
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 19, 1993                   TAG: 9307190249
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Scott Blanchard and Ray Cox
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TRACK AND FIELD RECORDS TOPPLE AT A RAPID RATE

At the Salem High track, it was hot and sticky and the grass of the infield was scorched to the texture of a brown scouring pad from lack of rain.

The record book, too, took a torching.

"The records have been falling here all weekend - crushed," meet referee Joe LaRocco said. "Some of the times that would have won last year wouldn't even have placed this year. I think we had 14 meet records here [Saturday]."

Fifteen records were set Sunday. Among them: George Wythe High's Stacey Green with a 17-foot, 4-inch long jump in the Scholastic Division; Emily Rakes of Roanoke, who cleared 5-4 in the scholastic high jump; Allyson Blankenship of Pounding Mill with a toss of 121-9 in the scholastic discus; Jan Harris of Dublin had a 75-1 discus heave in the 40-49 age group; Bob Shelton of Millboro long-jumped 20-10 1/2 in the 30-39 bracket; and Justin May heaved the shot 51-11 1/2 in the Scholastic Division.

\ Wummer meet a big deal

Fallon Park pool wasn't the hive of activity it was when the Commonwealth Games was host to a youth ABC swim meet, but Masters meet coordinator Robert Hatcher said the importance of Sunday's event shouldn't be overlooked. About 56 swimmers competed, 20 more than last year, Hatcher said.

"Throughout the year, yes," Hatcher said when asked if there were plenty of meets for adult swimmers. "Throughout the summer, no. There aren't that many 50-meter pools available to host meets."

Jim Miller of Richmond, chairman of Masters' swimming in Virginia, echoed Hatcher.

"I think it's a big deal to support the Commonwealth Games and support what they're doing," he said. "I really think it's important to spread this experience around the state. We tend not to have that many meets in the western part of Virginia."

Miller, a physician who ran track at the University of Virginia, now counsels his patients to take up swimming - if they have an interest. Less stress on the joints than running, he notes.

\ In the line of duty

There was a casualty during the baseball gold-medal game, but it wasn't human.

The "LandScape Supply" wooden sign, one of several that hang on the outfield fences at Cave Spring High School, was knocked loose by an outfielder pursuing the North's Billy Deck's double late in the game.

The sign was carried from the field. No prognosis was available.

\ What year is it, anyway?

Virginia Amateur Sports, which runs the Commonwealth Games, set up vendors at some venues to sell T-shirts and the like. However, at at least one venue, only last year's T-shirts were available.

\ Gretna gets national bid

Gretna beat Suffolk 5-1 to win the Games' fast-pitch softball tournament, a feat that earned Gretna the National Softball Association's Class C state championship.

Gretna's Joby Overstreet was voted the tournament's most valuable pitcher, and Suffolk's John Crumpler was voted the most valuable player. The Salem Scrappers lost to Suffolk in a consolation semifinal and took home a bronze medal.

\ Soccer kicked around

Soccer was almost invisible at the Games, reduced from a tournament featuring several hundred players to a seven-a-side, one-day event.

Politics apparently played a role. Because some Northern Virginia teams went home last year rather than play for a bronze medal, organizers in Virginia Beach were reluctant to come. When those two soccer-heavy areas pulled out, it left Games organizers searching for competition.

Coordinator Steve Hutton said many localities had trouble getting their club teams together during the summer, traditionally a down time. And, he said, some club teams worried that their players would risk losing eligibility under Virginia High School League rules, which state that eligibility won't be lost if the format is an all-star team for which tryouts are held, as it has been previously.

Hutton eventually got enough teams to field five divisions, but said in the past two weeks 12 teams pulled out - the last two at about 7:30 p.m. Friday, the day before the competition.

Hutton may or may not run the event next year - he subbed for Roanoke Youth Soccer director Danny Beamer, who is overseas - but said the Games "probably should go back to the old [all-star] format and get better coordinators from North and East."

Hutton, however, said he liked the seven-a-side format, which is to soccer what Arena Football is to the NFL.

by CNB