THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511010164
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Even before the starter's pistol went off at the Southeastern District cross country meet last Thursday at Churchland High School, everyone knew there'd be little drama in the team competition. Great Bridge delivered, winning its third straight district championship in both the boys and girls competitions.
Although most spectators were at times distracted from the action, staving off attacks from the dreaded Asian tiger mosquito that owns the Churchland course, it was the individual races that provided the day's excitement.
Great Bridge's Tracy O'Neal was expected to win, but teammate Michelle Nicolay ran the race of her life to finish second. Western Branch got top 10 finishes from Angela Cusick and Amy Bevan to take second. Wilson's Jenita Harris and Yael Lewis and Deep Creek's Monica Harvey helped their schools qualify for the Eastern Region meet by placing in the top 15.
In the boys race, a win by top-ranked Eric Adams seemed a forgone conclusion. Adams had yet to lose a district race all season, although Western Branch's Billy McGlaughon was usually just a few steps behind.
With a mile left in the race, McGlaughon made his move, and Adams couldn't counter, finishing 23 seconds off McGlaughon's pace of 15:38, a personal record for the Bruins' top runner.
Although Great Bridge took five of the top eight spots and Western Branch's Robbie Birsch and Oscar Smith's Guy Workman rounded out the top 10, Portsmouth was well represented by Churchland's Robbie Williams (5th) and Ben Booth (12th), and Wilson's Kenya Edwards (6th) and Perez Bottoms (11th). ILLUSTRATION: Great Bridge's Tracy O'Neal races by coach Steve Sawyer on her
way to a first-place finish.
Western Branch's Billy McGlaughon notched a personal best time in
his victory.
Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Race-winner Billy McGlaughon and runner-up Eric Adams cool down
after the event. Both qualified for the Eastern Region meet.
by CNB