Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 100

8 ST. PETERSBURG TIMES THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1987 we Here's a chance to run with stars 10,000 expected to race across Sunshine Skyway on Jan. 1 1 RUNNING More than 10,000 adventurous runners, joggers, walkers and gawkers are expected to take advantage of a one-time opportunity to trudge up and over the new $225-million Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 11. At 9 a.m., famed distance runners Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuejson will lead two of the four simultaneous races that will take runners to the top of the 175-foot high roadway, which will connect St.

Petersburg and Manatee County. Finishing touches are now being put on the bridge, which will replace the present Skyway. The old bridge was damaged by a freighter in a 1980 accident. "I have to emphasize that this is the only chance anyone is going to get to walk or run on the new Skyway bridge. It is definitely a one-time affair," said Jack Hough-teling, chairman of the events, collectively billed as "20,000 Feet above the Sea." Based on strong early registration for the races, Houghteling predicts that more than 10,000 people will participate.

Samuelson, the American record holder in the marathon, half-marathon and 10-mile distances, will lead a 3-mile race that starts at the north end of the bridge, finishing near the center of the main span. Rodgers, whose name is synonymous with success at the Boston Marathon, will lead another 3-mile race which starts on the Manatee side of the bridge and ends on the main span. Participants in the other two More than 10,000 people, including Bill Rodgers, should participate in the races to be held on St. Petersburg Times EARL TOWERY the new Sunshine Skyway. Feet Above the Sea': The Some facts about the Jan.

11 road race called "20,000 Feet Above the which will help open the new Sunshine Skyway bridge: More than 10,000 runners are expected to participate in four races that will run simultaneously. World-famous runners Joan Benoit Samuelson and Bill Rodgers are among the entrants. The new bridge will have the longest segmented concrete span in the Western Hemisphere. The main span towers 430 feet above Tampa Bay. The new bridge has 1 Vi percent less grade than the old one.

David White sizzles to spark Boca Ciega 4' J'a1b vw ITIERRITT nsHmoRE races, both 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) events, will start on opposite ends of the bridge and run or walk completely across the new bridge. Houghteling expects no crowding at the top of the bridge because the shorter races end 600 feet apart. Also, crowds will be dispersed by 35 buses that have been chartered to return participants to the starting lines after the races. Samuelson will be the featured speaker at a running seminar Jan. 10.

It will start at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton-St. Petersburg Marina and Resort, 6800 34th St. S. Samuelson will discuss running medicine, race preparation and personal running experiences.

The clinic is free. Runners can register at the Jogging Center in Largo or at race headquarters at the Sheraton-St. Petersburg. The entry fee is $12, increasing to $15 on race day. All registered runners will get souvenir T-shirts, and those who complete their races will get medallions.

Proceeds from the races will go to the Suncoast Chapter of the Leukemia Society and the Tampa Bay Running Council. For more information, call Jack Houghteling (536-8585) or Steve Danko (988-4833). HIGH SCHOOLS Don BRIMS they were treated to one. You can't find them any better than that one." "It was intense competition out there," said White, the tournament most valuable player. "Everyone in the gym seemed like they wanted Lakewood to win.

You could feel that. But I do get up for the big games. I think anyone can see that. "One reason I signed early was to concentrate on my season. Not to get lazy.

I want to see if we can win another state title for our coach. If if doesn't work out that way, fine. But I've never been a lazy player." Rest assured that Lakewood, with it's triple towers attack, will be heard from again this season. The Spartans (6-4) should meet their district rivals at least twice more before things are settled, and can at least take heart in knowing they handled almost everything the Pirates dished out. "I don't think we have the upper hand at this point," said White of the Lakewood-Boca Ciega power struggle.

"No one has any upper hand in Pinellas County this year. Everybody's too even." Only time, and perhaps the impending 13-game conference schedule, will tell. White was joined on the Eckerd all-tournament team by Pirate senior guard Kenny Smith, Gibbs senior center Minson Rubin, Lake-wood junior forwards Anthony Lawrence and Barry Brown, Gainesville Eastside senior guard Lloyd Clarke and Louisville-Ather-ton senior guard Ray Wilson. I Looking for the next young Pinellas County phenom? Here's one early vote for Northeast's impressive 5-9 freshman guard, Antonio Lovett. Lovett's averaging a modest eight points or so a game for the 9-1 Vikings, but it's the rest of his well-polished act that got rave reviews from Norfheast coach Dave Redding.

"He's shown tremendous leadership," said Redding after his squad split its two Eckerd tourna- facts Raiders lose in waning minutes of title game By DAVE BARBER St. Petersburg Times Correspondent TAMPA The scene resembled a disaster area. Several members of the St. Petersburg Raiders youth soccer team lay face-down on the ground. Some remained motionless, some clutched their fingers into the green sod and pulled at the dirt and grass.

Others beat their fist into the turf. What had happened to them, only a few seconds earlier was a disaster. youth soccer After playing the Texas Long- horns to a scoreless tie for the first 78 minutes in the McDonald's Sun Bowl International Soccer Tournament in the under-15 age division, the Longhorns scored two goals in the final 90 seconds of play to dance off with the tournament's championship trophy. The Longhorns are recognized as one of the premier youth soccer teams in the country and have won 68 of their last 71 matches. The Raiders finished with a 39-3-4 record last year, winning the Atlanta Youth Soccer Championships.

