“Around the Oval’’
By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
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28 Dec. – – Barrington High’s Adam Kelly combined strength, mechanics and a senior athlete’s experience on Saturday to place himself at the head of United States prep athletes in the 25-pound weight throw. In the process, Kelly also broke a 14 year-old Rhode Island and New England record in the event.
Competing in a three-man weight throw relay team, before a capacity audience at the sixth annual R.I. Classic Track & Field Invitational at the PCTA facility, Kelly got off a throw of 82 feet, 8.75 inches (25.21 meters) on his third and final attempt. The distance bettered by a foot the existing state and regional mark of 81-8.74 (24.91) set in 2000 by Hendricken’s Josh Mc Caughey. Kelly’s throw is currently ranked No. 1 nationally. (NOTE: See “Around the Oval’’ sidebar article.) At Saturday’s meet Kelly and his teammates – Bobby Colantonio and Mike Alvernaz – combined for a winning distance of 221-8.75 (67.58).
First-place performances were also posted by the La Salle girls’ 4×800 relay, where senior Sheridan Wilbur was joined by juniors Elise Papazian, Eliza Rego and Audrey O’Neill in clocking 9:47.35. Ram freshman Emily Kane went 5:28.90 to win the girls’ freshman mile.
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GIRLS: La Salle’s Rego runs a strong “Classic’’ open mile
Distance All-Stater Eliza Rego enjoyed a successful day at Saturday’s meet. Besides anchoring her team’s winning 4×800 relay, Rego finished third in the event’s premiere event: the open mile run. She posted a time of 5:08.78 in a strong effort against Danse Rivers, of Wilbur Cross High in Connecticut, and Arlington (Mass.) senior Bella Burda. Rivers clocked 5:01.30; Burda, 5:02.29.
As the race began, Rivers quickly established herself in the lead. Rego and North Kingstown’s talented sophomore Katarina Ho battled for third position. With about two laps to go, the Ram junior went from fourth to third place. “I felt pretty good,’’ Rego said. ‘I got out quickly. I was trying to keep on pace.’’ Rego went through 800 meters in 2:31.
In other individual performances: La Salle senior Stephanie Di Traglia clocked 7.51 to take the silver medal in the 55-meter dash . . . Beth Nunnery, the Skippers’ junior “long ranger’’ finished second to Burda in the 3000; her time was 10:25.43 to Burder’s 10:08..44 . . . In the 800, it was Barrington junior Julia Zitzmann second in 2:24.34. Cumberland senior Nichole Barger followed close behind in third (2:24/36) . . . Stephanie Mattson, a Smithfield High senior, finished third in the long jump with a mark of 16-10.25 (5.13).
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BOYS: Rams, Hendricken take home relay gold
It was juniors DJ Principe and Matt Bouthillette, together with seniors James Placco and Jake Grundy, combining for a winning time of 10:31.80 in the boys’ distance medley relay.
“We wanted to get out hard,’’ said Principe, Rhode Island’s cross country champ this fall. “We wanted to hold on to that [under 10:40] time.’’ Principe anchored the relay in its 1600-meter leg. He went roughly 4:21. “We came to win,’’ said Bouthillette, who ran the 1200-,eter leadoff leg. Placco went 53.6 in his 400-meter role, while Grundy clocked 2:02 for the 800-meter portion.
Salisbury came back to win the boys’ open mile at a time of 4:21.31, in a battle with Glastonbury (Conn.) junior Randy Neish (4:21.38.) Hendricken captured the 4×800 relay in 8:22.37. Seniors Jared Boulanger, Pat Hagerty and Tom Grizzetti were joined by junior Avery Ingegneri in the win. The Hawks also got the gold medal in the boys’ 55-meter shuttle relay. Juniors Brendan Dillon and Caleb Wurster, senior Dan Mecidi and sophomore Ethan Famiano clocked 33.21 seconds.
In the boys’ long jump. East Providence junior Paulo Pereira leapt 21-7.25 (6.58) to take the win. Teammate Trystan casey finished second at 21-6 (6.55). It was Classical junior Nate Narcisse winning the 55-meter hurdles in 7.88. The boys’ freshman mile was won by Westerly High’s Matt Walker in 4:53.46.
