Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 20, 1990 TAG: 9005200161
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The speedy senior swept all three events and placed fourth in the triple jump Saturday to lead the Floyd girls to the Region C title at Washington and Lee University.
"I get so excited when I run the 200 because I know that's my last event," Lemons said. "A little more than 20 seconds and I'm through for the day."
Lemons, the defending Group A champion in the 100 and 200, was too fast for the opposition in the dashes. The University of Virginia-bound sprinter won the 200 with a clocking of 26.4, better than a second faster than runner-up Julie Reed of Natural Bridge.
Lemons' 12.2 in the 100 was more than a second quicker than the time of second-place finisher Cindy Richardson of Parry McCluer.
Reed did challenge Lemons in the 400, though.
"That race started out slow, but the way it finished was by no means slow," Lemons said. "I didn't want to run the 400, but the team needed the points."
The Buffaloes had only one other winner, Nikki Tessar in the 1,600, but their depth was decisive. Floyd County had 94 points to second-place Patrick Henry of Glade Spring's 59. Lexington was third, with 57.
In the boys' meet, Northwood finished with 73 1/2 points to easily outdistance second-place Glenvar (46 points).
Jamie Soltis provided much of the scoring for the Highlanders, winning the 1,600 and 3,200.
Northwood's Kevin Turley was the big winner for his team, taking the 100 and 200.
One of the most memorable events of the day was the boys' 300 hurdles. James River's Jack Baker, who already had won the 110 hurdles, hit the second hurdle, stumbled and almost fell. He ran hard the rest of the way but could not catch Don Williams of Holston.
"I've been coming up here [to practice] the past two weeks, and each time I've been getting real close to that hurdle," Baker said. "Today, I was too close and hit it with my lead leg. I was over in the other lane bird-hopping to try to catch my balance.
"I missed [Williams] by about a step at the finish. I was tired, but I believe if I hadn't lost that step, I would have had him."
Two of the more riveting duels of the girls' meet involved Tessar, a sophomore, and Bath County distance ace Kim Manion. Tessar edged Manion in the 1,600 before Manion came back with a time of 12:23 to win the 3,200.
Floyd County's strength in numbers was most apparent in the 3,200. In addition to Tessar, Ragan Lester (fifth) and Patty Marshall (sixth) also placed for the Buffaloes.
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