THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606250113
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 42 lines
Kareem Webb is following in the flying footsteps of older brother Shareef. They're big spikes to fill, but the younger Webb is running to keep up.
Shareef, 12, took first place in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races and anchored the winning 4x100 meter relay team for the Virginia Fast Start Track Club. The club hosted the invitational meet at Salem High School June 8.
Kareem, running on tiny five-year-old legs, had to settle for a fifth in the 50, a second in the 200 and a fourth in the 400. He also ran on the winning 4x100 relay team.
While Kareem's older brother left competitors in his wake, Kareem became discouraged by his performance in the 400. He crossed the finish line last and expressed disappointment with his effort.
``He thought he had finished last, so I had to explain to him that he was running against boys three years older than him, that he was first in his age,'' said father/coach Anthony Webb. ``He felt a little better then.''
The Webb brothers were among many successful local track and field competitors in a meet that drew participants from as far away as Richmond.
Amber Bialas, 10, began a busy Saturday by taking a third in the girls 400, a fourth in the 50 and a fifth in the 100. She also placed third in the running long jump with a leap of 10-1.
The Woodstock fifth-grader had to leave the track early for her part in the Polynesian Dance troupe at HarborFest.
Kai Parham, 12, used to run and he may again one day in the future. For now, Parham has to settle for throwing the shotput and the discus.
He has grown so fast recently that he developed Osgood-Schlatter disease, a condition seen in muscular, athletic adolescent males. Parham qualifies on all counts. He grew six inches in the past year and now stands 5-foot-8 and weighs a solid 140 pounds.
He easily won the discus in his age group with a toss of 85 feet.
``I want to go back to other sports. I have to wait, the doctor says, until my knees can take it,'' Parham said.
In the meantime, the Larkspur Middle Schooler will settle for the field events. If the Fast Start meet is any indication, Parham's opponents are probably pulling for him to start running again. by CNB