THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030670
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Heading into Thursday's Eastern Region cross country meet, Tallwood's Pam Edwards seemed like a talented freshman who probably wouldn't win any major titles this year but had an extremely bright future.
Welcome to the future.
Edwards, the area's second-ranked runner, caught, passed and pulled away from defending champion Adrienne Parker of Kempsville for a remarkable 16-second victory at Newport News Park.
Great Bridge's Eric Adams outdueled Cox' Kris Beck for the boys title while helping the Wildcats repeat as team champions. And Bayside, with Carolyn Zanelli and Sara Marlow leading the way, took the girls team crown.
But it was the girls individual race that created the real buzz among the roughly 500 runners and spectators on hand. That Edwards finished ahead of Parker, the two-time Beach District champion who had never finished behind another region runner, was surprising enough. But the convincing manner in which the Lions' star pulled it off sent jaws dropping throughout the Newport News layout as the shocking developments unfolded.
Shocking, that is, to everyone except the unflappable Edwards, whose casual post-race comportment suggested a runner who hadn't given much thought to the race turning out any other way.
``I know what I'm capable of,'' said Edwards, who finished in 18:45. ``I've been close before, and this was the race I really wanted.''
The race, run on an overcast day on a mostly dirt course littered with puddles, began in a familiar pattern - Parker in front with a sizeable lead, Edwards grouped in a seemingly non-threatening pack of other top runners.
At about the mile-and-a-half mark, however, the Lions freshman began her assault. She zipped past Tabb's Marie Knight, Kempsville's Katie Sullivan and finally Bayside's Carolyn Zanelli before locking her gaze on the defending champion.
Just past the two-mile mark, what was once a 20-yard Parker advantage had been turned into shoulder-to-shoulder battle for the lead. Edwards soon pulled in front and, although she never looked back, braced for a Parker rally.
Parker's anticipated reply never came, however. Edwards, seemingly getting stronger with each stride, continued building her lead right through the finish line.
``Awesome running,'' Parker whispered to Edwards as the two embraced.
Adams, second in the Southeastern District a week ago, posted a 10-second victory over Beach champion Beck. But the Wildcats' time of 16:16 - 15 seconds slower than his district-meet effort, left him a somewhat perplexed champion.
``I got tired out there, and I don't know why,'' he said. ``I ate right, got plenty of sleep. . . ''
Team-wise, the Wildcats also came up short of their own standard of victory, in part because No. 3 runner Jason Santucci had to pull out with a hip injury. Teammate Erik Cooper picked up some of the slack as he came in fourth overall (16:32).
Brenden Vesey (16th, 17:05), Matthew Bruckney (22nd, 17:23) and Brian Walsh (33rd, 17:58) were Great Bridge's other top-five finishers.
For Bayside, Zanelli's strong showing (fourth overall) was expected. What wasn't expected was the performance of Marlow, typically fourth or fifth on the team but second Thursday and 11th overall with a personal-best 20:31.
Jennifer Bowden (15th, 20:51), Jackie Tugman (18th, 21:23) and Melissa Armstrong (21:54) also scored for Bayside.
The top four teams (Great Bridge, Kellam, Cox and Gloucester for the boys; Bayside, Kempsville, Great Bridge and Maury for the girls) and top 15 runners in each division advance to the Group AAA state meet Nov. 11 in Great Meadows. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Great Bridge's Eric Adams, left, and Tallwood's Pam Edwards were the
victors in front of 500 spectators at Newport News Park Thursday.
by CNB