ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605030027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: NARROWS
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
As Brian Bowles proceeds through his first year as head coach of the Narrows High School girls track team, it's more than the wins that are making him smile - it's the team harmony.
Off to a 5-1 start, the defending Mountain Empire District champions are learning how to close the gap between the freshmen, who make up one-third of the team, and the upperclassmen.
"It's rewarding to be successful, but it's more than that," Bowles said. "If you don't get along, then there's not much there. Usually the juniors and seniors on a team shy away from the younger girls, especially when they're as successful as these juniors and seniors have been, but they just welcomed them. They really support each other and that's what I like."
Two of the principal reasons for the camaraderie also happen to be a couple of the primary point producers for Narrows: senior captain Melissa Lawrence and junior Melissa "Bud" Lucas. Lawrence is the definition team player, according to Bowles, having competed in shot put, discus, triple jump, 300 meter hurdles and on the 400 and 1600 relay teams during her career with the Green Wave. Not to be outdone, Lucas, the 1995 state champion in the shot, has competed in discus, long jump, triple jump, 100 and 200 meters and on the 400 and 1600 relay teams.
"We've always had a small team so we have to do a lot of events and work super hard," Lawrence said. "But the 4 by 400 relay is my favorite because I run the last leg and if we're behind I'm the last person and I feel like I have to push myself for me and the team. I like that. I like knowing that I have to push myself because I have competition."
As if their numerous track events weren't enough to exhaust anyone, both Lawrence and Lucas excel in basketball and volleyball for the Green Wave. Lawrence, a point guard, will attend Bluefield College next fall and will continue her basketball career there.
"The thing about Melissa [Lawrence] is she can do anything," Bowles said. "She's a really good kid and she sacrifices for the team - any team. For example, she hates the 300 meter hurdles, hates them. But she does it because she knows it will score points for the team.
"She has more guts and more character than anyone. That's why I put her at the end of the relay team, because I know if it's close, she's going to win."
For her part, Lucas has even more than winning in mind. The junior has set her sights on breaking the state record in the shot.
"I want 40 feet," Lucas said. "The state record is 39-7. I've hit pretty close, 38-2, but I've got to get 40. If not this year then at least before I graduate."
"Bud is just an all-around athlete," Lawrence said. "Anything she does she's going to be good at. A lot of girls look up to her because she comes back with all these first-place awards. When the younger girls see that they want to be like her."
So where did the nickname "Bud" come from?
"My sister used to call me her 'best little buddy' when she was about 6 years old and I was about 3 ... then it just got shortened," she said. "It's stuck with me ever since."
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Melissa Lawrence makes a practice throwby CNBunder the watchful eyes of Narrows High girls track coach Brian
Bowles.