THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602160168
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 33 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
He's only a sophomore, but there's little doubt that Kenny Mosely shouldered the biggest burden in providing Western Branch with its third consecutive boys Southeastern District indoor track championship.
Mosely was the Bruins' only individual winner, capturing the 55-meter hurdles and the 300-meter run.
But it was a lift he provided in the final event of the three-day meet at Churchland High School that enabled Western Branch to finish in first place Wednesday.
After winning the 300 meters in a time of 35.44, Mosely was suffering from bronchitis.
Western Branch coach Wade Williams was unable to find his alternates to fill in for Mosely in the last event, the 1,600-meter relay. At that point, the Bruins had taken the lead in the meet for the first time, holding a seven-point edge over Deep Creek and a 10-point advantage over Churchland.
Forfeiting the event might have eliminated Western Branch from a chance at first. A first or second for the Hornets would have provided Deep Creek with the championship if the Bruins did not place.
``I'll run, coach,'' said Mosely.
``So he picks up his shoes, runs the anchor leg for us and gives us a second place,'' said Williams.
Williams also had high praise for contributions from Billy McGlaughon and Clayton Porter. McGlaughon was a runner-up in both the 1,600-meter run and the 3,200-meter run.
``We couldn't have won without those two seconds,'' said Williams. ``And he has just gotten back into his running. Porter has a bad back, and I know he was jumping with pain.''
Porter had a third in the long jump and a third in the triple jump.
Added Williams: ``I would like to give some credit to (Deep Creek coach) Rich Cox and (Churchland's) Clarence Brown, too. I know our team was favored to win the meet, but they really made a fight out of it.''
Western Branch finished with 96 points, Deep Creek had 86 and Churchland had 71. Norcom was fourth with 63.
Deep Creek competed without four of the standouts who helped the Hornets win the boys state title last year. This included defending state shotput champ Deon Dyer, who is attending SAT classes.
``We gave it a good effort,'' said Cox.
Deep Creek had four individual winners. The Hornets were first in the 800 and 3,200 relays. Carlos Perry won the 55-meter dash, and Connell Williams led the field in the 1,000-meter run.
Great Bridge had a double winner in Brian Hunter, who broke the high jump record by clearing 6-5 and was first in the pole vault. The Wildcats' Jason Buckley broke his own record in the 500-meter run with a time of 1:05.84.
Indian River's lone winner, Jessie Grant, shattered the long jump record with a 22-6 1/2 leap. The other boys meet record came in the triple jump when Churchland's Jamin Elliott cleared 47 feet, 1/2 inch.
In the girls division, Norcom racked up 132 points for a 39-point edge over runner-up Great Bridge. Deep Creek was third with 66 points, exactly half the Greyhounds' total.
Norcom coach Vincent Pugh feels his team will be a contender in the upcoming Eastern Region and possibly a threat for the state title. But the two upcoming meets could be the last ever for Norcom.
Norcom, Wilson and Churchland transfer out of the Southeastern District into the Eastern District in September. The Eastern District does not have indoor track.
``Our girls are hoping they'll find a place for us to continue indoor track,'' said Pugh. ``I know the Southeastern teams would be delighted to have us compete with them. Several coaches have told me so. And I would hope the Virginia High School League would allow us to run with them.''
Norcom set two individual records en route to its championship. Missy Banks put on a show in breaking the shot put mark. She had a record toss of 41 feet, 7 inches but all three of her throws in the finals were beyond the previous district record (38-11 1/4).
Brandi Smith shattered the triple jump record with a leap of 36 feet, 9 1/2 inches.
The biggest surprise winner was Great Bridge junior Denita Eason, who won the long jump at 17-3 1/4, just 3/4 of an inch off the record. She was competing for the first time this year as she has been preparing for the Miss Great Bridge pageant.
Other Chesapeake girls champions were Indian River's Kathy McNeeley, a winner in both the 1,000 meters and the 1,600 meters; Deep Creek's Bobbie Jo Hess in the 55-meter dash; Great Bridge's Kim Gibbs in the 500 meters; Dawn Trueblood of Great Bridge in the 3,200 meters; and Deep Creek's Afreeka Hardison in the high jump. Great Bridge won the 1,600-meter relay, and Deep Creek was first in the 3,200-meter relay. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MARK MITCHELL
Deep Creek High runner Justin Howe, left, leads the pace of runners
during the 3,200-meter relays.
Graphic
The Results
Boys
Girls
by CNB