THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503170191
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
MISSY BANKS WENT OUT for the girls track team at Norcom because she's fleet of foot and loves to run.
Just for kicks, she picked up a shot and threw it.
And Norcom coach Vincent Pugh is oh-so-happy that he happened to see it.
Banks, a sophomore, has thrown the shot in competition only four times this year. And she is less than 4 feet from being the nation's best at the high school level.
Sixteen-year-old Missy finished fourth in the National Scholastic Indoor Meet at Syracuse, N.Y., last week. She had a Norcom school record throw of 41 feet, 9 1/2 inches.
The winner had a toss of 45-8.
Banks also had a throw of slightly over 44 feet but scratched. ``I have it on film,'' said Pugh. ``It would have won her second place.''
``Before I get out of high school I guarantee I will be throwing farther than that,'' said the confident Banks as she prepared to work out at practice this week.
``Right now my goal is to do better every time I compete, but being a national champion is what I want to be. I have the strength. I just need to improve my technique.''
Banks wasn't eligible to compete until mid-semester because her classroom work wasn't satisfactory.
``That's all behind me now,'' said Banks. ``My grades are good. I got one A and the rest were Bs and Cs the last grading period. Nothing lower than a C. I was having trouble with English, but now I'm B-plus in English.''
Her only track competition came in the district, region, state and national meets. She won the district and region and finished second in the state.
``Pretty outstanding for a raw talent, isn't it?'' said Pugh. ``She's almost standing still when she throws. With improved form and hard work, there's no doubt in my mind that she can become a national champion.
``I think she can be a state champion this spring. But we want her to work on local goals first. The district record is 42-3, and I'm predicting Missy breaks it the first time out this season.
``She's motivated now. And that has made a difference in her classroom work as well as her track work. She wants to succeed.''
Pugh pointed out that Missy can throw the heavier boys shot 38 feet. ``She can beat a whole lot of the boys,'' he said with a smile.
The 5-5 Banks, who can lift 205 pounds, laughs at the new nickname she has acquired around school - ``Hercules.''
She remembers her first practices with the shot. ``I still thought of myself as a runner,'' she said. ``I didn't want to throw the shot.
``Now I know it's where my future is. It can get me a college scholarship. And get me to a place like UCLA.''
Banks hopes to find a little time to run in the sprints, too.
``We only have two or three on the team who are faster,'' said Pugh.
But he no longer has to push Missy away from the running drills into the shot ring.
``I like it now,'' said Missy. ``It's going to get me into college.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Norcom sophomore Missy Banks finished fourth in the National
Scholastic Indoor Meet, with a school record throw of 41 feet, 9 1/2
inches.
by CNB