THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 4, 1996 TAG: 9608310173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 127 lines
Defending champion Kempsville looks strong to win another girls cross country title, but watch out for Bayside and Kellam.
Leading the Chiefs is the South Hampton Roads' premier runner, senior Adrienne Parker, a two-time district champion and the area's highest finisher (6th) at the state meet last fall. Other key runners for Kempsville include juniors Brenna Santoro and Kelly Lawver, senior Suzanne Seidel and sophomore Erin Holmes.
Kellam, whose boys won district titles the last four seasons, should contend behind a deep team led by sophomore Tamara Stegeman. Defending regional champ Bayside has four strong runners, including all-region senior Sara Marlow, but needs to pick up a strong fifth runner.
Other individual runners to watch: junior Pam Edwards of Tallwood and senior Megan Kaminski of First Colonial. Edwards won last year's regional and finished 14th in the state. Kaminski, a transfer from Princes Anne, finished fourth in the district last year and should be among the top contenders in the region. Junior Hollie Robinson of Cox could challenge Parker, Falcons coach Glen Barr says.
The other strong teams in the area include Maury and Western Branch. Here is a look around the Beach District.
KEMPSVILLE
Coach: Kendall Tata.
Last year's record: 9-0.
Key returners: Adrienne Parker, Brenna Santoro, Suzanne Seidel, Erin Holmes, Kelly Lawver.
Top newcomer: Sally Harrison.
Analysis: Two-time district champion and district record holder Parker is the top runner in the area and broke her coach's record in the 1,600 at the state track meet, finishing in 5 minutes, 2.15 seconds. Parker was the area's highest finisher, sixth, in the state cross country meet. Kempsville is a good bet to repeat as Beach champion.
KELLAM
Coach: Bill Bernard.
Last year's record: 6-3.
Key returners: Tamara Stegeman, Virginia Upham, Jeanine McDonnel, Lisa Stivers, Melissa Potter.
Top newcomers: Shaina Flores, Courtney Hux, Renee McKee.
Analysis: This is the strongest girls team Bernard has fielded in his six years at Kellam. Stegeman is a dominant No. 1 runner, yet the team has depth in Upham (fifth in the district last fall) and Flores is the No. 3 spot. Bernard feels Stegeman should be among the top three runners in the region.
BAYSIDE
Coach: Lanny Doan.
Last year's record: 9-1.
Key returners: Missy Armstrong, Sara Marlow, Jackie Tugman, Michelle Hooks.
Analysis: Armstrong, Marlow and Tugman were all-distrist last year, and Marlow was all-region. Doan says Marlow is in the best shape of her career and along with Tugman, both should be in the top five at the district meet.
FIRST COLONIAL
Coach: Barbara Fallon.
Last year's record: Not given.
Key returners: Rachel Bradley, Jenni Stilwell, Emily Goodman, Ashley Lucente, Gayle Holloway.
Top newcomers: Megan Kaminski.
Analysis: Kaminski, a senior who was fourth in the district last season, transferred from Princess Anne and should lead First Colonial along with Bradley, who went to state last fall. Fallon is a first-year coach and First Colonial graduate. She replaces Mike Calicoba, who now coaches at Great Bridge.
SALEM
Coach: David Bowden.
Last year's record: 6-3.
Key returners: Tiffany Edwards, Mandy Wohl, Jameka Collins, April McPherson, Samantha Eaton, Dianna Hinshaw.
Top newcomers: Portia Joyner, Geri Scheick, Glinda Tatum, Lauren Hill, Pretzel Kelly.
Analysis: This year's team is the school's best in four years, Bowden says. Edwards, a junior, finished 21st at the district meet last fall. Wohl and newcomer Portia Joyner are the only two seniors among 11 runners on the team.
COX
Coach: Glen Barr.
Last year's record: 3-6.
Key returners: Hollie Robinson, Amanda Avery, Kara McSwain.
Analysis: Robinson, a junior, is the Falcons' top runner, finishing 40th at last fall's state meet. ``Except for Adrienne Parker at Kempsville, I don't expect anyone in the Beach to beat her if she stays healthy,'' Barr says. Barr expects the district title to come down to the last meet of the season with Kellam, Kempsville and Cox in the hunt.
TALLWOOD
Coach: George Versprille.
Last year's record: 9-6.
Key returners: Pam Edwards, Rachel Kuhr.
Top newcomers: Shannon Edelson, Joy Fernandez, Phoebe Munson, Rachel Miller, Diana Ocampo.
Analysis: Sophomore Edwards won last fall's regional and ran 14th in the state, and Kuhr, a senior, finished in the district's top 15. With only two lettermen returning, Tallwood will struggle with inexperience.
GREEN RUN
Coach: Billy Torbush.
Last year's record: 1-8.
Key returners: Brenna Aston, Cindy Phillips, Gayle Powers, Rachel Thompson.
Analysis: With four starters returning, Torbush would like to finish in the top half of the Beach District.
OCEAN LAKES
Coach: George Piccillo.
Last year's record: 0-9.
Key returners: Gina Ward, Effie Craig, Toni Butland.
Top newcomers: Cassie Glenn, Tiffany Blake, Laura Estes.
Analysis: Ward, in her fourth year of running cross country, is the team's top runner. Piccillo is pleased that unlike last year, Ocean Lakes is able to field a full team.
PRINCESS ANNE
Coach: Joe Panchik.
Last year's record: 1-8.
Key returners: Tracey Van.
Top newcomers: Kara Kaflin, Melissa Mantel.
Analysis: Team is young and inexperienced, as even top runner Van is only a sophomore. Panchik is unsure whether school will be able to field a full team. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by VICKI CRONIS
South Hampton Roads' premier runner is Kempsville High senior
Adrienne Parker, who is a two-time district champion.
Pam Edwards runs on Tallwood High team. by CNB