Sports B1
McManus wins national title at Hershey meet
By Chronide Staff , SI ? ?
?*
When it comes to throwing a
Softball, Andre McManus is the
nation's best in the 13- 14s age
group.
McManus confirmed his sta
tus as the tops in his division by
winning the event at the Hershey
National Track & Field Champi
onships held at Hershey, Pa. last
Saturday. His winning throw
was 257 feet, the same distance
he threw at the state meet last
"I couldn't tell what
anybody else was
throwing. But after
my second throw. I
took the lead for
good."
-Andre McManus
month.
The 14-year old McManus is
the first athlete from the Win
ston-Salem Parks & Recreation
Dept. to win a national title at
the Hershey meet. He finishes
the summer track season in per
fect shape with a 5-0 record in
competition.
Entering the competition,
McManus had set his sights on
breaking the existing national
record (305 feet) for his age
group. As things turned out, a
national record wasn't in the
cards for that day, primarily
because of unseasonably cool
temperatures.
J
_ __ ? ' . ? . Hnoto oy Chroniae Staff
Please see Page B2 McManus is the undisputed national champion In the softball ball throw tor 13 and 14 year-olds.
Williams sisters share their message with Winston youth
JL.
Venus Williams
By Chronicle Staff
Venus and Serena Williams
are prime examples that positive
things can and do happen no
matter what your background
might be.
That's the reason why both
made personal appearances as
part of last week's Garber/Lash
Tennis Tournament at Hanes
Park. The two also conducted a
tennis clinic at Happy Hills Gar
- dens and spoke to area young
sters at the East Winston
Library.
It's clear that neither have
forgotten where they came from.
Both started playing the game in
Compton, Calif., on a public
court, located in the heart of the
ghetto. Drugs were the norm and
so were shootings, which is typi
cal of life in the hood.
The message that the
Williams girls deliver to young
sters is clear. Nothing is out of
Serena Williams
reach if you keep striving and
believe in yourself. It's a mes
sage that they've been exposed
to for years, courtesy of father
and mother (Richard and
Brandee Williams). .
"They're everyday girls
from the ghetto," said Richard,
who started an inner-city tennis
program in Compton eight years
ago. 4tWe want the girls to
understand that it's good to go
back and help people who are
underpriviledged. With them
coming from the ghetto, it
shows a lot of kids what can be
done and what they can do."
Over the past couple of
years, Venus and Serena have
stunned astute tennis observers
with their exceptional on-court
skills. The consensus is that both
will become elite performers on
the circuit one day.
As a result, the two have
received a lot of national media
attention.
Both are highly ranked by
the Southern California Tennis
Association. Venus is undefeat
ed in 60 matches and Serena's
record is 57-2.
For now, though, both still
have a ways to go. Neither sister
has reached their teens yet.
Venus is 12 and Serena will be
1 1 next month.
Venus is said to be the most
sought-after tennis player of her
age in the history of the game.
Her vast potential has agents
salivating for the opportunity to
sign her to a contract.
The agents are not alone.
The sneaker people are mak
ing their pitches. So are the ten
nis equipment companies and
sports apparel firms.
The story of the Williams
sisters is unique, not so much
Please see Page B2