THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605150124
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
SOME OF THE area's oldest track rivalries will come to an end today and Saturday in the annual Southeastern District boys and girls track meets at Churchland.
This will be the final competition in the Southeastern for Norcom, Churchland and Wilson as the Portsmouth schools move into the Eastern District in September.
For some individuals, there are opportunities to leave their names in the record books.
The Portsmouth teams also would like to bow out as champions. But Great Bridge, the defending champions in both the boys and girls divisions, could have something to say about that.
The field events begin today at 2 p.m., along with running trials. Competition will resume Saturday starting at 10:15 a.m.
The Oscar Smith boys and the Norcom girls pose as the top threats to the Wildcats.
A host of district records are in jeopardy from this star-studded field that includes five boys champions and seven girls winners from 1995. Great Bridge's Brian Hunter was a double winner last year, capturing the high jump and pole vault.
Also returning are '95 winners Jason Buckley of Great Bridge in the 800 meters, 3200-runner Eric Adams of Great Bridge, long jumper Jesse Grant of Indian River and triple jumper Jamin Elliott of Churchland. Western Branch has three members returning from last year's winning 400-meter relay unit.
Hunter, a junior, won the pole vault at 13-6 and the high jump at 6-2 despite suffering an injury in the meet. In run-throughs before the meet started, he was practicing with a new pole. On one vault the pole broke and hit his knee. His knee swelled up but it did not hamper his performance.
The seven defending champions in the girls field are Great Bridge high jumper Jill Ferguson, Norcom shot putter Missy Banks, Norcom 100-meter hurdler Jennifer Cook, Wilson's 300-meter hurdler Jenita Harris, Western Branch triple jumper Erica Hudson, Deep Creek 100-meter runner Bobbi Jo Hess and Oscar Smith long jumper Cherita Carter. Ferguson recently signed a volleyball grant with American University.
Assured of setting one record is Mariel Brown of Deep Creek, who will become the first female pole vaulter in the district meet.
Last year's winning times also have been bettered this season by Norcom's Brandi Smith in the triple jump, Norcom's Banks in the discus, Great Bridge's Denita Eason in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, Great Bridge's Kim Gibbs in the 800-meter run and Great Bridge's 1600-meter relay unit (with three holdover runners from last year).
Western Branch's Billy McGlaughon has a 9:56.26 time in the 3200-meter run this season, better than last year's winning mark. ILLUSTRATION: Staff file photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Triple jumper Jamin Elliott of Churchland, a '95 winner, is
returning for the final competition in the Southeastern for Norcom,
Churchland and Wilson. The Portsmouth schools move into the Eastern
District in September.
by CNB