DATE: Friday, May 30, 1997                  TAG: 9705300912

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

AFTER STRONG REGION SHOWING, CAN LOCAL ATHLETES SHINE IN STATE TRACK? WESTERN BRANCH IS IN THE TEAM HUNT; CUTCHIN EYES MULTIPLE TITLES.

If last week's region showing was any indication, South Hampton Roads could be a big winner at the Group AAA state track meet Friday and Saturday at Darling Stadium in Hampton.

Here are seven story lines to follow:

Does Western Branch have what it takes to win the boys team title? The Bruins won the Eastern Region meet despite the absence of Kenny Moseley in the 300 hurdles and Doug Casper in the 100-meter dash. They will have to rebound in those events and also duplicate strong efforts in the distance events to hold off West Springfield, West Potomac and Southeastern District foe Oscar Smith.

Is Bayside's Lashonda Cutchin saving her best for last? Cutchin, the two-time state champion in the 100, set a region record of 11.91 last week and is gunning for the state record of 11.71. She could also win the 200, and her 4x100 relay team set a region record.

Can Churchland's Jamin Elliott unleash another huge triple jump Saturday? The Trucker senior stunned everyone by going past 51 feet into a head wind to win the region. It was nearly 3 feet longer than his previous best. Elliott likes the Darling Stadium facility and if the weather is good ...

Will First Colonial's Brian Kollar enter the record books in the discus? The Patriot junior threw a personal best 196-5 in the final Beach District dual meet; set a record in the district championships at 175-9 1/2; and then won his first Eastern Region title with 173-7. The state meet record is 190-2.

Can Indian River's Jessie Grant defend his title in the long jump? Grant lost to Denbigh's Chauncey Rogers in the region meet. The man to beat, however, may be Potomac's Mike Newell, who has jumped better than 25 feet this season.

Will Tallwood's Pam Edwards blow away the field in the 1600 as she did in the region? Edwards easily defeated region record-holder Adrienne Parker of Kempsville with a 5:12.64, but that time won't be nearly good enough to win this time. The slowest winning time in the last 15 years was last year's 5:01.85.

Is Salem sophomore Tiffany Purham close to becoming one of the state's dominant athletes? Purham has placed second to Cutchin in the 100 twice this season and won region titles in the triple jump and long jump.

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