THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120755
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
In 1992, an injury in the U.S. Olympic Trials cost Andre Cason a trip to the Barcelona Games. Now, at 27, the world-class sprinter from Virginia Beach is gearing up for a shot at this summer's Atlanta Olympics.
``I've been up and down with injuries since 1993,'' Cason said Thursday at Norfolk State. ``The most severe problem was the hamstring . . . that lasted a year and a half, which I am just getting over.
``At the last Olympic Trials . . . physically I was not prepared and it resulted in injury.''
Cason, a graduate of Green Run High School, is in town for this weekend's Norfolk Invitational Relays, which begin with high school field events at 10 a.m. today and resume Saturday at 9 a.m.
The Norfolk Invitational is one of the last qualifying events for the U.S. Olympic Trials. The entry deadline is May 9 for the Trials, which begin June 14 in Atlanta.
Cason set a world record in the 60-meter run in February 1992 and is a member of the 1993 4x100 world-record team. Saturday at 2:20 p.m., he is scheduled to compete in the men's open 4x100 relay.
Norfolk State coach Steve Riddick, a member of the 1976 U.S. 4x100 gold-medal team, expects representatives from about 65 high schools, colleges and track clubs.
``We have a group of nice athletes coming out . . . and there should be good competition,'' said Riddick, a 1975 graduate of Norfolk State.
Sheryl Taplin and Yolanda Warren, members of LSU's dominant squads in the early 1990s, will team with Esther Jones and Chandra Sturrup in a couple of relay events.
Jones was a member of the 1992 U.S. 4x100 women's gold-medal squad. Sturrup, a former Spartanette, is a Division II record holder in the 100 and 200.
Sturrup, a native of the Bahamas, and current Spartan Ali Ahmed, a native of Ghana, will represent their countries at Atlanta.
Ahmed, a transfer student from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., will run on the Spartans' 4x400 team with Ramon Clay, Omari Banner and Wayne White.
In the high school division, Norcom junior Missy Banks is one of the local attractions. Banks placed second in the shot put (40-1) at last month's Group AAA indoor meet.
Other standouts who will compete are Indian River's Jessie Grant and Great Bridge's Brian Hunter.
Grant is the area's top long jumper, leaping 21-8 1/4 at the Colonial Relays last weekend.
Hunter is undefeated in the pole vault, with a season best of 14 feet at the Conn-Madden Relays two weeks ago. MEMO: Staff writer Keith Pompey contributed to this report.
AT A GLANCE
What: The Norfolk Invitational Relays.
Where: Norfolk State University.
When: Today beginning at 10 a.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.
Tickets: $5 for adults, $2 for students 17 and under. by CNB