THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 TAG: 9503280094
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 158 lines
A YEAR AGO Bayside and Salem battled to a deadheat in the Beach District girls track meet.
Most coaches feel the same two teams will be the prime contenders this year.
In last year's district meet, the Marlins and Sun Devils each totaled 128 points with a victory in the final event, the 1,600-meter relay, providing Bayside with the tie.
This season Bayside appears slightly stronger. Fourth-year coach Keith Delong says, ``We should do very well if we stay healthy.''
Delong notes that his Marlins are exceptionally strong in the dashes.
Salem's power should be in the jumping events and middle distance races. The Sun Devils won four undisputed district titles in a row before sharing the crown with the Marlins last year.
A capsule look at the teams:
BAYSIDE
Coach: Keith Delong.
Last year's record: Tied for first in district, tied for second in region.
Top returnees: Sprinters Michelle Thompson, Tamika Williams, Twylite Pope and Lashonda Cutchin; middle distance runner Sara Marlow; distance runners Jen Bowden and Carolyn Zanelli and shot put and discus throwers Iyawnna Still and Reisty Bynum.
Top newcomers: Sprinters Davon Lamb and Ebonie Shelton; hurdler Latoya Jackson; shot put/discus thrower Peggie Boddie and sprinter/jumpers Regina Battle and Johann Battle.
Outlook: Thompson will be a major scorer in the sprints, hurdles and jumping events. She was the indoor regional champion in the high jump. Cutchin won the district title in the 100-meters and 400-meter dash last year and Zanelli was the conference winner in the 3,200-meter run. ``We have some of the stronger sprinters in the region,'' said Delong.
SALEM
Coach: Shrecee Purham.
Last year's record: Tied for first in district, tied for fourth in region.
Top returnees: Jumper/sprinter Sherlane Armstrong; middle distance runners Jonelle Collins, Kari Graser and Katrine Roundtree; sprinters Kyra Purham and Maro Mitchell; shot put/discus thrower Suni Farra.
Top newcomers: Middle distance runner Tiffany Edwards and jumper/mid-distance runner Jameka Collins.
Outlook: Armstrong won district and region honors last year in the triple jump and should be a state title contender. She also was district titlist in the 200-meter dash last year. Salem was very strong in the relays a year ago and should be again. The Sun Devils have good middle-distance running strength, too. Coach Purham is ``looking forward to a good season.''
KEMPSVILLE
Coach: Kendall Tata.
Last year's record: Third in district, ninth in region.
Top returnees: Charlette Fayton (hurdler); Adrienne Parker (middle distances); Katie Owens (sprints, relays); Missy Owens (sprints, hurdles); Pamela McKinney (shot put/discus); Bettina Goolsby (sprints).
Top newcomers: Kelly Lawver (middle distances); Janel Munroe (sprinter).
Outlook: The Chiefs will be competitive in the district and will depend heavily on the holdovers to be a contender. Fayton is defending champion in both hurdle events and Parker was a cross-country champion in both the district and region.
FIRST COLONIAL
Coach: Leslie Benjamin.
Last year's record: Fourth in district.
Top returnees: Jamie Kollar (shot put/ discus/hurdles); Becky Boltz (sprints/ high jump); Marissa Sutor (hurdles/ jumping events).
Top newcomers: Ebonie Walker and Sandra Monroe (sprints); Heather McKee (field events); April Wagner (hurdles/ jumps); Rachel Bradley (1600 meters); Kendra McClain (shot put/discus).
Outlook: Patriots lost several performers to Ocean Lakes but have a standout in Kollar, a senior, who was third in the Junior Nationals in the discus and second in the state and is also defending champ in the shot put in the district. Walker (Brunswick, Ga.) and Monroe (Hiramar, Fla.) are transfer students.
KELLAM
Coach: Bill Bernard.
Last year's record: Tied for eighth in district.
