THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606010375
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: 71 lines
It was great day for area athletes Friday at the Group AAA state track meet at Todd Stadium.
Brian Hunter won the pole vault. Jessie Grant took the long jump. And the Cox boys scored 14 points to lead the pack heading into today's competition.
Dinwiddie (13.5) is second. Indian River, Great Bridge and Osborn are tied for third.
``It's a shame the meet is going to run for another day,'' Cox coach Tim Webb said. ``It's nice to be in first. You have to have a lot of events covered, but we only had the ones that were covered today.''
The Falcons got valuable points when Craig Reed took third place in the shot put with a toss 53-8 1/2. Then teammates Jason Gustafson (13-6) and Jamie Marsh (13-0) took fourth and fifth in the pole vault.
``This was a result of hard work,'' Webb said. ``Jason and Craig are seniors who worked hard for four years, and they showed what that hard work could do for you.''
But while the Falcons - who do not have anyone competing today - will lose their hold on first place this afternoon, Hunter's win will last a lifetime. Despite twisting his left ankle, he won with a vault of 14-6.
``I wasn't going to let the injury stop me like it did during the indoor state when I (didn't clear my opening height),'' said Hunter, who won on his final jump.
But Hunter wasn't thrilled with his performance.
``The thing I really want to do right now is, by the end of my senior year, break Lawrence Johnson's school record,'' the junior said. ``At Great Bridge they still pat me on the back for my (accomplishments). But I'm still overshadowed by his 17-6 vault. When I put that 17-6 vault out, that's when I will be satisfied.''
Grant, on the other hand, felt relieved after his performance in the long jump.
``Coming into this meet, I felt a lot pressure,'' he said. ``A lot of people said that my 24-9 jump from a week ago was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I want to come in here and prove them wrong.''
And that he did.
Grant won with a leap of 24-4. Fenn Crutchfield of William Fleming finished second at 24-0.
The girls competition was highlighted by Great Bridge's Chandra Lewis and Norcom's Missy Banks.
Lewis took second (128-1) and Banks (125-9) finished third in the discus. As a result, Great Bridge (eight points) is tied in sixth place with Heritage and North Stafford. Norcom is in ninth with 6.
Area athletes who qualified for the finals:
Boys: Shawn Minter, Booker T. (100); Roswe Coles, Salem (100, 200); Kenny Moseley, Western Branch (110 H, 300 H); Sevend Mason, Green Run (200); Erik Hines, Norview (200); Antonio Wilson , Oscar Smith (400); Jason Buckley, Great Bridge (800); Dan Baxley, First Colonial (800); Plaxico Burress (300 H); Falanzo Perry, Tallwood (300 H).
Girls: LaShonda Cutchin, Bayside (100, 200); Tiffany Purham, Salem (100); Rachelle Boone (100); Ebony Shelton, Bayside (200); Tamika Williams, Bayside (400); Jennifer Cook, Norcom (100 H); Jenita Harris, Wilson ( 300 H); Brandi Smith, Norcom (300 H). ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Runners flash over the hurdles in early heats of the 110-meter race
Friday at Todd Stadium. The running finals are today.
LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Runners flash over the hurdles in preliminary heats of the Group AAA
state 110-meters Friday at Todd Stadium in Newport News. Field
events begin today at 9:30 a.m. and running finals at 12:30 p.m. by CNB