Girls make it three straight; boys defend ’14 crown
SK’s Lawler and Rams’ Principe top course, meet marks
By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
8 Nov. – – They had been favored all season; favored to go undefeated in their respective leagues and picked to regain their state cross country titles at the championship dance.
And on Sunday, the girls’ and boys’ teams of La Salle Academy disappointed neither the prognosticators, nor themselves. Competing at the 2015 edition of the State Cross Country Championships on Ponaganset High School’s “Covered Bridge’’ 3.1-mile course in perfect weather conditions, the Rams captured their third consecutive girls’ team crown. They posted a convincing 28-74 win over runner-up North Kingstown. That 28-point team total had been matched in the past only by Cumberland in 1977, and North Kingstown in ’06.
The Ram boys’ squad on Sunday bested second-place Hendricken, 35-59. La Salle’s girls entered Sunday’s meet ranked second in the Northeast by the national website DyeStat. The boys’ team were No. 3 Northeast in the DyeStat poll.
Individually on Sunday, the day belonged to underclassman talent, as South Kingstown sophomore Ellie Lawler clocked a meet and course-record time of 17 minutes, 29.2 seconds, bettering a time of 17:42.9 posted two years ago by Barrington’s Emma Mc Millan. On the boys’ side it was La Salle’s indefatigable junior David “DJ’’ Principe, who repeated his success of a year ago by finishing in 15:09.5. Principe’s clocking eclipsed a seven year-old meet and course set by Westerly’s Andrew Springer (15:41.1.)
GIRLS: Rego, Tavares run strong; Westerly sophomore Burr impressive
For the Rebels’ Lawler, strategy paid off on Sunday, as she led a talent-loaded field throughout the race. As she did a week earlier, Lawler downed La Salle’s top runners and finished by a wide margin. “I was running on the strategy my coach worked out,’’ said Lawlerm who finished third here last year. “I relaxed during the second mile, and took it out after that.’’
“I’m so proud of her,’’ said veteran Rebel coach Sherry Hathaway. “She’s amazing.’’
The Rams placed four runners among the top seven finishers, led by senior Eliza Rego’s 18:14 time for second spot. “I was the calmest I’ve ever been here,’’ Rego said. “I had a good start. Ellie ran a heck of a race. I tried to stay with her.’’
Senior Karina Tavares crossed the line fifth, making her the only girl since Lincoln High’s Liz Carlson to make a coaches all-state first-team berth in all four seasons of competition. Tavares, who was state runner-up last year. Clocked 18:43 on Sunday. Teammate Grace Connelly placed fourth in 18:33, and Ram sophomore Emily Kane finished sixth (18:43.) Rounding out the first coaches all-state team was Narragansett senior Marissa McPhillips in 18:50. Mc Phillips was this year’s Class C titlist.
Randi Burr, the Bulldogs’ No. 1 all season, finished behind Rego; third in 18:32. Burr, the ’15 Class B champ, looked strong throughout.”I thought I’d finish seventh,’’ Burr joked, pointing to the “7” race number on her uniform. “I was pleased.’’
“Overall, we had a great day,’’ said Ram coach Kelly Martin. “We had all seven in the top 16 in the state. They [team] were absolutely amazing. We knew Ellie would go out fast.’’
The coaches association’s second all-state team included Pilgrim senior Danika Wayss (8th, 18:53); the Skippers’ Beth Nunnery (ninth, 19:04); teammate Katy Brayman (10th, 19:05); Cumberland senior Amy Laverty (11th, 19:07); Claire Hanlon, a Bay View junior (12th, 19:12). Two La Salle runners founded out the second team: junior Alyson Walsh (19:20) and Audrey O’Neill (19:31.)
BOYS: A super-charged “DJ’’ wire-to-wire; NK frosh Toolin a strong fourth
“I really wanted to set the tone today’’ said junior Principe following his convincing 15:09 performance. “I knew I wanted to go under [course and meet] record. I think I went through the two-mile in 9:36. I wanted to go out hard, and work [field] back.’’
