THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270577
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
You wouldn't have known Saturday's Hampton Relays was Kalisha Brown's first track meet in four years.
Dressed in a black track suit and sun glasses to match, the Great Bridge senior looked relaxed walking into Armstrong Field. And even before the meet began, she promised to bring home a prize.
``I was just chillin','' said Brown, who had participated in track in junior high, but had concentrated on basketball since coming to high school. ``I told my mom that I was going to bring home something no matter if it was a ribbon, a medal or a trophy.
``My track coach (J.P. Banks) told me to try my best, and I really didn't feel any pressure. Instead, I felt like I was going to have fun. I guess, I knew that I could high jump.''
For awhile, she experienced more frustration than fun.
Brown needed three attempts to clear 4-foot-8 in the high jump, then two more to clear 4-10.
``That's when I got a mental picture of how I was going to jump,'' she said.
The mental picture worked as she won the competition with a leap of 5-0.
But Brown wasn't done.
She finished fourth in the long jump, ran on the Wildcats' fourth-place 4x100 relay and the fourth-place sprint relay.
For her effort, Brown was named The Virginian-Pilot's female Athlete of the Week.
``After I brought home the trophy, my Mama said she was very proud of me,'' said Brown. ``She gave me a big hug and put the trophy in the living room.
``I had a good time (at the track meet). It was a long day but it was well worth it. Track season is going to be wonderful. Basketball has really been my favorite sport. But now track is really up there with basketball.
``Now that I'm actually (competing in track), I think I missed out the last couple years.''
With a little hard work, Brown could make it to the Group AAA state meet.
``She has a lot of natural ability,'' Banks said. ``She could jump anywhere from 5-4 to 5-6.''
Don't let her hear that.
``I truly believe I can jump 5-8,'' she said.
For now, Brown only thinks of the what could have been.
``If I had come out for track my junior year, I would have been straight,'' she said. ``Now I have to work a little bit harder to catch up.'' by CNB