DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710240270

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 18   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY GENE MORRIS, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   66 lines

WESTERN BRANCH WINS DISTRICT TITLE BRUINS' NEXT STOP IS THURSDAY'S REGION MEET IN NEWPORT NEWS.

When the Western Branch girls cross-country team defeated Great Bridge 24-31 Oct. 16, the Bruins got exactly what they wanted. Another day of running.

The win gave Western Branch a 7-0 record, and more importantly, it clinched the Southeastern District regular-season title. For the Bruins, this meant an automatic berth in the Eastern Region meet, to be held Thursday at Newport News City Park.

The fact that Western Branch was able to be crowned regular-season champ is due to a change in the district's cross-country format. Prior to this season, the district's eight principals voted to switch from weekly quad meets to dual meets.

``I really like the decision because with all the hard work the kids have done, they can finally say, `We're 7-0 and the hard work paid off,' '' Bruins coach Bill Volkman said.

The automatic bid to the region meet was also a popular decision with Volkman and his team. By qualifying at the end of the regular season, it meant that the team's performance in the Southeastern District tournament wouldn't affect the Bruins' shot at the region meet. However, Western Branch would have qualified for the region anyway as they finished second to Great Bridge at last week's district meet at Chesapeake City Park.

The district title is the Bruins' first since winning back-to-back district tournaments in 1992-93.

Rule changes aside, Volkman points to his team's ability to stay healthy as one key to its undefeated season. The only illness of any significance came before the Great Bridge meet when senior Emily Thomas, the team's No. 1 runner, came down with respiratory and sinus infections. She recovered in time to finish in 20:38, 33 seconds behind the top individual runner, the Wildcats' Heather Hoffman.

Another strong point, according to Volkman, is the Bruins' team depth. He feels that he has a ``really solid'' top four in Thomas, senior Angela Cusick, sophomore Valerie Wong and freshman Jenny Bevan, all of whom finished in the top five against Great Bridge. However, the secret weapon has been the No. 5 runner, freshman Kristen Fries.

``Kristen started off running in the 26s, and now she's in the low 22s,'' said Volkman, who as a physical education teacher at Western Branch Middle school recruited Wong, Bevan and Fries after seeing their mile-run scores. ``She really came on right at the end of the season. The fifth runner is such a key, too, because he or she takes points away from the other team.''

Looking ahead to the region meet, Volkman favors Kempsville. The Chiefs won the regular season and district meet championships in the Beach District.

``Kempsville might as well head on over to the state meet right now, because they are solid as a rock,'' Volkman said.

For his team to fare well against the likes of Kempsville, Volkman knows that his girls will have to turn in a performance similar to that against Great Bridge.

``If you can get your one-through-five runners within 30 seconds (of one another), that's phenomenal,'' said Volkman, who doesn't anticipate his team having any problems with Newport News City Parks's flat, looping course. ``Physically, the kids are ready, now comes the mental part.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON

Emily Thomas is the No. 1 runner on a 7-0 Bruins team that enjoys

depth with a ``really solid'' top four and a budding freshman at No.

5. KEYWORDS: GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

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