THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602030114
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
THE ULTIMATE GOALS are the team championships. But the individual moments of glory when records are shattered highlight the annual Southeastern District indoor track meet.
As always, several all-time standards will be in jeopardy Wednesday when the eight district schools begin a two-day battle for titles.
The meet starts at 2 p.m. Wednesday on the Churchland High School track. It will conclude Saturday at the same site, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The coaches will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday.
One event, the pole vault, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Indian River.
Western Branch has won both the boys and girls titles for the past two years. However, the Deep Creek boys went on to win the Eastern Region and state championships.
In addition to a solid group of returning veterans, Deep Creek has some outstanding freshmen talent. ``The best bunch of freshmen I have ever been associated with,'' says Hornets coach Richard Cox.
In the district meet a year ago, weather conditions were ideal and eight records fell. Another was tied.
Boys records were set in the 55-meter dash, the 55-meter hurdles, the 1,600-meter run, the 800-meter relay and the 1,600-meter relay. Girls records were posted in the 1,000-meter run, the 800-meter relay and the 1,600-meter relay. The 55-meter dash record was tied.
Several holdover champions are competing again. Also in the field is Churchland distance runner Robbie Williams, who won the 3,200-meter run last year but was disqualified for running out of his lane. Williams finished six seconds in front of his nearest challenger.
None of the individual record breakers is back. Norcom senior sprinter Jennifer Cook, who tied the girls 55-meter dash record held by Wilson's LaTasha Colander, will be gunning to lower that standard.
And where are the best places to be watching for 1996 individual records?
Here's a thumbnail glance:
GIRLS
55-meter dash - Bobbi Jo Hess of Deep Creek has matched the record time (7.0) already this season.
Shot - Junior Missy Banks of Norcom won at 37-6 3/4 last year, about 17 inches off the record. She went on to runner-up honors in the state and a No. 4 finish in the nation.
Triple jump - Defending champion Erica Hudson of Western Branch was 7 1/2 inches off the record last year.
3200-meter relay - Deep Creek has registered a time of 10:59 in quad competition this year, two seconds under the district record set by Great Bridge two years ago.
BOYS
Long jump - Western Branch's Clayton Porter already has bettered the district meet record by Chris Edmond of Churchland three years ago, soaring 23 feet, 6 inches.
Shot put - Deon Dyer of Deep Creek, who won the state shot crown last year and grabbed district laurels with a 53-1 toss, has shown he will be after Chris Snyder's record of 55-9 1/2. Dyer has a 56-6 toss under his belt this season.
Triple jump - Churchland's Jamin Elliott has surpassed the record of Indian River's Rasha Joyner (45-8) with a school-record 47-2 1/2 and poses a threat in all the jumping events.
300 meters - The record of Larry Whitaker of Oscar Smith (35.0) has stood for seven years, but Western Branch's Malik Cook missed it by just two-tenths of a second a year ago and competes again.
500 meters - Jason Buckley of Great Bridge set the record of 1:06 two years ago and won last year at 1:07.5. He's now a senior and looking to lower his own mark. He recently run a 1:07.3. A rising contender is Deep Creek freshman Brian Harris, who has run 1:10 this year.
In addition, several relay records could be erased. ``We'll be pretty strong in a couple of them,'' said Cox. ``Western Branch is stacked.''
Last year, Western Branch won the boys meet with a victory in the final event, the 1,600-meter relay, in a record time of 3:27.5. Billy McGlaughan, the district cross-country champion, was a member of that unit and is back. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Robbie Williams won the 3,200-meter run last year but was
disqualified for running out of his lane.
Graphic
District Records
by CNB