Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 24, 1990 TAG: 9005250340
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The two seniors are good reasons why Cave Spring might be a contender for the Group AAA girls' track crown this weekend in Newport News.
Fountain, who won the Group AAA indoor shot put championship, will be after a double crown in that event and the discus this weekend. Fountain warmed up by throwing personal bests in both events last week to win the Group AAA Northwestern Region title.
Sheets, who only began competitive running a year ago, has been outstanding in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs this spring. Last week, she won the 800-meters at the Northwestern region and placed in the 1,600.
Sheets probably is going to skip the 1,600 and concentrate on the 800, an event she's capable of winning in the state. If she and Fountain pull off three first places between them, those 30 points would be enough to make the Knights a contender for the team championship.
Fountain says she amazed herself when she won the shot put title this winter, but anything is possible if you can psych out the opponent.
"I was an underdog by about two feet. I had never thrown the shot 39 feet. When I did that, it took her [opponent] by surprise and she couldn't put it back together again," said Fountain.
Fountain says that getting psyched up or out in an event happens no matter what you're doing.
"When you run, you have to get set in the block. When people false start, they're thinking too much of what they're doing," she says. "But in the shot and discus, you visualize your form and you can see yourself going through the motions too quickly."
In winning the Northwestern Region outdoor title last week, Fountain went above 40 feet and says it might take a toss of 41 feet to win the state outdoor title.
It's a different kind of psych job in running, according to Sheets. "It's a matter of reputation.
"Megan McCarthy [a Northern Virginia runner] always used to win the state and psyched people out. But I think there were girls who could run up there with her," says Sheets.
Sheets didn't get that chance. In fact, the Cave Spring runner won't psych anyone out by her reputation. However, she definitely has college coaches drooling this spring after they've watched what is called "a nearly perfect form" when it comes to running.
Sheets only took up running last year. She quickly has become the second-best cross country runner in the Roanoke Valley, behind Salem's Lori Archer. This spring, she has developed into a middle-distance runner.
"My father [Dale Sheets] used to coach track, and I was always interested, but I didn't have the time," says Sheets.
Cave Spring coach Joe Hafey says: "I've been coaching girls for 10 years and as far as technique is concerned, she is the prettiest I've seen. Her style is near perfect. It's natural. No one gave it to her. You could say she was just a runner and didn't know it."
The reason Sheets didn't have time was her love of horses. An avid rider since she was 7, Sheets plans to ride her horse, Flare, in the Roanoke Valley Horse Show next month. She missed the last show because her horse had been injured.
Cave Spring distance coach Lori Taylor didn't really know Sheets when she showed up for indoor practice last year.
"I just came out and said I wanted to run," recalls Sheets. "I was the fastest runner in gym class, and the teacher asked why I didn't go out for track."
Taylor, also the cross country coach, saw Sheets in one meet and that was enough to convince her the Knights had quite a runner.
Running has replaced riding as Sheets' favorite sport. "There's a lot of politics in riding [competition], but whoever finishes first wins in track. I never thought I'd get this far when I started out. I figured I might get to the district," says Sheets.
Fountain has been in track a lot longer than Sheets. She was a sprinter in junior high. Despite bulking up to perform in the weights, Fountain is still fast for her size, Cave Spring coaches say.
Fountain, who prefers the weight events to running, ran a leg on the 400-meter relay team when she was a sophomore.
Unlike Sheets, Fountain couldn't wait to start track. "I wanted to start in sixth grade, but the county wouldn't permit it," she said.
There were other sports. "I used to play softball, but I gave it up after my second year in junior high track." says Fountain, who also gave up trying the sprints because of a knee problem.
What's in the future for these two? Both say they'll go to Virginia Western next year and then hope to get partial track scholarships. Fountain is talking with Virginia Tech, and Sheets has been approached by James Madison.
by CNB