By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
16 Dec. – – Last indoor season it was a La Salle sweep, as the boys’ and girls’ team defended their statetitles. The La Salle girls’ program posted its ninth straight championship by besting Hope and Classical via a 103-point tally. The Ram boys’ , meanwhile, copped a second consecutive team crown, 104-58, over runner-up Barrington.
But will the Rams replicate the successes of a year ago? Clearly, challenges abound this season, as the league has enough talent to go around. Here’s a brief outlook – and look back at the 2014-15 indoor campaign:
GIRLS: Rams’ distance corps strong. A post-“Q” life in the sprints.
Of the top “long rangers’’ on La Salle’s roster, only Sheridan Wilbur – the state 3000-meter champ – graduated. Senior Eliza Rego copped double gold last year in the 1000 (in a facility-record 2:54.76), and the 1500 (4:42.06). Another of this year’s senior class – Karina Tavares – was runner-up to Rego in both events last February. La Salle’s other returnees include junior Michele Renzi, seniors Cianna Lynch, Audrey O’Neill and Elise Papazian and sophomore Emily Kane. Cumberland senior Amy Laverty will be a major contributor to the Clipper team, as will junior Julia Dempsey. Laverty placed fourth in the state last year in the 1500. Julia Zitzmann is a talented Barrington High senior distance runner, as are Sophia White, a Portsmouth junior, Smithfield sophomore Una Treanor, and Claire Hanlon, a junior from Bay View.
What can be said about Hope High’s Quashira “Q” Mc Intosh that hasn’t already been chronicled? To recap, all she accomplished last year at the State Championship was to score all but 18 of the Blue Wave’s 58-point total. “Q” won the 300 (41.16), the 55 dash (7.11), and anchored Hope’s winning 4×200 and 4×400 relays. But Hope will put speedy talent on th strack this season via some key returnees: seniors Isis Hack and Chevell Burgess and junior Leinni Valdez. Cumberland has high jump/dash specialist Meaghan Scullin on board this year; she finished fourth in the state a year ago in the high jump. North Kingstown sophomore Tereza Bolibruch should add points in the hurdles, as will East Greenwich sophomore in the dashes. Coventry junior Charleen Theroux came in second in the state last year in the long jump (17-1.50/5.41), and will be challenged by Kayla Ezeama, a junior from Smithfield.
May Stern, now a Classical High senior, returns to defend her 600-meter title. Stern downed Skipper junior Katarina Ho to win the event, clocking 1:38.22. Ho was timed in 1:40.13 for second spot, and promises to be a key scorer for North Kingstown this season. Another exciting underclassman is sophomore Randi Burr, of Westerly. Burr was a Coaches Association third-team pick in the 600. She also ran a leg on the Bulldogs’ 4×800 meters, which placed third in the state last year. With Classical’s Alva Hicks lost to graduation, the Purple has a top scorer in the throws in senior Fummibi Yusuff. Last year at the States, Yusuff came in behind Hicks in the shot put. Classical senior Lysah Russell should be back in the weight thrown circle, as will Smithfield High senior Meagan Malloy and Jenn Iozzi, of Cranston West.
A newand exciting addition to the ranks is Barrington High freshman Annika Kelly, sister of Princeton University freshman (and former Eagle star) Adam Kelly. Annika showed promise as a middle school competitor, and promises to be a player at RIIL events.
BOYS: Rams, Hawks, Clippers have strength. Freshman Toolin one to watch.
As with its girls’ squad, La Salle will put top distance talent on the PCTA track this season. The Rams have a pair of defending state distance men in seniors Jack Salisbury and Matt Bouthillette, and junior David “DJ” Principe. At last year’s State Championship, Salisbury went2:39.27 to win the 1000 meters. In the 1500, Salisbury nipped Bouthillette by 1/100th of a second at the line. Salisbury clocked 4:05.35 to Bouthillette’s 4:05.36. Also back for the Rams are senior Chris Shakespeare and Al Campagna.
Senior Dom Parlato has been Hendricken’s go-to guy in the long runs. He was sixth in the state in the 3000 meters, and will be joined in the Hawk lineup by senior Avery Ingegneri, junior Kwity Paye and sophomore Harry Antone, among others.
Sean Laverty has been a Cumberland distance mainstay for the last three years. He was fifth in the state last year in both the 3000 and 1500. Laverty will be joined in the Clippers’ lineup by seniors Will Mardo, Jim Haupt and Dave Agudelo. Distance talent this season will be evenly spread among such as Mt. St. Charles junior CJ Berg; Barrington junior Mars Bishop (the defending state 600-meter champ, at 1:24.13); Prout senior Jacob McConnell; Hendricken seniors Mike Kiernan and Jake Cardello; Scituate junior Matt Vinacco; Matt Walker, a sophomore from Westerly High; Ponaganset senior Alan Greenleaf.
