By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
20 Aug. – – Though many of last year’s stars have graduated, the 2015 state individual champions are back for another season. South Kingstown junior Ellie Lawler, and La Salle senior David “DJ’’ Principe were crowned as title-holders at the State Cross Country meet in Ponaganset. Lawler went 17 minutes, 29.28 seconds in downing Eliza Rego, the Rams’ No. 1, who on that day clocked in at 18:14.34. In the boys’ championship race, rock-steady Principe beat teammate Matt Bouthillette to the wire. “DJ’’ clocked in at 15:09.57 to Bouthillette’s 15:43.94.
La Salle took the boys’ and girls’ regional titles for the second straight year, a week after winning both state crowns at Ponaganset.
Principe won the New England title on the challenging Thetford Academy 3.1-mile course in Vermont. He clocked 15:48.4 over second-place finisher Gabe Altopp, of Connecticut (16:09.3). Lawler, meanwhile, placed second at Thetford (18:32.7) behind nationally-ranked senior Hannah Di Balsi, of Connecticut (18:29.9). Lawler earned All-American status on the strength of her 14th-place finish (17:56.6) at the Foot Locker National Championships in San Diego, Calif. on Dec. 12.
BOYS: Skippers’ Toolin high among notables
Though many of 2014’s “big guns’’ will not be on the course this fall, plenty of impressive talent remains. Sam Toolin, North Kingstown’s amazing three-season runner last year, is back as a sophomore power. Toolin placed fourth in the state last year, clocking 15:57.88. He was sixth in New England (16:19.0), coming in a place behind La Salle’s Jack Salisbury. But we have another season with La Salle’s Principe, now a senior. In the post-season, Principe finished eighth overall at the Nike Cross Country Northeast Region qualifier in New York State on Nov. 29.
Cumberland senior Ben Drezek (who last spring set two new R.I. steeplechase records) was a first-team coaches all-stater last November. Drezek placed sixth in the state with a time of 16:02.61. C.J.Berg, the talented “long ranger’’ from Mt. St. Charles placed ninth in the state ast year as a junior. Drezek was No. 12 in New England. Another then-junior class talent was Kyle Keefe, from Chariho High. He finished 11th in the state. And Barrington’s Mars Bishop will toe the starting line as a senior. A consistent distance man through all three seasons, Bishop was a second-team RITCA all-stater last fall.
Others expected to return this season: Westerly High junior Matt Walker (17th at State Meet); seniors Hank Perretta, Jack Sommer and Tim Sanzi from East Greenwich; Hendricken senior Max Waite; seniors Matt Vinacco, of Scituate, and John Pagliaro, of Smithfield; Toll Gate junior Nick Reygadas; Cam Doherty, a senior from Prout High.
GIRLS: Besides Lawler, Westerly’s Burr, Rams’ Connolly impressive
The Rebs’ Lawler says she’s ready to reclaim her state title.
“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season,’’ she said. “My training has gone very well. I have gotten in some really productive captain’s practices with my SKHS teammates. We’ve been increasing our mileage and getting in some quality threshold training.’’
Betterment is Job One for this Rebel runner. “I have no specific time goals for this year, but am looking to improve my times significantly from last year and hopefully defend my state title,’’ Lawler said. “South Kingstown has some strong incoming freshmen that I look forward to training with along with the returning teammates I’ve trained with the last few years.’’ Seniors Hannah Southwick and Abby Cobb are expected to return to the Rebel lineup this season, along with junior Mackenzie Fish.
Last year, Westerly sophomore Randi Burr finished as a third-team coaches all-stater with a 18:32.71 clocking at the State Championship. La Salle will have juniors Grace Connoly and Emily Kane, along with senior Alyson Walsh. Connolly was fourth in the state last year, finishing in 18:33. North Kingstown is expected to return junior Katy Brayman and Lily Nunnery, a talented sophomore, who last year made the coaches third all-state team.
Portsmouth’s Liz Sullivan has good results last season as a freshman; she is expected to return this fall. Another sophomore returnee is Liz LaCroix, from Chariho. Smithfield will have the talents of senior Sydnay Bagus, as well as junior Una Treanor. Senior Alex Guertin is expected t make her harrier debut this season.
Course notes: Among the new course sites are Middlebridge School in Narragansett and the grounds of East Greenwich High. The Avenger site will play host to the Sept. 3 Injury Fund Relay Carnival and the Oct. 24 Freshman State Championships . . . Central High will inaugurate a girls’ cross country program.
Partial 2016 schedule
Sept. 3 – Injury Fund relays, E. Greenwich High
Sept. 9 – Twilight Relays, Diamond Hill Park, Cumberland
Sept. 16 – Blackstone Valley Invite, Cumberland
Sept. 18 – Downtown 5K, Providence
Sept. 23, 24 – Ocean State Invitational (10th annual), Goddard Park
Sept. 24 – Manchester Invite, Derryfield Park, N.H.
Oct. 1 – Thetford Invite (a.k.a. “Woods Trail Run’’), Thetford, VT
Oct. 8 – Wickham Park Invite, Conn.
Oct. 8 – Manhattan Invite, Van Cortlandt Park, NYC
Oct. 10 – Columbus Day Invite, R. Williams Park, Providence
Oct. 13 – East Greenwich Invite (1st annual), EGHS
Oct. 15 – Brown University Invite, Goddard Park
Oct. 20 – East Bay Challenge, Glen Farm, Portsmouth
Oct. 20 – Bronco Invite, Burrillville Middle School
Oct. 29 – Class Championships, Ponganset High
Nov. 6 – State Championship, Ponaganset
Nov. 12 – New England Championship, Ponaganset
Nov. 26 – Foot Locker Northeast qualifier, Van Cortlandt Park
Nov. 26 – Nike Northeast qualifier, Wappinger Falls, N.Y.