THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9606020208
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: 58 lines
They talked it out, mulled it over and finally agreed. So the night before their final appearance in Green Run uniforms, defending state 4x100 relay team members Plaxico Burress, Sevend Mason and Cedric Warren all shaved their heads.
A ploy to intimidate opposing relay teams? A show of solidarity?
``Nah, man. We just want to look good for the prom tonight,'' Warren said.
A few hours later, the Stallions endured an even closer shave. But when anchorman Mason outleaned Hampton's rapidly closing Jeremy Ward at the wire, the Stallions had survived an adventurous trip around the Todd Stadium track and continued what's become a Green Run tradition - winning the Group AAA state 4x100 relay title.
The three seniors and junior KeCalf Cuffee - who wasn't informed of the head-shaving routine - teamed up to give Green Run its third straight state title in the event and fourth in the last five years. The Stallions also took the state 4x100 in 1986 and 87, years in which they also captured the team title.
``The kids just love that 4x100 at Green Run High School,'' coach Elisha ``Cadillac Harris said. ``It is the marquee event.''
Or, as Warren put it, ``We own this track! It would take an all-star team to beat us!''
Such bravado, a trademark of this Stallion team, was in evidence even during the race. Warren raised his arms in triumph after his 100-meter sprint - and he had the first leg. ``I knew it was over then,'' Warren said.
Third-man Burress also broke into some of his characteristic fist-pumping after handing off to Mason.
But Saturday, the Stallions put some teeth into their cocky words and actions with gutsy, refuse-to-lose efforts. Warren competed despite a pulled hamstring, a main factor in his not placing in either the 100 or 200 after finishing in the top six in both a year ago. Cuffee, who replaced Will Brooks as a starter before the Beach District meet, smoothly picked up Warren's slack and turned in what his teammates agreed was the group's most blistering quarter.
Warren's injury prevented the team from working on handoffs all week, and it showed with the 5-5 Cuffee struggled getting the stick to the 6-5 Burress. But Burress still managed to build about a 10-meter lead. Finally, Mason fought off Ward, who appeared to be making up ground with every stride.
``I could see red (the color of Ward's jersey) out of the corner of my eye, and I'm like, `Oh, man!' '' Mason said. ``But I pulled away the last five meters.''
Mason was continuing his post-race comments when Warren moved up and playfully palmed his head. With that, the three bald seniors laughed and sauntered away toward the middle of the infield.
Meanwhile, Cuffee drifted over towards the crowd, perhaps looking for three speedy underclassmen capable of continuing a Stallions tradition. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Sevend Mason of Green Run celebrates winning the Group AAA state 200
meter dash. by CNB