THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9606020204
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 62 lines
Less than seven weeks from the opening of the Atlanta Olympics, five athletes with ties to South Hampton Roads have qualified for the games, with another a virtual lock to also represent the USA.
University of Tennessee pole vaulter Lawrence Johnson from Chesapeake, who set a national record last week, merely must finish in the top three in his event at the Olympic Trials that begin June 14.
If he does, he will join Suffolk's Mike Thornberry (team handball), Virginia Beach's Laurel Martin (field hockey) and three former ODU athletes, Kelli James (field hockey), Jill Reeve (field hockey) and Charlie Ogeltree (sailing) in Atlanta.
Johnson will have plenty of local company at the track and field trials, including 1,500-meter man and '92 Olympian Terrance Herrington of Chesapeake and hurdlers Tonya Williams of Norfolk and Latasha Colander of Portsmouth.
However, of three other local hopefuls who have provisionally qualified for the trials, it appears as though only sprinter Andre Cason will get to compete.
A field of 32 is desired for the 100 meters, and only 21 runners have hit the automatic qualifying time of 10.20, a USA Track and Field spokesman said. Virginia Beach's Cason is second on the provisional list with a best time of 10.23 and should run in the trials.
The outlook isn't good for Virginia Beach's Randall Evans in the 200 or javelin thrower Garrett Noel of Virginia Beach, unless they qualify automatically in the next week.
The 200 automatic qualifying time is 20.45. Evans has run 20.65, 20th-best on the provisional list. Only about 10 provisional runners are expected to be needed to fill out a field of 32.
Noel is 26th on the provisional list at 230 feet, 4 inches, well off the 11 automatic qualifiers at 246-1. To complete the field of 24, 13 provisional throwers will be used.
Here is an alphabetical list of known Olympic hopefuls with ties to South Hampton Roads and their status: IN THE OLYMPICS
Kelli James, ex-ODU field hockey; Laurel Martin, Virginia Beach, field hockey; Charlie Ogeltree, ex-ODU sailor, Tornado class; Jill Reeve, ex-ODU field hockey; Mike Thornberry, Suffolk, team handball.
Andre Cason, Virginia Beach, 100 meters: Provisional qualifier for Track and Field Trials, June 14-23 in Atlanta. Top three finishers make Olympic Team.
Latasha Colander, Portsmouth, hurdles: Qualified for 100-meter hurdles in Track and Field Trials.
Randall Evans, Virginia Beach, 200 meters: Provisional qualifier for Track and Field Trials.
Terrance Herrington, Chesapeake, 1,500 meters: Qualified for Track and Field Trials.
Lauri Illy, Virginia Beach, rhythmic gymnastics: Must win Olympic Trials in Boston, June 25-26.
Lawrence Johnson, Chesapeake, pole vault: National record-holder a favorite to win pole vault at Track and Field Trials.
Garrett Noel, Virginia Beach, javelin: Provisional qualifier for Track and Field Trials.
Tonya Williams, Norfolk, hurdler: Qualified in 100- and 400-meter hurdles for Track and Field Trials, June 14-23 in Atlanta. Top three finishers make Olympic Team. by CNB