Bethel's pack and depth too much to handle

NEWPORT NEWS, VA -- Both Bethel boys and girls cross country squads collected team titles at the Peninsula District Meet at Newport News Park without the help of a true running star. They rather used a tight pack of runners and great depth to help them win the titles.

The Bethel boys had 3 runners in the top 15 with Charles Martin (5th, 17:08), Charles Sims (6th, 17:21), and Pierre Travis (14th, 17:45). The Bruins in all, collected 60 points as the just held off their adversaries from Menchville who had 64 points which was thanks due in part to the 2-3 finish of seniors Jimmy Highsmith (16:10) and Jeff Bell (16:44).

Winning the boys district individual title by a wide margin was 800 meter track specialist Curtis Parker of Woodside who showed he has great range as he won in an excellent time of 15:49.

Parker's team, Woodside, also advanced to the Eastern Region Meet which will be held on the same course. Competing in the regional meet along with Woodside will be of course Bethel and Menchville as well as Kecoughtan which took the final spot of the 4 available.

The Lady Bruins from Bethel were even more impressive. They scored a total of 40 points as they placed 6 runners in the top 12. Those runners were Tamisha Augustin (5th, 21:04), Jessica Cassell (7th, 17:42), Tiffanie Woods (8th, 22:02), Margarita Lewis (9th, 22:15), Erin Herring (11th, 22:17), and Jessica Bellamy (12th, 22:18).

Menchville's Megan Isaacs, a recent transfer from Europe, has found instant success as she won the girls individual title, crossing the line in 20:06.

Other girls squads advancing to the Eastern Region Meet are Warwick (52 pts), Menchville (99 pts), and Kecoughtan (104 pts).