THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 10, 1996 TAG: 9609100486
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Photo
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 38 lines
Three years ago, three miles sounded so long to Billy McGlaughon.
But a buddy at Western Branch badgered him about competing for the school's cross country team.
``Finally he came to my house and pretty much drug me out of there and said, `You're running,' '' said McGlaughon, now a senior.
The first day into practice, McGlaughon still thought it was too long. But he stuck with it, and now those 3-mile races fly by.
Sometimes it takes 16 minutes, 41 seconds, the time McGlaughon ran to win last Saturday's Southeastern District Preseason Classic. McGlaughon already has two victories and he's hoping this might be the year he emerges as the area's premier runner.
``Last fall I felt like I was in Eric Adams' shadow all year,'' he said, referring to last year's Eastern Regional winner from Great Bridge. ``I was 30 seconds behind him most of the year until districts.''
He won that, finished third in the regional and 93rd at state after being hampered by a stress fracture. This year a healthier McGlaughon thinks a top five finish at state shouldn't be out of reach.
Yet Saturday's win was surprising.
``I was expecting Jason Santucci from Great Bridge to be there and I was going to run with him the first two miles and take out the last mile,'' he says. ``But he wasn't there, so I thought I'd go out and make a good practice out of it.''
Races and practices go by much faster now thanks to a dedication he attributes to maturity.
``The first time I ever raced, I thought it would never end,'' he said. ``Now the mile mark comes up quickly and then the two-mile mark. It seems like it all goes by so quick.'' by CNB