THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9602290120
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
LASHANDA CUTCHINS wasn't satisfied with helping Bayside's girls win the Eastern Region indoor track and field championship last week.
The junior won the 55 meters in 7.1 seconds and the 300 meters in 40.6, took fourth in the high jump at 4 feet, 10 inches and anchored the winning 800-meter relay.
``But my times weren't as fast as they should have been,'' Cutchins said. ``I was hoping to come into the meet and run faster than I did in the (Beach) District meet. But I had a slow start in the 50 and I didn't run in the low 40s in the 300.''
Cutchins hopes to redeem herself in the state indoor track & field championship, which begins today at George Mason University with field events. The running events are Saturday.
``I just want to go in there and run faster times,'' said Cutchins, the defending state champion in 55 meters. ``I don't want to predict if I'm going to win any races or not because that's bad luck.''
But if Cutchins does win, she'll have to defeat Oakton's Faith Rein and John F. Kennedy's Promise Mose. Rein has the fastest time in the 55, while Mose is the defending state champion in 300.
Marlins coach Keith Delong doesn't feel this is a problem.
``Lashonda hasn't really been pushed and the other two girls have,'' Delong said. ``So we really don't know how fast she could run. Lashonda has more experience and is stronger than when she won the 55 last year.
``She will be fine.''
Cutchins will also team up with Davon Lamb, Twylite Pope and Tamika Williams in the 800-meter relay.
``They have a shot of winning the (800) relay,'' Delong said. ``West Potomac is pretty strong. The other team that stands out is Hampton. But if Lashonda gets the baton near Hampton she will pull it out.''
Princess Anne's Megan Kaminski joined Cutchins as the only other athlete to win two individual running events at the region meet. Kaminski won the 1600 in 5:24.9 and the 3200 in 11:51.4. Now she looks to duplicate her performance at the state meet.
In the boys competition, Cox could fare well. The Falcons won the region, nipping second-place Western Branch by one point. Cox qualified six individuals and the 3200 relay for states.
If the Falcons duplicate their performance in the pole vault, they could finish high. In the regionals, Cox scored 16 of its 52 points in the pole vault. James Marsh took first-place (13-0) and teammate Nick Gustafon finished fourth (13-0).
But Salem could also score a lot points in the field events. With Ques Smith (long jump and triple jump), James Edwards (long jump and triple), and Gary Abra (triple jump), the Sun Devils might have the deepest group of jumpers in the state.
Green Run's Sevend Mason looks to use this meet to showcase his talents. Mason is the regional champ in 300 meters.
``I want to let everyone know what to expect for outdoor season,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Bayside's Lashanda Cutchins won the 55 meters, the 300 meters and
anchored the winning 800 relay.
by CNB