On Tuesday the two teams squared off against each other in the McDonald's Sun Bowl at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Like two heavyweight boxers standing toe-to-toe in the ring, they hammered away at each other. And, like one boxer sneaking in a knockout punch late in the 15th round, the Texas Longhorns scored with 90 seconds remaining on a deflected shot off the foot of 14-year-old David Janway. Eighty-five seconds later teammate David McQuire scored an uncontested goal. But for all practical purposes, the knockout punch had already been landed.

For the Raiders, the defeat was as bitter as it was sudden. Just when it looked like the Raiders would force the Longhorns into overtime, the clock struck midnight. "I was shocked, just shocked when they scored," said Raiders coach Rick McClain. "I knew the clock was running out and I thought for sure we'd be in overtime. And I liked our chances." down the lane to slam two of his later named the Eckerd College we're going to surprise them around district time." Don't expect everyone to fall for it, coach.

By having already whipped Lakewood and Gibbs two of the final four teams at Eckerd you've ruined the act. Oldham County (Ky.) lost two of its three games at the Eckerd tournament and coach Bob Hog-gard just might be taking a king-sized neckache home for his trouble. The size of the kids down here impressed me," said Hoggard, whose club was ranked No. 2 in Kentucky by a computer poll before its trip south. "I've got one kid who's 6-9 and he's the biggest kid in our region.

We probably don't have but about 15 players at 6-8 or better in the whole state at home. They have about that many here alone." But Hoggard did point out a weakness of Pinellas County bas JAY St. Petersburg Times RICARDO FERRO game-high 33 points Tuesday Invitational Tournament MVP. ketball, and it's one any good Kentucky coach would spot. "Probably the biggest thing is every team seems to want to run with it down here," he said.

"But you don't have as good a ballhandl-ing clubs as we do at home. We coach keeping our turnover total below 12 in order to win. We're patient with it. Down here it seems like teams can average 20 turnovers a game and still win." Taking in some of the Eckerd tournament over the weekend were three of the county's brightest stars from a year ago: Dixie Hollins' Dwayne Davis, Seminole's Walt Roberson and Gibbs' Tony Sanders. Davis is an ineligible freshman at Florida, while Roberson has helped Seminole Community College off to a fast start and Sanders leads his Manatee CC squad in scoring.

Lakewood coach Dan Wright managed a thin smile Tuesday night after the stirring conclusion of the Eckerd College Invitational basketball tournament, but it didn't come easily and it didn't last long. "I'll be glad when (your son) leaves," joked Wright upon bumping into Edgar White the father of Boca Ciega star David White. "Very glad." Turning aside, Wright added, "This game was good for the county. I don't like to lose, of course, but But what, Dan? But losing to David White and Boca Ciega is no big disgrace these days, that's what. And he's right.

When it comes time for Boca Ciega's 1987 graduation ceremonies, you can bet your favorite pair of Chuck Taylors that Wright and 12 other Pinellas County coaches will want to wish No. 23 a fond farewell. The electrified air inside the jam-packed McArthur Center on Tuesday night was like something out of a Final Four highlights reel. The 1,500 or so hoops fans who watched Boca Ciega's 54-51 title-game conquest of Lakewood were treated to one of the more heart-stopping, thrill-a-minute Pinellas County showdowns ever staged. In short, David White had a White kind of night.

Again. His final totals read 33 points, 19 rebounds, six dunks, five assists, four blocks and countless oohs and aahs. From the foul line he was a cool 15-of-21, including the two game-clinching shots, and his 14 fourth-quarter points accounted for all but three of the Pirates' total for the period. Those numbers answer the questions that have swirled about the 6-foot-6 Pirate senior throughout the early part of the season. Would he relax after signing with Florida State in November? Would he get the ball enough to give Boca Ciega (11-2) a shot at a second straight Class 3A state championship? And would his play be adversely affected by the absence of his brother, Edgar, a former Pirate guard now playing for Stetson? No.

No, and definitely not, came White's emphatic reply Tuesday night. "The bigger the game, the better the player," said Pirates coach Ken Robinson of White's one-man show against Lakewood. "I've said it before and I'll say it again he's going to do it every time when we need it. Everyone expected a great game from the two best teams and Boca Ciega's David White soars night against Lakewood. He was ment games.

"I don't believe there's a point guard who's played better the past four games or so. He's all over the floor on defense and he likes to pass so much I don't know how well he could score if he really tried to. "And he's a smart kid. He doesn't miss anything. I tell him once and it gets done.

He's not afraid to correct a senior, either. And when he does, he's usually right." First-year St. Petersburg coach Jamey Baby may be only 3-7 thus far, but at least his sense of humor has survived. After losing to Clearwater Central Catholic and Oldham County (Ky.) over the weekend, Baby explained his undersized team's approach thusly: "It's nice to have momentum and go into the conference season on a high note, but we took the other route. We're lulling everyone to sleep and then.