Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 11, 1990 TAG: 9005110647
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Jeff Motley Special to the Roanoke Times & World News
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Those are pretty strong words considering Wesley was a virtual unknown until this season. Sprinter Tyrone Johnson was the feature performer last year for the Demons. But Johnson's talents are now to Eastern Mennonite, and Wesley is in the spotlight.
Region IV meet competitors Saturday at George Wythe High who aren't familiar with Wesley may see more of him than they want to. Wesley is Christiansburg's top performer in the 100, 200, 400, long jump, high jump and triple jump. He also runs 400 and 1,600 relay legs.
State rules permit a runner to compete in only three running events, so Wesley and his coach, Randy Bailey, must choose.
"We want to try and do what is best for the team to get to [the state meet]," Bailey said. "We're not sacrificing the region, but we figure it will take 35-40 points to win the state. So we want to put ourselves in the best position possible. . . ."
Wesley already has qualified for the state meet in the 100, "so I will probably run the 200, 400 and mile [1,600] relay Saturday. My best event is the 100 and I will probably run that and the 200 once we get to state."
Although Wesley isn't the only quality Demons performer, Bailey doesn't minimize his importance.
"I get miffed when people say we can't win without him," Bailey said. "We have other good runners, like Brian Eigel and Harley Johnson. We could have won the district maybe without him, but the region or the state would be almost impossible."
Last year, with Tyrone Johnson as the star, the regional title seemed well in hand halfway through the meet at Abingdon High School. But Johnson pulled a hamstring muscle and, instead of a runaway victory, the Demons barely held on to win. Bailey remembers that episode well.
"We were all cheering and slapping high fives about halfway through, and then Tyrone got hurt and we had to hang on to win," Bailey said. "That could happen again this year."
Foremost on Wesley's mind Harrisonburg's state Group AA meet. "I can't help but think about it," he said. "We're the team to beat in the regionals, but the sound of state champs has a nice ring to it."
That doesn't mean Wesley is overconfident going into Saturday's competition.
"Every time I go out there I am nervous that somebody might beat me," Wesley said. "Every time I go out I want to do my best, but somebody might put their heart and mind to it and beat me. I just like to think that if I do my best, then the only way I can get beat is by a better runner."
by CNB