THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602130126
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
After Bayside won by 79 points over second-place Salem at Saturday's Beach District girls indoor track and field championships, a fan made a prediction.
``I bet you they'll win regionals,'' said the bystander. ``They are so deep. I don't think nobody can beat them.'' Disregarding the double negative, he may be right.
The Marlins qualified 14 girls for the Eastern Region, which begins Feb. 19 at Cox for field events. The running events are Feb. 21 at Todd Stadium in Newport News.
``I think we will do real well,'' said Bayside coach Keith Delong. ``I haven't seen any times from the Peninsula yet. But for this side of the water, there's Deep Creek and Norcom. They will be tough, but I feel we will do good.''
Leading Delong's pack will be junior Lashanda Cutchins. She is the defending 55-meter champion.
With a time of 7.1 seconds, Cutchins is ranked No.1 in the state. She has also fared well in national competition, winning the prestigious East Coast Invitational in Princeton, N.J., and the Viking Relays in Richmond.
``I really want to win the regionals,'' said Cutchins, who is receiving letters of interest from North Carolina and Louisiana State. ``I also want to improve my time for the state meet.''
After setting a district record in the 300 meters (40.5) Saturday, Cutchins wants to win two individual titles at the region meet.
``I'm excited about running in the 300,'' said Cutchins, who shaved two seconds off her time in the districts. ``I want to bring my time down to the low 40s.''
Cutchins will also team up Tamika Williams, Twylite Pope and Davon Lamb in the 800 meter relay.
With a time of 1:43.5, the foursome look to defend their title.
``We will try to win that event,'' said Delong. ``West Potomac's relay team is pretty good. But if we are healthy, we should win.''
The Marlins hope to get valuable points in triple jump from Johanna Battle (34-4 1/2) and Brandy Parks (34-2 1/2).
But the duo will have to contend with Salem's Maro Mitchell (36-1) and Princess Anne's Aprelle Watkins (34-8 1/2).
``I'm looking to continue where I left off in the district meet,'' said Watkins, the district champion in the triple and long jump.
But Mitchell, who is being recruited by N.C. State and others has only lost once this season.
Ocean Lakes shotputter Amber White could be a surprise at the region meet. The Dolphins sophomore won the district title with a throw of 35-3 1/2, more than three feet better than the rest of the field.
``She will have to improve a lot over the next week to win it,'' said Ocean Lakes coach Thomas Anderson. ``The top throws will be in the 40s and the high 30s.''
Kellam won the district boys title, scoring 100 points to 89 for runnerup Salem. The Knights received a pair of victories from Matt Morgan (1,600 and 1,000) and first-place finishes from the 800 and 1,600 relay teams.
Knight coach Bill Bernard expects all of his district champions to be region contenders.
``I think Matt Morgan will win the 1,600, he's running real well and he's starting to peak,'' he said. ``I'm not sure how he'll do in the 1,000. It depends on how much rest he has between races.
``We're looking to win both relay races. We have some of the best times in the state. Green Run and Deep Creek also have top teams.''
The Kellam 800 relay team is composed of Kendrick Jacobs, John Green, Dwayne Punter and Uhland Tims. Parry Klajes joins Punter, Tims and Green on the 1,600 relay team. Tims could also be a threat in the 300. Jacobs was second in the district in the 55.
Salem also hopes to contend for the boys crown.
``We should do all right,'' said Sun Devils coach C.L. Hopkins. ``I haven't seen what the Peninsula has but we will be all right.''
With Quez Smith, Demario Williams, James Edwards and Gary Abra, the Sun Devils might have the deepest group of triple jumpers in the region. by CNB