Principe did just that, and in the process joined Portsmouth Abbey great John Murphy as the only champion in the sophomore and junior years. (Murphy achieved that at the 1974 and ’75 state meets.)
La Salle senior Jack Salisbury, who returned to competition at last weekend’s Class Championship after being sidelined with an injury, hit the finish tape third (15:54) behind teammate Matt Bouthillette (15:43.) “I felt better than last week,’’ said Salisbury, who placed fifth at the Oct. 31 Class A race.
North Kingstown’s impressive freshman, Sam Toolin, finished fourth on Sunday; he clocked 15:57. Toolin, this year’s freshman state champ, was third in Class A last weekend. Dom Parlato, Hendricken’s senior distance man, was his team’s top finisher: fifth in 16:02. Ben Drezek, a Cumberland junior, came in sixth (16:02.6), while the Rams’ Alex Campagna completed the coaches first all-state team.
It was Cumberland senior Sean Laverty in the No. 8 spot (16:13), and Mountie junior Charlie Berg ninth (16:13.) Avery Ingeneri, of Hendricken, placed 10th in 16:15.6, and Chariho’s Kyle Keefe 11th (16:17.) The final second-team spots went to Mars Bishop, of Barrington (16:21); the Hawks’ Mike Kiernan (13th) and Alan Greenleaf, a Ponaganset senior, No. 14.
Oval Note: As reported last week, Barrington senior and three-time cross country champ Emma Mc Millan has been sidelined with an injury since early in the season. She did not compete on Sunday.
GIRLS’ RESULTS
Team scores
1, La Salle 28; 2, N. Kingstown 74; 3, Cumberland 131; 4, E. Greenwich 180; 5, Smithfield 180; 6, Bay View 184’ 7, Barrington 188; 8, S. Kingstown 193; 9, Westerly 240; 10, Portsmouth 246; 11, Chariho 263; 12, Coventry 276; 13, Mt. St. Charles 357; 14, Burrillville 395; 15, Toll Gate 410; 16, Prout 419; 17, Cr. West 468.
Top 50 finishers
1, Ellie Lawler, SK 17:29.2 (Meet and course records. OR: 17:42.9, Emma McMillan, Barr. 2013); 2, Eliza Rego, LS 18:14; 3, Randi Burr, Wesrt. 18:32; 4, Grace Connolly, Barr. 18:33; 5, Karina Tavares, LS 18:43; 6, Emily Kane, LS 18:43; 7, Marissa Mc Phillips, Narr. 18:50; 8, Danika Wayss, Pil. 18:53; 9, Beth Nunnery, NK 19:04; 10, Katy Brayman, NK 19:05; 11, Amy Laverty, Cumb. 19:07; 12, Claire Hanlon, BV 19:12; 13, Alyson Walsh, LS 19:20; 14, Audrey O’Neill, LS 19:31; 15, Lily Nunnery, NK 19:33; 16, Elise Papazian, LS 19:36; 17, Liz Sullivan, Ports. 19:38; 18, Una Treanor, Smith. 19:38.5; 19, Kate Zitzmann, Barr. 19:40; 20, Liz La Croix, Char. 19:44; 21, Tea Bishop, Barr. 19:52; 22, Emma Sammartino, NK 20:03; 23, Ana O’Cllaghan, Cumb. 20:08; 24, Sydney Bagus, Smith. 20:09; 25, Kalie Bremer, EG 20:14; 26, Ashton Deakin, EG 20:22; 27, Softa White, Ports. 20:22.8; 28, Alanah Gaudreau, NK 20:30; 29, Natalie Keefe, Char. 20:32; 30, Abby Cobb, SK 20:33; 31, Abby Kaye, Scit. 20:35; 32, Julia Zitzmann, Barr. 20:46; 33, Meaghan Scullin, Cumb. 20:47; 34, Abby Murdock, West. 20:51; 35, Sarah Bain, BV 20:52; 36, Wyndom Chace, NK 20:57; 37, Kata Cummings, West. 21:02; 38, Grace Henson, Cumb. 21:03; 39, Shayna Cousineau, 21:05; 40, Colleen Enestvedt, Cumb. 21:07; 41, Naomi Fastovsky, SK 21:09; 42, Maggie O’Brien, MH 21:13; 43, Kaci Perry, 21:20; 44, Audra Ravenelle, Smith. 21:23; 45, Anastasia Psilos, Prout 21:25; 46, Cassie Gendron, BV 21:25.5; 47, Sarah Basler, EG 21:25.8; 48, Lauren Jacobs, Cov. 21:26; 49, Isabella Muratore, EG 21:28; 50, Stella Noecker, MSC 21:29. Dist. – 3.1.
