THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996              TAG: 9602110272
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C10  EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Booker T. Washington won the Eastern District boys swimming championship in 1979 and Norview won it in 1980. A story in Sunday's editions contained an error. Correction published Tuesday, February 13, 1996 on page C6. ***************************************************************** MAURY BOYS, GIRLS SWIM TO DISTRICT TITLES IT WAS THE 19TH CONSECUTIVE TITLE FOR THE GIRLS, THE 22ND IN ROW FOR THE BOYS.

Going into the Eastern District swimming championships, Maury girls coach Ann Laughner was confident.

With all 26 swimmers qualified for the finals, Laughner said: ``Something bad must have to happen for us to lose.''

Unfortunately for the Maury's opponents, everything went fine. The Commodores ran away with their 19th consecutive district title Saturday night at Old Dominion.

Maury took eight first-place finishes and scored 636 points. Lake Taylor (397) was second, followed by Granby (365), Norview (189) and Booker T. Washington (8).

``This last championship felt great because all of my swimmers had a part in it,'' said Laughner. ``It's always exciting to win because the kids always swim their fastest time at this meet.''

But this wasn't Maury's only title for the night. The boys team also captured its 22nd consecutive Eastern District crown.

``Coming into the meet there was pressure to win another title, but the kids came through,'' said Maury coach Lee Markley. ``But this is a young team. I look to see us get better in the next couple of years.''

Like the girls, the Commodores captured eight first-place finishes and scored 478 points. Lake Taylor (410) was second, followed by Granby (380), Norview (217) and Booker T. Washington (67).

The John A. Tigo coaches award went to Lake Taylor's Theo Weaver and Norview's Tami Langston.

``I felt honored for receiving the award,'' said Weaver. ``I was shocked because I didn't win a race. My relay team took second in the 200 free.''

Langston's relay team also placed second in the 200 free and the 400 free. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

L. TODD SPENCER

Lake Taylor's Kelley Harkins swims to victory in the 200 individual

medley on Saturday.

by CNB