By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
24 Sept. – – Rhode Island’s defending cross country champions traveled to invitationals in New York and New Hampshire on Saturday and came away with impressive victories at each venue.
At the Bowdoin Classic in Wappinger Falls, N.Y., La Salle senior David “DJ’’ Principe set a meet and course record while winning the boys’ Varsity II race in 15 minutes, 23.3 seconds. In Manchester, N.H. meantime, South Kingstown junior Ellie Lawler aced the girls’ Small Schools Division run in a time of 18 minutes, 45 seconds at Derryfield Park. Lawler, running off a 5:56 first mile, topped Kate Leggat, of Greely High, who clocked 18:58 for second.
‘DJ’ followed script
“He had his race plan in mind,’’ said Ram coach Ken Skelly of his runner. “DJ was very relaxed. He was off, five steps off the line and had the lead all by himself.’’ Principe finished roughly 40 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Rey Rivera, of New Jersey (16:06).
“It was a great run,’’ Skelly said. “He’s comfortable with that course.’’ The Wappinger Falls route includes a formidable hill about a mile in. “He turned on the gas, going for the record,’’ the coach said. Principe’s negative split for the second mile was 4:37.
“We’ll be at the Great American [Cross Country Invitational] next weekend,’’ Skelly said. [DJ] wants to see what he’ll do on that course.’’
Principe won the ’15 state title at Ponaganset in 15:09. Lawler copped the girls’ state prize with her winning time of 17:29.
MANCHESTER INVITATIONAL
R.I. GIRLS
Small Schools
Team score
4, S. Kingstown 126.
Top R.I. finishers
1, Ellie Lawler, SK 18:45; 24, Hannah Southwith, SK 21:07; 31, Kali Vanderlaan, SK 21:15; 32, Kyle Fish, SK 21:20; 38 Abby Cobb, SK 21:34.
R.I. BOYS
Large Schools
R.I. team
3, Hendricken 109.
Top R.I. finishers
12, Jeff Venter, BH 16:33; 22. Jonathan Iamarone, 23. Jordan Dagrin, 24, Max Waite, BH 16:53; 28, Aidan Tierney, BH 16:57.
BOWDOIN CLASSIC
R.I. GIRLS
Varsity I
R.I. team
4, E. Greenwich 112.
Top R.I. finishers
9, Emma Mc Donald, EG 20:44; 34, Lauren Salvadore, EG 22:40; 35, Abby Reynolds, EG 22:46; 39, Catherine Wood, EG 23:03.
R.I. BOYS
Varsity I
R.I. teams
5, E. Greenwich 187; 6, Barrington 190.
Top R.I. finishers
4, Jackson Cronin, EG 16:32; 5, Mars Bishop, Barr. 16:35; 25, Hayden Ivatts, Barr. 17:21.
Varsity II
R.I. teams
4, La Salle 109; 10, Prout 336.
Top R.I. finishers
1, DJ Principe, LS 15:23.3 (Meet and course record); 9, Max DiMuccio, LS 16:38; 27. Dom Campagna, LS 17:19; 35, Tom Collucci, LS 17:31.