Eastern Region Girls Preview

Beach Teams vie for title
Sherbak looks to capture individual crown

This year's Eastern Region meet looks to be a Beach District show with the top three teams and top individual hailing from that district. The Beach has been the most dominant district at the regional meet for quite some time. The last non Beach District Girls Team to win the title was Great Bridge in 1994. Ocean Lakes and Kellam appear to be the strongest teams once again with Kellam returning a potential state champion.

Kellam is once again the favorite to take home the region team title and has the potential to be in the top 8 at states. Potential state champion Natalie Sherbak (1600-5:10,5000 CC-18:24) leads the Knights and is supported by fellow seniors Audrey Hand (1600-5:20, 3200-11:53, 5000 CC 19:50) and Jessica Smith (1600-5:35c, 5000 CC 20:49), junior Lindsay Russo (5000 CC 20:50), sophomore Jessie Thompson (1600-5:32, 3200-12:31, 5000 CC).

Ocean Lakes returns their 2-5 runners from last years Eastern Region runner-up squad. Ocean Lakes is led by a 1-2 punch of Katie Keally (3200-11:39, 5000 CC-19:45) and Kristen Llyod (3200-11:49, 5000 CC-19:47). These two are supported by Heather Murdoch (5000 CC-20:15, 1600-5:33), Laura Edwards and Margaret Koach.

Beach: 2002 Results- (Kellam 1st, Ocean Lakes 2nd, Cox 3rd, Kempsville 6th)

Cox-The falcons return 3 of their top 7 from last years team. Junior Aspen Foster (3200-11:45, 5000 CC-19:28) is supported by seniors Pam Cruz (1600-5:41, 5000 CC-21:58) and Kathleen Brasington (800-2:25.54, 5000 CC 21:49), and junior Meredith Weiner (5000 CC-20:39). A fifth place runner is lacking, but there are several runners vying for the position.

Eastern: 2002 Results- (Maury 10th, Granby 13th, Churchland 14th)

Southeastern: 2002 Results-(Hickory 4th, Deep Creek 11th, Great Bridge 12th)

Hickory-Despite the graduation of their front runner, Jennifer Boyd, Hickory looks to repeat as Southeastern District Champions. The team returns four runners and is led by seniors Erica Locher (5000 CC-20:10) and Jane Mulligan (5000 CC 21:34)

Peninsula: (Menchville 5th, Bethel 7th, Warwick 8th, Kecoughtan 9th)

Bethel-The only squad from last year's meet who is returning their top 7. Senior Charisse Bullock leads Bethel (5000 CC-19: 49) who hopes to tighten up their pack of 3-5 runners in order to make it to the state meet.

Individuals:

"Kellam rising senior Natalie Sherbak would certainly love to keep the state crown in the beach area as she is the third fastest state meet returnee (19:31.24). With Boyd and teammate Kelley Taylor graduated, the Eastern Region is all Sherbak's to dominate, but she would like the state stage of dominance as well. Sherbak has the third fastest overall returning 5K time in the state (18:24, Eastern Region Meet) and fastest among returning AAA runners. Sherbak was all-state in the 1000 meter run indoors and 800 meter run outdoors and had personal bests of 2:58.81 and 2:16.29 in those respective events as well as a 5:10.90 1600 meter best to add. If the state meet race comes down to a kick and Sherbak is with the leaders, it will be hard for anyone else to contest Sherbak's finishing speed."

1. Natalie Sherbak-Kellam-See above-Senior
2. Aspen Foster-Cox-(3200-11:45, 5000 CC-19:28)-Junior
3. Katie Keally-Ocean Lakes (3200-11:39, 5000 CC-19:45)-Junior
4. Kristen Lloyd-Ocean Lakes (3200-11:49, 5000 CC-19:47)-Senior
5. Audrey Hand-Kellam (1600-5:20, 3200-11:53, 5000 CC 19:50)-Senior
6. Laura Walsh-Kempsville (5000 CC 19:51)-Senior
7. Charisse Bullock-Bethel (5000 CC-19:49)-Senior
8. Megan LaVoie-Warwick (1600-5:11, 5000 CC-19:32)-Senior
9. Ashley Hay-Princess Anne (5000 CC-19:57)-Senior
10. Katie Tobin-Great Bridge (1600-5:32, 3200-11:56, 5000 CC-19:57)-Senior
11. Erica Locher-Hickory (5000 CC-20:10)-Senior
12. Heather Murdoch-Ocean Lakes (1600-5:33 5000 CC-20:15)-Senior
13. Jane Mulligan-Hickory (5000 CC 21:34)-Senior
14. Meredith Weiner-Cox (5000 CC-20:39)-Junior
15. Danielle Williams-Salem (1600-5:29, 5000 CC-20:22)-Senior