BOYS’ RESULTS
Team scores
1,La Salle 35; 2, Hendricken 59; 3, E. Greenwich 108; 4, Cumberland 124; 5, Barrington 129; 6, N. Kingstown 202; 7, Chariho 236; 8, Smithfield 257; 9, Prout 293; 10, Scituate 318; 11, Mt. Hope 318; 12, Pilgrim 321; 13, Ponaganset 325; 14, Coventry 364; 15, S. Kingstown 409; 16, Burrillville 422; 17, Toll Gate 426; 18, Cr. East 429.
Top 50 finishers
1, DJ Principe, LS15:09.5 (Meet and course records. OR: 15:14.1, Andrew Springer, Westerly 2008); 2, Matt Bouthillette, LS 15:43; 3, Jack Salisbury, LS 15:54; 4, Sam Toolin, NK 15:57; 5, Dom Parlato, BH 16:02; 6, Ben Drezek, Cumb. 16:02.6; 7, Alex Campagna, LS 16:10; 8, Sean Laverty, Cumb. 16:13; 9, Charles Berg, MSC 16:13.3; 10, Avery Ingegneri, BH 16:15; 11, Kyle Keefe, Char. 16:17; 12, Mars Bishop, Barr. 16:21; 13, Mike Kiernan, BH 16:23; 14, Alan Greenleaf, Pon. 16:24; 15, Jack Cronin, EG 16:25; 16, Joe Murphy, Class. 16:26; 17, Matt Walker, West. 16:29; 18, Dylan DePriest, EG 16:30; 19, Tom McMahon, BH 16:30.7; 20, Max Waite, BH 16:32; 21, Will Connelly, Barr. 16:33; 22, Zach Durand, Burr. 16:34; 23, John Pagliaro, Smith. 16:35; 24, Matt Vinacco, Scit. 16:38; 25, Alex Martinez, LS 16:39; 26, Jack Sommer, EG 16:47; 27, Jake Cardello, BH 16:51; 28, Grant Auber, Barr. 16:51.9; 29, Tim Sanzi, EG 16:54; 30, Adam Courtemanche, Smith. 16:54.6; 31, Bryce O’Brien, MH 16:58; 32, Jonny Eckel, Prout 16:58.4; 33, Oliver Hazard, NS 17:00; 34, Hank Perretta, EG 17:01; 35, Hayden Ivatts, Barr. 17:01.4; 36, Will Mardo, Cumb. 17:02; 37, Alec Gannon, EG 17:07; 38, Joe Higgins, EG 17;07.9; 39, Nick Musumeci, NK 17:12; 40, Ben Carlisle, LS 17:14; 41, Ethan Wyllie, NK 17:15; 42, Harry Travers, Cumb. 17:17; 43, Tom Colucci, LS 17:20; 44, Jim Haupt, Cumb. 17:20.5; 45, Kevin Dusseault, Pil,. 17:21; 46, Brandon Lawton, Pil. 17:21.7; 47, Evan O’Neil, Char. 17:25; 48, Trent Walker, EWG 17:27; 49, Eli Mitnick, Barr. 17:17.7; 50, Jegg Venter, BH 17:28. Dist. – 3.1.