THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410070272
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
AFTER FINISHING LAST SEASON in a three-way tie for the district championship with Green Run and Cox, Bayside's girls cross country team set out to take this year's title outright.
Wednesday at Mt. Trashmore, the Marlins did just that - finishing the regular season unbeaten by winning a tri-meet against Green Run and Tallwood with ease.
Bayside runners finished 1-2-3.
``We wanted the district title back, but we wanted it for ourselves,'' said Jennifer Bowden, who won the final run by edging teammate Carolyn Zanelli by 33 seconds.
Sara Marlow was third, a minute back.
Zanelli is making a comeback from a 10-day layoff due to injury and still isn't in top form. During Zanelli's two-meet absence, Bowden and her teammates came through with strong performances.
``The other girls really picked it up,'' coach Lanny Doan said. ``The No. 6 girl becomes the No. 5 girl and moves into scoring position and everybody has to hold their own.''
Doan doesn't think his team did anything different from last season in capturing this year's title.
``Actually, I think the district was a little weaker overall,'' he said. ``But we have been working hard and getting better. Every single one of our girls have chopped two, three, a few of them four, minutes off their times. And three of our top five girls have never run cross country before.
``I think we can finish with four girls in the top 20 at the district meet.''
Bayside's depth may help it win the district meet, but the individual championship is up for grabs.
``Hopefully, Carolyn will be back in form for that meet and will compete for the crown,'' Doan said.
The individual title will likely feature Zanelli, Kempsville's Adrienne Parker, Kellam's Jamie Cornish and First Colonial's Krissy Castle in a race to the finish.
With one meet remaining for several district teams, the Cox girls team can finish second. So far, the Falcons' only loss has been to Bayside.
Falcons freshman Hollie Robinson - the eighth-ranked runner in the area - and junior Cara Reske have been leading the way.
The boys title appears to be safely in the hands of Cox - unbeaten with Kempsville and Ocean Lakes remaining in the regular season. The Chiefs and Dolphins have no district wins going into the meet.
``I think Kellam can catch them in the district meet, but the regular-season title is all theirs,'' Doan said.
Cox finished third in the Newport News Invitational B race and captured B division titles at Christopher Newport and William and Mary.
The defending champion Knights' only loss so far was at the hands of the Falcons - who are led by Kris Beck, the area's 10th-ranked runner as of last week. Beck is a junior transfer from New Jersey.
Helping him are seniors Quint Van Deman and Chris Reading. Juniors Ian Reed and Brandon Kelly have also been running well.
Zac Halm of First Colonial is the district's top runner, narrowly edging Tallwood's Billy Edwards and Kellam's Matt Morgan in season-best times.
Halm is ranked No. 3 in the area behind Eric Adams and Mike Donnelly of Great Bridge. Edwards comes in at No. 4, with Morgan at No. 5.
Kellam's Dan Daugherty is ranked No. 8 in the area.
The district meet is set for Oct. 19 at Mt. Trashmore, with the boys taking off a 3 p.m., followed by the girls at 3:30 p.m.
The top four teams advance to the Eastern Region tournament, Nov. 3 at Newport News Park. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
ABOVE: First Colonial's Zac Halm is the Beach District's top runner
heading into the district meet Oct. 19 at Mount Trashmore.
LEFT: ``We wanted the district title back, but we wanted it for
ourselves,'' said Bayside's Jennifer Bowden, who won the final
regular-season run by edging teammate Carolyn Zanelli by 33
seconds.
Kellam's Jamie Cornish, running the uphill part of the final
regular-season race at Mount Trashmore, will be among the girls with
shots at the district meet title.
by CNB