DATE: Wednesday, April 9, 1997              TAG: 9704090640

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   41 lines

CLEMSON, VA. TECH GET AREA TRACK STARS TIGERS GET LASHONDA CUTCHIN, BRIAN HUNTER READY TO JOIN HOKIES.

Two of the area's most dominant senior track and field athletes will sign on the dotted line today.

Bayside High's LaShonda Cutchin and Great Bridge's Brian Hunter will sign letters of intent for college scholarships this afternoon, the first day of the late signing period.

Cutchin, a 1996 outdoor state champion in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and member of the winning 4x100 relay team, has accepted a scholarship to Clemson. The sprinter will sign the letter at a small ceremony between 1:30-2 p.m. this afternoon.

Hunter, the pole vault champion at last year's outdoor and this season's indoor state meets, will sign a letter of intent to Virginia Tech.

While today marks the beginning of the new signing period, the athletes made their decisions some time ago.

``After I went to Clemson, I made my decision,'' said Cutchin, who visited the South Carolina campus in February.

Cutchin choose Clemson over North Carolina, where former Wilson star Latasha Colander competes, and Louisiana State.

``I like their academic programs and they have a very good track program too,'' Cutchin said.

Cutchin, who has a 3.0 grade point average, will major in computer science.

The Tigers placed second in the ACC indoor season this year and have already qualified for this summer's National Outdoor meet in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. At this point, Cutchin anticipates running the 100, 200 and 4x200 relay.

As a sophomore, Cutchin won the 100 and was a member of the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams as Bayside won the state outdoor meet. Last year, the Marlins placed second as a team.

Hunter, who is behind Lawrence Johnson and Richard Fulford for Great Bridge's pole vault record, visited Virginia Tech in January and decided then that Blacksburg was the place for him.

Hunter, a 3.2 student, will major in engineering.

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