The inaugural Richard “Pop” Pitts Track Classic was
held on Saturday at Todd Stadium in Newport News, VA. Named for the legendary Norfolk State
basketball player, and later Menchville H.S. athletic director, the meet featured
over 340 athletes between the ages of five and 18 competing in a full slate of
events.
Pitts was on hand to fire the starting pistol for
the first race. “Steve Lewis (former Menchville track coach) hired me in 1976
as an assistant and told me that I’d be his starter. I’ve started a lot of
races since then.”
Speaking of the origin of the meet, Pitts added that it is
designed with a singular purpose.
“It gives kids who aren’t going to nationals (Junior
Olympic national championships will be held next weekend in Greensboro, NC) a
chance to have a culminating event for the summer.”
There were several outstanding performances in the
younger age groups. DeJah Nunn (East End Flyers) won the Sub-Bantam (9 years
old) 800-meter run with a time of 3:17.51. Michaela Rose of the F.I.A
Ambassadors captured the Bantam (10 years old) 3000 meters with a time of
11:23.29.
Adriana Shockley (14.41) and Edward Richardson
(13.31), also from the East End Flyers, won the 80-meter hurdles in the Midget
(12) age group. Jasmine Tilmon, from the Virginia Elite DP squad, took the
Midget girls 100-meter title in 13.32.
Clint Gault of Virginia Elite won the Youth (14)
3000 meters in 9:56.06.
Among local high school athletes, Carolyn Brown
(Phoebus) won the girls 100 meters in the Young (17-18) category with a
clocking of 12.29.
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