ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605200078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Brian Harlor wanted to run 3,200 meters in 9 minutes, 50 seconds.
Instead, he took his time, made sure of the victory and in so doing gave Staunton River the final impetus it needed to win the Region III boys' track championship Saturday at Liberty University.
``I'd go for time, but it was more important for the win to make sure for the team,'' said Harlor, who had been nosed out by Northside's Stuart Bray in the 1,600 meters.
The points by Harlor pushed Staunton River by its final serious challenger, Chatham, for the team title. With three participants in the 200 meters to one for Chatham and a 1,600-meter relay team, the Golden Eagles were a lock.
``It's been a long time,'' Harlor said. ``I've waited for a day like this. Coach [Joe] Curcio doesn't usually show it, but I know he was excited. You know that after being with him for years.''
Curcio took the title in stride. It was assured after Ahmad Sangbana (second) and Jarrett Ferguson (fourth) placed in the 200, even though Chatham's Chris Vaden won the event.
Then, the Golden Eagles' 3,200-meter relay team won to leave Staunton River with 78 points, far ahead of the 51 posted by Chatham. In the girls' team race, Appomattox County had 79 points to finish ahead of Timesland schools Laurel Park (68) and Lord Botetourt (44).
``It's been a long time since we won. I don't know how long, but there's a banner on the gym wall that reads 1974 or 1975,'' Curcio said of the Golden Eagles' last Region III track and field title. ``I wasn't a part of that one.
``We did what we had to do. We gambled and didn't put a good 400-meter relay team together so we could have a strong contingent in the 200. We can put it together again for the state, because it already had a qualifying time.''
Staunton River's story was just part of a big day for Timesland athletes. Lord Botetourt's Sara Moore, taking time off from a busy spring that includes playing second base for the softball team, and Northside's Emily Hollett were double winners among the girls.
Moore won the 800- and 1,600-meter runs in convincing fashion as no one pressed her from start to finish.
``It's pretty tiring, but it's fun,'' Moore said of her spring. ``I never know how far behind me people are, so I just try and get out in front.''
In the 1,600, Moore ran a 5:23.4, her best time of the spring.
``I really didn't expect to win both events. I hoped to,'' Moore said. ``I get tired, but I just try to keep going.''
Hollett cleared 5 feet, 4 inches in the high jump, just off her personal best. She won the long jump with a 16-10 effort, which was not close to her personal best.
Laurel Park's Kenetta Redd came from behind to edge William Byrd's Rebecca Britt in the 400 meters and anchored the Lancers' victorious 1,600-meter relay team. ``I knew I could catch her. I always come back strong. I could see all of the ones ahead of me and that gave me an advantage,'' said Redd of her 400 victory.
Salem's Cynthia Lundstrum, battling a pulled right hamstring all spring, won the 100-meter hurdles and surprised herself. ``My coach said it would be nice to get into the top six,'' she said. ``I'm upset because I wanted to win both state hurdles and I'm only entering the 100. But the year has turned out good after it started badly.''
``Our game plan was to get her qualified for the state and have another week'' to train, said Tom Roth, Salem's coach. ``Cynthia exceeded our game plan.''
Lord Botetourt's Takeshia Basham won the shot put and finished second in the discus. Teammate Wendy Heath, who placed in the long and triple jumps, didn't have much luck in 100 hurdles as she tripped in trials and didn't qualify. However, she has a state qualifying time and will be at the Group AA meet.
In the boys' Region III meet, Northside's Bray beat Harlor in the 1,600 before fading to lose to the Staunton River runner in the 3,200. Bray stayed behind the leader until kicking past Harlor and Jefferson Forest's Ben Showe.
``It was like NASCAR. I was kind of drafting off everyone else,'' Bray said. ``That last 200 [meters] came up quickly and I had to pick it up.''
In the 800, Staunton River's Ronnie Goff came from behind to beat Lord Botetourt's Robert Pauley in the best race of the day. Goff got behind a lot of runners and had to weave his way back through the pack.
``I like other people to pace, but I didn't want to get that far behind,'' Goff said. ``I like to stay third or fourth. Robert and I never really talked to each other before, but the more you race against someone, the better friends you can become.''
``Not many people seeded last can win a regional championship,'' Pauley said. ``I just kept telling myself, `One step farther, one step farther.' At the end, he [Goff] was one step ahead.''
Staunton River's Ferguson, who ran on the winning 1,600-meter relay team, also won the triple jump.
Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff. 1. Ronnie Goff (550) of Staunton Riverby CNBstrains to hold off Robert Pauley of Lord Botetourt in the 800
meters at the Region III meet. color. 2. Sara Moore (501) of Lord
Botetourt leads the 800 meters at the Region III meet. Moore won the
800 and the 1,600.