THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994 TAG: 9406100250
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: 940612 LENGTH: Medium
Versatile Jay Clarke of Norcom and hurdle/sprint champion LaTasha Colander are Currents' choices as the standout male and female athletes for the 1993-94 school year.
{REST} Both are seniors.
A three-sport star for the Greyhounds, Clarke is headed to Hampton University in September on a football grant. Colander has accepted a track scholarship to the University of North Carolina.
Each was a former standout at Manor High School. When Wilson was moved to the Manor site, Colander remained and Clarke transferred for his senior year to Norcom. Coincidentally, Colander spent her freshman year at Norcom before transferring to Manor.
Clarke was an All-Southeastern District first-team pick in football and second-team choice in basketball. But he was a first-team basketball selection on the all-district team the previous three years at Manor.
He also was a multi-event participant in track, excelling as a jumper.
A safety on defense and a receiver on offense, Clarke helped Norcom win the Group AAA Division 5 state football championship.
In basketball, Clarke shattered the Manor school scoring record in three years, totaling 1,228 points. He added 327 at Norcom for a career total of 1,555 to become the fourth highest all-time scorer in Portsmouth public schools behind Barry Wright, Petey Sessoms and Freddie ``Scrapiron'' James.
Joe Langston, who coached Clarke in football and in track, calls the 6-4, 205-pounder ``an incredible talent in probably any sport he might pursue. Through the years I have coached a lot of very good, versatile athletes, but maybe none with more all-around ability than Jay. Certainly I would rate him alongside the very finest I have coached.''
Manor girls track coach John Crute holds Colander in that same esteem.
``There is no doubt that she is the best I have ever coached,'' Crute said. ``We've had some great hurdlers, and we've had some really outstanding sprinters. But never have we had one in Tasha's class as a sprinter and a hurdler.''
Becoming an Olympic hurdler is among Colander's goals.
Colander won state titles last weekend in the 100 and 200 meters and the 100-meter hurdles, giving her 12 individual state championships in her high school career.
She ran 13.60 in the 100 hurdles, the fastest time in the nation this year and bettering the best time ever in the state (13.82).
Last year's Athletes of the Year were Amy Cross of Churchland and O'Neal Sykes of Norcom.
Following are Currents' other choices for the 1993-94 school year:
Best all-around junior athlete: Norcom's Rod Richardson. He quarterbacked Norcom's football team to the state title and was the leading hitter on the Greyhounds' baseball team.
Best all-around sophomore athlete: Churchland's David Tynch. He was an all-district player in football (as a kicker) and in soccer.
Athlete to watch: Churchland's Marvin Rodgers. A junior, the 6-foot-10 Rodgers should move among the premier basketball players in the state next season. This year he gained all-district honors, averaging 16 points.
by CNB