R.I. Track & Field Foundation
22 Jan. – – The Central High boys’ relay juggernaut rolled into Coxe Cage on Saturday for the annual Yale High School Classic and wound up draped in gold medals. In addition, the Knights’ Austin Wolo, Donatein Djero and Augustus Karweh won individual titles. On the girls’ side, La Salle’s Grace Connolly won the Yale 3000 meters.
In the throwers’ circle, meanwhile, Rhode Island championed both events. The girls’ 9-kilo weight throw was won by Ponagaset’s Gianna Rao with a mark of 59-6.25 (18.14 meters). Woonsocket’s contingent of throwers in the boys’ competition was led by Jared Briere, who unloaded the 11.36-kilo ball 68-5.50 (20.86).
The Central 4×200 and 4×400 relays were dominant. In the 4×200, the powerhouse foursome of Djero, Wolo, Demetrius O’Connor and Jones Mallay went 1:30.34 for the victory. Tony Vega joined Djero, Wolo and O’Connor to fashion a 4×400 relay time of 3:27.88. Djero clocked 6.41 to win the 55-meter dash, while Wolo posted a winning time of 49.99 in the 400. The Knights’ Augustus Karweh cleared 6-4 (1.93) to take the high jump.
Rhode Island’s one win in the girls’ meet on Saturday came from La Salle’s Grace Connolly, who went 10:01.32 to claim gold in the 3000 meters.
Oval Notes: In the girls’ 800 at Yale, Portsmouth’s Nikki Merrill placed second in 2:14.69 . . . Merrill’s teammate Liz Sullivan posted a second-place time of 5:07.06 in the mile . . . The Patriots came in second in the 4×800 . . . In the boys’ long jump competition, South Kingstown’s Tony Shepard was gold with a mark of 20-11 (6.37).
TOP R.I. GIRLS
WT (20-lb./9-kilo) – 1, Gianna Rao, Pon. 59-6.25 (18.14 meters); 4, Joan Mata, MP 46-11 (14.30); 5, Samantha Andrews, Linc. 46-9.50 (14.26); 6, Annika Kelly, Barr. 46-6 (13.81); 8, Melissa Mejia, Class. 44-6.75 (13.58); 9, Sydney Polando, Barr. 42-11 (13.08); 10, Megan Cook, Pon. 4208.75 (13.02).
HJ – 7, Kirsten Krause, Cov. 5-0 (1.52).
Mile -2, Liz Sullivan, Ports. 5:07.06 (= 4:44.7 @ 1500m); 8, Randi Burr, West. 5:18.18 (= 4:54.4 @ 1500).
3000 – 1, Grace Connolly, LS 10:01.32; 4, Ellie Lawler, SK 10:07.14.
800 – 2, Nikki Merrill, Ports. 2:14.69; 9, Leinni Valdez, Hope 2:20.63.
400 – 4. Isabella Gentil, EG 59.14.
55mH – 4, Tereza Bolibruch, NK 8.44.
4×200 – 3, Central 1:48.40; 8, Bay View 2:02.05.
4×400 – 4, Bay View 4:21.74.
4×800 – 2, Portsmouth 9:51.82.
DMR – 4, La Salle 12:11.61; 7, Portsmouth 12:18.29.
TOP R.I. BOYS
WT (25-lb./11.36-kilo) – 1, Jared Briere, Woons. 68-5.50 (20.86 meters); 2 Jacob Greenless, Woons. 65-7.50 (20.00); 3, Dilyn Cote, Woons. 65-0.50 (19.82); 4, Kevin Fofana, Class. 61-11.50 (18.88); 7, Zeke Cohen, Class. 56-10.25 (17.33); 8, Garrett Doyle, Linc. 56-4.75 (17.19); 9, Jacob Furland, Class. 56-1 (17.09); 10, Evan Grivers, Linc. 55-9 (16.99).
SP – 7, Xavier Truss, BH 44-11.75 (13.71).
HJ – 1, Augustus Karweh, Cent. 6-4 (1.93); 3, Mike Bittner, BH 5-11 (1.80); 5, Liam Giombetti, LS 5-11.
LJ – 2, Tony Shepard, SK 20-11 (6.37).
Mile – 7, Sam Toolin, NK 4:27.34 (= 4:07.7 @ 1500m).
3000 – 8, Matt Walker, West. 8:44.64; 12, Ben Drezek, Cumb. 8:46.11.
600 – 2, Connor Raffe, Cov. 1:56.51; 4, Nate Coogan, NP 1:57.02; 5, Mars Bishop, Barr. 1:57.57; 10, Jack Perreault, NK 1:59.08.
400 – 1, Austin Wolo, Cent. 49.99; 5, Harry Antone, BH 51.44.
55m – 1, Donatein Djero, Cent. 6.41; 3, Sam Coleman, LS 6.49.
55mH – 5, Ben Schapira, NK 7.98.
4×200 – 1, Central (Djero, Jones Mallay, Demetrius O’Connor, Wolo) 1:30.34; 8, La Salle 1:33.92.
4×400 – 1, Central (Djero, Wolo, O’Connor, Tony Vega) 3:27.88.
4×800 – 8, Hendricken 8:17.40.
DMR – 7, Westerly 11:23.16.