to this story.
ILLUSTRATION: MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Including her win here in the 100-meter dash, Lynnhaven's Tiffany
Palmer accounted for 40 of her team's 57 points.
The middle school boys were a blur in this 100-meter dash heat.
Brandon's James O'Rourke ended up winning the 100-, 200- and
400-meter runs.
by CNB