Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 24, 1996, edition 1 / Page 31
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11B SPORTSfThe Charlotte Post Thursday, October 24 1996 GOOD SPORTS Reed excels for West Meek By Eric Bozeman FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST It’s not the triumph, but the struggle. Shayla Reed has enjoyed tri umph despite the struggles. The 17-year-old West Mecklenburg High senior has run a respectable 21 minutes, 37 seconds over a 3.1-mile cross country course this sea son. Reed is coming off a stellar cross country season last year, when the Indians fin ished 10th in the state meet. Not only has she been a standout in cross country, but she anchored four events in the state meet. “Shayla could run six miles one day, and then run a 12- second 100 the next,” said coach Brian Rawing. “Although she is completely spent when she finishes a race, Shayla has a lot of heart.” For Rawing, there is no sim ple way of describing what Reed does best, not only is she a fine athlete, but she is ranked No. 20 in her graduat ing class, and holds a 3.96 grade point average. “The best thing about her is she is very well rounded. She wants to major in English at college. Shayla is going to do great in school,” Rowing said. Reed has six school record in track and field. She has run the 800 meters in 2:20.3. the 400 meter da.sh in 59.0 .sec onds, and has been a member of record setting relay teams sucb as the sprint medley, 1600 relay, 3200 relay, and 800 meter relay. Reed placed fifth in last year’s state track PHOTO/SUE ANN JOHNSON Shayla Reed has been a consistent performer in cross country for West Mecklenburg High. meet, in the 400. “If she hadn’t run in the 3200 meter relay, she would have done better in the 400, but she likes the relays because it’s a team thing,” Rawing said. Rawing attributes ber suc cess to hard work. “I think she realizes it takes hard work in life to be suc cessful,” he said. “She’s will ing to do the work, and she expects to be .successful." Even with athletics, Reed still maintains a part time job, and is a member of at least a half dozen school orga nizations. “The keys to my success is No. 1, hard work, whatever you pursue in life you have to make that first,” Reed said. “And because of that. I’m off in meetings with some of the organization I’m in, and I don’t have much time to spend with my friends.” Although she is in the mid dle of cross country season, Reed has her athletic goals in order. “Cross country is something 1 1(> to keep me in .shape for track," she said. “Ti-ack and Field is shorter. There’s more adrenaline for me in track.” Reed said she has grown tremendously since she first stepped onto West’s campus. Smalls big man for Garinger PHOTO/SUE ANN JOHNSON Jay Smalls has 828 yards for Garinger’s Wildcats. thing,” he said, “It’s like you’re at peace with yourself, trying to get those yards.” Smalls has racked up 828 yards on 99 carries, with eight touchdowns this season. As the senior closes in on 1,000 yards, there’s nothing he feels he can’t will to hap pen on the football field. “I feel I can run anywhere on the field, I can run up the middle, outside, or running By Eric Bozeman FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST A fake here, a juke there, and Jay Smalls can see noth ing but daylight. The Garinger running back loves bouncing outside, find ing a seam in the defense, and bursting into open field. “It’s like as soon as you get the ball, you can’t hear any- pass patterns,” he said. “Catching passes is some thing that I don’t mind doing, but it’s easier for me to create something by running the ball and following my blocks. My line helps me out a lot.” Smalls relies on his natural ability, as well as his confi dence in his offensive line. The 5-10 185-pound scat back has honed his skills since he was a little kid. “Vision is just like instinct, that’s the only thing that’s going for you, is your feet and your eyes,” Smalls said. “I don’t know any running back that doesn’t have good vision.” Garinger coach Spencer Smith has been pleasantly surprised with Smalls’ out put, “I was expecting him to carry the load as the running back because he didn’t get to play the first two games because of eligibility due to medical reasons I was sur prised he has gained as many yards as he has,” Smith said. Smith figures Smalls will go far in his college career, because of his versatility on the field, and his steady efforts in the classroom. “Jay hits the holes quick, he’s capable of running straight ahead, but he’s best at running outside,” Smith said. Series has Braves fans pumped Continued from 8B pitching.” “I think the Braves are going all the way,” said Dawn Lanca, who also watched the game at Peppinos. “It’s definitely their year - again.” The fever never really left the hushed halls of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home, a place for terminally ill cancer patients near the stadium. The nuns, dressed in night gowns and munching on microwave popcorn with a lucky blue Braves pillow atop the TV, settled in for their favorite pastime with rapt con fidence. “The Braves can do it,” said Sister Marian. “When they said no one has ever come back from 3-1 (deficit in the NLCS) ... we said, ‘Never say never with the Braves.’” PHOTOAVADE NASH Fred McGriff and Javier Lopez greet 19 year old Andruw Jones after his second home run in Game 1 aganst New York. The best kind of news From business to sports to kids, The Charlotte Post delivers news about the African American community in Charlotte and the region. To get The Post delivered to you, call 376-0496 or return the form below. Name Address Phone I—I i-year subscription $30 I I 2-year subscription $45 Mail to The Charlotte Post, P.O. Box 30144, Charlotte, N.C. 28230 or tax to 342-2160.
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Oct. 24, 1996, edition 1
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