Last season the weight throw and shot put circles were dominated by state record-holder and senior Adam Kelly, of Barrington. Kelly threw 81-3 (24.76) to win the 25-pound weight event, and put the shot 54-5.25 (16.59). He set the state weight throw mark of 83-3.25 (25.38) at last year’s Millrose Games in New York. But the Eagles will still be represented in the throws events by senior Bobby Colantonio, the state runner-up in the 25-pounder. Francy Mata is a talented senior from Mt. Pleasant, and Jared Briere, of Woonsocket, is a returning junior.
In the high jump, Dariy Esenov is a junior from Lincoln High who placed second in the state last year in the high jump. Dave Ogunronbi is a junior from East Providence High who promises to score in the jumps. The Townies lost state long jump titlist Trystan Casey to graduation, but Paulo Pereira is a senior this season, and should be back on the runway. Periera finished second to Casey in the State Meet long jump a year ago. Also for E.P. is senior Al Duarte. Another of that top group is Avery Williamson, a senior from West Warwick.
Dashes? Look to Classical senior Nate Narcisse to again fill that role. Last year, Narcisse emerged as the state hurdles champ, with a meet-record 7.54 performance. Charles Hazzard is a Townie senior who will score in the dash events, as will Classical senior Gbatoh Browne. Donatien Djero is a super-talented junior from Central High who last season copped the state title in the 55-meter dash (6.57). Pilgrim has a top man in senior Austin Asoroona, and Sam Coleman is a La Salle point-getter. For Rogers High, it’s senior Yaqood Iqbal.
“Oval Sidebar’’
SKIPPERS’ TOOLIN: Off the cross country course and onto the track
Making his indoor track debut – and simultaneously his presence known – is North Kingstown freshman Sam Toolin. He’s coming off a super cross country campaign, during which he was undefeated in dual-meet competition, won the state Freshman title and earned frst-team Coaches Association all-state honors off the State Championship. “He has a lot of race savvy,’’ said Paul Tetreault, Toolin’s cross country coach. “Once we were able to get him into consistent training, he got better and better. He started concentrating on his season. He’s a great team runner.’’
Toolin inaugurated his 2015-16 indoor campaign by winning the 1000-meter run in 2:38.8 at a dual meet on Dec. 14. Toolin crossed the line five seconds in front of teammate Ethan Wyllie in that race. Toolin has set a high bar for himself, and one to which any runner aspires.
“My goal is to qualify for the State Meet,’’ said Toolin, who will work the 600 and 1500 meters into his repertory. “I’d like to break four minutes [in the 1500]. My strategy now is to work on my kick and pacing. I went out a little fast [in the dual-meet 1000].
“[Running the PCTA oval] felt a lot different,’’ he said. “I have to think in terms of splits. Our team is looking good. We have a lot of freshmen, and that’s great.’’
PARTIAL MEET SCHEDULE, 2015-16 SEASON
Dec. 19 – RITCA Coaches Invitational, PCTA track facility
Dec. 30 – R.I. Classic, PCTA
Jan. 9 – Dartmouth Invitational
Jan. 9 – URI Invitational (Co-ed)
Jan. 9 – Hispanic Games, Armory Track, NYC
Jan. 13 – Millrose Trials, Armory Track
Jan. 15-16 – East Coast Invitational, PCTA
Jan 6 – Yale Invitational
Jan. 16 – Molloy-Stanner Games, Armory Track
Jan. 23 – New Balance Games (open meet w/some prep events), Armory Track
Jan. 30 – Girls’ Division Championships, PCTA (four meets)
Feb. 2-3 – Boys’ Division Championships, PCTA
Feb. 5-6 – Armory Invitational (college meet w/some prep events), Armory Track
Feb. 5 – Freshman States (boys/girls), PCTA
Feb. 6 – “Last Chance’’ qualifier, PCTA
Feb. 7 – New Balance “Grand Prix’’, Reggie Lewis, Roxbury, Mass.
Feb. 13 – Class Championships (Co-ed. Six meets total), PCTA
Feb. 20 – State Championship, PCTA (Boys, then girls)
Feb. 20 – Millrose Games, Armory Track
Feb. 28 – New England Championship, Reggie Lewis
Mar. 1 – Eastern States High School Championship, Armory Track
Mar. 11-13, New Balance High School National Championships, Armory Track