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Roach wraps up strong summerSteve Cannuli Sports Editor Wednesday, August 8, 2007 REIDSVILLE - During his four-year career at Reidsville High School, Stephon Roach has enjoyed quite a bit of success. As he now prepares for his collegiate career at Western Carolina, Roach can add an AAU Junior Olympic Championships second-place finish to his resume. Roach, who will leave for Western Carolina next week, recently competed at the J.O. Championships - held at the University of Tennessee. Running in four events, Roach’s second-place finish - his best - came in the boys’ 1500-meter run. He also competed in the 800-meter, 4x400-meter relay and 4x800-meter relay. “My experience and my time at Reidsville is going to help me greatly,” said Roach. “What helped me at the nationals (J.O. Championships) was my experience at states and knowing not to run out too fast.” While at Western Carolina, Roach said he plans to run cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter and track and field in the spring. Although that seems a lot to some people, it is what Roach has been doing since the ninth grade. With his high school plans involving just basketball, Roach was approached by Reidsville coach Larry Strader, who spoke to him about cross country and track and field and the rest is history – literally. Roach was part of the 4x800-meter relay at Reidsville High School, which won three straight state championships. What is even more impressive is the fact that the relay members were constantly changing. “Coach Strader has done so much for me,” said Roach. “I would not be where I am today, if not for him.” Roach, along with former runners Samuel Bryan, Graham Rothrock, Danel Slaydon and Tyler Mooney helped keep Reidsville on the track and field’s state map. Track and field ended for Roach at Reidsville back in May, but he continued to work out feverishly throughout the summer. In addition to the Knoxville, Tenn.-event, Roach also participated at an event at Johnson C. Smith (Charlotte) and the Johnson Riley Invitational in Winston-Salem. At Johnson C. Smith, Roach set the meet record in the 800-meter (1:56) and placed second in Winston-Salem behind fellow Catamount and future roommate Andrew Tucker. “I am real excited that Drew and I are rooming together,” said Roach. “It will be nice to be around someone who has their head on straight.” Roach and Tucker both qualified for the J.O. Championships by getting past the regional round, which was held three weeks ago at Mount Pleasant High School. Roach won the 1500 meter and was second to Tucker in the 800. The foursome of Roach, Tucker, Maurice Eubanks and Brandon Hairston won the 4x800 and were second in the 4x400. However, the best the foursome could finish at Tennessee was ninth in the 4x800. Roach, who is planning to major in biology, said he is setting his sights high at Western. “I want to be the fastest 1500 runner at Western Carolina,” he said. “My main goal is to come out for the indoor season strong and roll that over into track and field.” He will soon get his chance in just 21 days. Roach and the rest of Catamount cross country team begin their season Aug. 31 at the Western Carolina Invitational.Subscribe to the Newspaper© 2007 Media General Terms & Conditions