Top returnees: Distance runner Jamie Cornish; middle distance runner Minna Jurkola; Amber Saunders (hurdles/jumping events); Rhiannon Jordan (400/jumps); Melissa Potter and Jennifer Cassada (distances); and Kelly Anderson (middle distances).
Top newcomers: Virginia Upham (distances), Trina McCoy and Kim Jacobs (sprints).
Outlook: Indoor 1600 and 3200-meter district champ Jamie Cornish, a senior, heads a strong group of middle distance and distance runners. But Bernard is pleased with the balance and depth in the sprints and jumps. ``We could be among the top three in the Beach,'' said Bernard.
GREEN RUN
Coach: Willie Maull.
Last year's record: Fifth in district.
Top returnees: Kristi Nalasco (shot put/discus); Michelle Hood (hurdles/ jumps); Quiana Erb, Amanda James and Jennifer Keely (800 meters); Valerie Walls and Shanel Harrigan (sprints); and Shakundal Davis (sprint/long jump).
Top newcomers: Renita Owens (hurdles/jumps); Dalchon Brown (shot put/discus); Cindy Phillips (distance runs); and Crystal Cross (hurdles).
Outlook: Maull feels his team ``might surprise some of the better teams in the district. We have a young team with a lot of talent but we must have hard work from them.'' He is building around 10 holdover performers but has only two seniors in that group.
TALLWOOD
Coach: David Swanger.
Last year's record: Sixth in district.
Top returnees: Michele Epps (sprint/ hurdles); Denise Lundy (sprints/jumps); Jennifer Luther (hurdles/jumps); Jennifer Olsen (distances); Laura Polakowski, distances).
Top newcomers: Monique Harris (sprints); Charity Mosely (sprints/shot put); Samira Powell-Gray (sprints/jumps); Trinitee Welsh (sprints/hurdles).
Outlook: Former assistant Swanger starts his first year as head coach and had the school's biggest turnout yet with 30 candidates. He expects the team ``to be very competitive.''
COX
Coach: Glen Barr.
Last year's record: Seventh in district.
Top returnees: Shea Jordan; Michelle Zengilowski, Laura Doudera.
Top newcomers: Hallie Robinson (distance runner); Kara McSwain (400/jumps).
Outlook: Jordan, Zengilowski and Doudera are the only seniors on the squad. ``Our youth movement continues,'' said Barr. ``We are building around 12 sophomores and 15 freshmen.'' Robinson, a freshman, is a solid prospect and already has been to the state cross country and state indoor meets this year.
PRINCESS ANNE
Coach: Laurie Knott.
Last year's record: Tied for eighth in district.
Top returnees: Meghan Kaminski (distance runs); Appelle Watkins and Christine Shorter (sprints); Klaka Staiger (middle/ long disance runs).
Top newcomers: Aprelle Watkins (sprints/jumps); Heather Green (sprints/ jumps); Mariana Newsome (sprints); Stacy Gregory (sprints/jumps).
Outlook: Knott is pleased with the good mix of candidates between upperclassmen and freshmen. ``We should fill our events in both sprints and distances nicely this year,'' she said. Kaminski will be a contender in both the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.
OCEAN LAKES
Coach: Thomas Anderson.
Last year's record: New school.
Top returnees: Senior Lateesha Green, juniors Shannon Perkins and Mary Day and sophomore Gina Ward are top transfers.
Top newcomers: Tiffany Blake (middle distance); Effie Craig (middle distance); Toni Butland (middle distance); Lorena Morgan (sprints); Trameka San Augustine (400-meters).
Outlook: In fielding its first outdoor team, Ocean Lakes may be without potential star Lateesha Green, one of the area's finest jumpers. Green, a senior, was injured during the indoor season and is a doubtful participant. ILLUSTRATION: Among other top female returnees for Bayside High are sprinters
Tamika Williams, a junior, left, and Michelle Thompson, a senior.
Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
Lashonda Cutchin, a sophomore, warms up during practice at Bayside
High. She won district sprint titles at 100 and 400 meters last
year.
by CNB