THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609170134
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE SCHLOFF, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 67 lines
With defending Eastern District champion Lake Taylor returning six runners from last year's boys cross country team, the stage is set for a possible repeat title.
Not far behind is traditional power Maury, although Coach Walt Green returns only two starters.
Don't count out Wilson. Even though the Presidents lost two of the best runners in school history to graduation, they could be in contention for the title with runners Donte Waters, Anthony Barner and Carlito Hamlin.
Here is a look around the district:
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Coach: Wilbert Shearin
Last year's record: not given
Key returners: Jammel Booker, Sameen Wright, and Anthony Ferebee
Top newcomer: Milton Richardson
Analysis: All of the Bookers' top returners are members of the track team. Shearin is in his first year as coach.
CHURCHLAND Coach: Clarence Brown
Last year's record: 5-4
Key returners: Robbie Williams, Ben Booth, Kasim Barnes, Darnell Fisher, Robert Hilliard
Top newcomer: John Power
Analysis: Senior Robbie Williams was all-region and sophomore Ben Booth was all-district in 1995.
GRANBY Coach: David Jacobs
Last year's record: 1-5
Key returners: Delano Harris, Josh Blizzard, Max Smeller, Antoine Lattimore
Top newcomer: Andre Wilburn and Troy Zanders
Analysis: Jacobs is in his first year coaching but will be boosted by the return of six starters.
LAKE TAYLOR Coach: Floyd Conley
Last year's record: 4-2.
Key returners: Johnny Davis, Jeremiah Munden, Jesse Munden, DeShawn Hendricks, Jobert Fortuno, Alondo Sutton.
Analysis: The defending district meet champion Titans have five good reasons to be thinking title again as Conley has five of last year's top runners back. The addition of freshman David Munden gives Lake Taylor a three-brother combination.
MAURY Coach: Walt Green
Last year's record: 7-1
Key returners: Jon Frank and Tim Otten
Top newcomers: Terry Gibbs, Will Funk, Ron Dowling, Tarik Khubeer, Robert Gaskey, and P.J. Magnan
Analysis: Green feels his team needs to gain experience before it can contend.
NORCOM Coach: Danny Hill
Last year's record: No information available
NORVIEW Coach: La Tanya Echols-Payton
Last year's record: not given
Key returners: Scott Halstead, Lee Oliveras, David Janke, Adrian Burke.
Top newcomers: David Corprew, Joe Banks.
Analysis: Echols-Payton is hoping Halstead, Oliveras and Janke can make the Pilots competitive.
WILSON Coach: Rodger K. Smith
Last year's record: 6-2
Key returners: Donte Waters, Anthony Barner, and Carlito Hamlin
Top newcomer: Josh Lashbrook
Analysis: After losing two top runners, Wilson will be looking to rebuild. Antonio Hawkins, Josh Lashbrook, Kareem Reese and Matt Neil are new runners who will help in the process. by CNB