Big weekend for area athletes

Many high school athletes from South Hampton Roads were busy this weekend in and out of the country.

James McAdoo, a 6-foot-8 rising junior at Norfolk Christian, led the USA Basketball Men’s U16 national team to the gold medal with 20 points and 12 rebounds in a 101-87 victory over host Argentina in the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship.

McAdoo, who was first-team All-Tidewater this past season, had an incredible five-game stretch.

He finished as the second-leading scorer on the team and ninth overall with 16.8 points. He was the second-leading rebounder and fifth overall with 8.6 a game.

He led the team in blocks and was third overall with 10. And he tied for the team lead in steals (1.8) and field-goal percentage (.600).

After the game, McAdoo told the media that it was an experience he’ll never forget.

“It’s a dream to come true,” he said. “One of my goals is to be an Olympic gold medalists and this is another step. It's awesome to look at some of the clothes USA Basketball gave us and the jersey with USA on it. It really hit home when they played the national anthem that we were representing our country.”

McAdoo also commented on how quickly the team came together. “Off the court, when we weren’t playing basketball,” he said, “we were always with each other and that also carried over on the court which really helped us when we were playing in this hostile environment where nobody wanted us to win. We were able to work through all the problems that occurred on the road and fight through and win.

“I’m proud that we went out there on the floor and were able to win it. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Track and Field

In North Carolina, more than 20 athletes traveled to Greensboro for Nike Outdoor Nationals.

James Taylor, a recent Nansemond River graduate, finished runner-up in the long jump and third in the 200 meters.

Great Bridge’s Taylor Sykes placed sixth in the 400 meters in a time of 47.28.

And the Western Branch 400-relay team of Camille Thomas, Amber Mitchell, Keisha Myrick and Shakia Williams placed fifth.

Here’s how some other area athletes fared:

Qualitra Brown (King’s Fork) was sixth in the emerging elite division of the 400 meters in a time of 57.22. Cameron Cipcic (Western Branch) ran 59.54 to place 27th in the 400 hurdles. Sydni Cobb (Western Branch) won the Emerging Elite Division in the shot put with a throw of 40-11 ¾. Marcus Dean (Western Branch) jumped 45-9 to place 21st in the triple jump. Desmonae Gray (Western Branch) finished 11th in triple jump at 39-0 ½. Cassandra Jones (Granby) ran 56.26 to place 23rd in the 400 meters. She also placed seventh in the Emerging Elite Division of the 200 meters in a time of 25.37.  Allen Kelly (King’s Fork) cleared 14-8 ¾ to place 12th in the pole vault. Jeffrey Lewis (Western Branch) ran 14.41 to place 14th in the 110 hurdles.  George Matais (Western Branch) ran 4:04.95 to place ninth in the Emerging Elite Division of the 1,500 meters. He also ran 4:22.87 to place eighth in the mile run. Erika Morgan (Western Branch) finished 19th in high jump at 5-2 ½. Daniel Nix (Western Branch) ran 48.68 to place 16th in the 400. Shakeela Saunders (Great Bridge) ran 24.48 to place 11th in the 200 meters. Karimah Shepherd (Grassfield) jumped 38-6 ¾ to place16th in the triple jump. She also jumped 17-8 ¾ to place 20th in the long jump. Dominique Smith (Kempsville) ran 14.61 to finish 19th in the 110 hurdles. Blake Theroux (Western Branch) ran 4:16.76 to finish 19th in the 1,500 meters. He also ran 4:35.51 to place 19th in the mile run.  Venus Whitties (Western Branch) ran 1:09.10 to place 33rd in the 400 hurdles.  Dayzonte Williams (Granby) ran 50.50 to place 25th in the Emerging Elite Division of the 400 meters.

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