R.I. Track & Field Foundation
1 Oct. – – La Salle senior David “DJ” Principe on Saturday placed second at the Great American Cross Country Festival’s Race of Champions, held on a 5K course at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. N.C.
In a tight finish, Principe – the Rhode Island and New England defending champ – clocked 14 minutes, 32.4 seconds; 2/10ths of a second behind winner Brodey Hasty, of Brentwood, TN. Taylor Vroom, also of Brentwood, crossed the line No. 3 in 14:57.
In the girls’ Race of Champions, La Salle junior Grace Connolly was the top local finisher; 18:08, good for for 11th place. Connolly finished fourth in the state last year behind Westerly’s Randi Burr.
At Thetford, Vermont on Saturday, Portsmouth’s Liz Sullivan and Jackson Cronin, of East Greenwich, were the top placers at the annual “Woods Trail Run’’. Sullivan, a sophomore who last year earned third-team coaches all-state honors as the 17th State Meet finisher, went 19:38 for fifth spot at Thetford. Cronin, also a 2015 third-team coaches all-stater, clocked in at 16:40, also good for fifth in his race.
THETFORD INVITATIONAL/R.I. results
GIRLS
R.I. teams
4, E. Greenwich 263; 8, Portsmouth 289; 12, Barrington 448.
Top 10 R.I. finishers
5, Elizabeth Sullivan, Ports. 19:38; 16, Kate Zitzmann, Barr. 20:28; 35, Emma McDonald, EG 21:11; 38, Nikki Merrill, Ports. 21:13; 56, Leah Chase, EG 21:44; 65, Sofia White, Ports. 21:57; 79, Bryn Shunney, EG 22:13; 84, Lauren Salvadore, EG 22:17; 86, Abby Reynolds, EG 22:19; 93, Ana Caleri, EG 22:25.
BOYS
R.I. teams
3, E. Greenwich 160; 9, Barrington 268; 20, Coventry 710.
Top 10 R.I. finishers
5, Jackson Cronin, EG 16:40; 15, Hayden Ivatts, Barr. 17:21; 32, Jack Sommer, EG 17:46; 36, Matt Rene, Ponaganset 17:52; 51, Colin Cianciolo, EG 18:05; 54, Matt Vincco, Scituate 18:06; 56, George Wicker, Barr. 18:07; 67, Brian Donahue, Barr. 18:15; 68, Jim Gunness, Barr. 18:16; 72, Noah Gramitt, Ports. 18:20.
GREAT AMERICAN CROSS COUNTRY FESTIVAL
GIRLS
R.I. team
6, La Salle 238.
Top R.I. finishers
11, Grace Connolly, LS 18:08; 75 Emily Wilson, LS 20:03; 80, Gabby Celico, LS 20:07; 112, Sydney Decesare, LS 20:53.
BOYS
R.I. teams
5, La Salle 241; 21, Hendricken 427.
Top R.I. finishers
2, DJ Principe, LS 14:32; 33, Max DiMuccio, LS 15:53; 59, Jordan Dagrin, BH 16:10; 67, Dom Campagna, LS 16:17; 83, Tom Colucci, LS 16:29; 94, Aidan Tierney, BH 16:38; 96, Joe dos Reis, LS 16:39.