Other notables: Hawk senior Power Kanga clocked 6.76 for fourth spot in the dash . . . The 3000 meters saw a fine effort from Wheeler School senior Ian Stellar, who placed second in 9:15.13 . . . Jon Cavanagh, a senior from Barrington, cleared 12 feet (3.65) in the boys’ pole. Ponaganset senior Ben Duhaime finished fourth at 11 feet (3.35) .
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R.I. GIRLS’ RESULTS
WT relay – 2, Classical 132-8 (40.44 meters); 4, Toll Gate 124-1 (37.82; 5, N. Kingstown 107-9 (32.86); 7, Lincoln 95-9.75 (29.20); 9, Woonsocket 73-11.50 (22.54); 10, Cumberland 66-5 (20.24); 11, Classical “B” 61-0.75 (18.61); 12, W. Warwick 56-1.25 (17.10); 13, Central 48-11.50 (14.92); 15, La Salle 42-3.50 (12.89).
SP relay – 6, Classical 84-4.50 (25.71); 8, Woons. 79-6.50 (24.24); 10, Bay View 75-5.50 (22.99); 11, La Salle 74-11.25 (22.84).
HJ relay – 3, La Salle 13-9 (4.19); 4, Toll Gate 13-5 (4.08); 9, Smithfield 9-3 (2.81); 13, Narragansett 5-2 (1.57); 15, N. Kingstown 4-10 (1.47).
LJ – 3, Stephanie Mattson, Smith. 16-10.25 (5.13); 4, Meaghan Scullin, Cumb. 16-8.75 (5.09); 8, Whitney Jackson, Hope 15-3.75 (4.66); 12, Kayla Ezeama, Smith. 14-9.25 (4.50); 14, Julia Wicklund, West. 13-5.50 (4.10).
TJ – 4, Jackson 35-5 (10.79); 5, Melanie Brunelle, Pil. 35-4.75 (10.78); 7, Ezeama 33-5 (10.18); 8, Mattson 33-2.25 (10.11).
PV – 4, Morgan Mc Donald, Smith. 9-0 (2.74).
Open mile – 3, Eliza Rego, LS 5:08.78; 6, Sheridan Wilbur, LS 5:19.32; 7, Amy Laverty, Cumb. 5:22.30; 9, Randi Burr, West. 5:24.02.
Frosh mile – 1, Emily Kane, LS 5:28.90; 3, Gabby Celico, LS 5:36.31; 8, Grace Hensen, Cumb. 6:09.58.
3000 – 2, Beth Nunnery, NK 10:25.43.
800 – 2, Julia Zitzmann, Barr. 2:24.34; 3, Nichole Barger, Cumb. 2:24.36; 5, Elise Papazian, LS 2:26.88; 8, Audrey O’Neill, LS 2:28.32.
300 – 6, Scullin 43.45; 14, Nichole Morales, Pil. 46.46; 16, Madison Stanley, Pil. 47.10.
55m – 2, Stephanie DiTraglia, LS 7.51.
55mH – 7, Tereza Bolibruch, NK 9.19.
SHR – 8, Classical 43.48.
4×200 – 3, Hope 1:46.25; 6, Cr. West 1:49.56; 7, La Salle 1:50; 12, La Salle “B” 1:55.48; 16, Classical 1:58.14; 18, Barrington 1:58.32; 23, Central 2:00.13; 26, Hope 2:01.32.
4×400 – 4,Hope 4:14.04; 7, Toll Gate 4:18.63; 9, La Salle 4:20.19; 18, Barrington 4:34.95.
Fr./Soph 4×400 – 2, La Salle 4:28.81; 8, Hope 4:42.51.
4×800 – 1, La Salle (Wilbur, Papazian, O’Nell, Rego) 9:47.35.
Fr./Soph SMR – 2, La Salle 4:31.51; 5, Hope 4:42.54; 12, Bay View 5:00.01.
SMR – 8, Pilgrim 4:43.66; 10, Hope 4:46.45; 13, Classical 4:57.25.
DMR – 5, Westerly 13:54.03; 7, Cumberland 14:02.48.
All times FAT. MVPs: Field – Leah Moran, Holy Name, N.Y. Track – Kate Hall, Lakes Regional, Me.
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R.I. BOYS’ RESULTS
WT relay – 1, Barrington (Adam Kelly, Bobby Colantonio, Mike Alvernaz) 221-8.75/67.58 meters. (Kelly’s mark: 82-8.75/25.21, No. 1 U.S. New R.I. and New England record. OR: 81-8.75/24.91, McCaughey 2000); 2, Woonsocket 158-11 (48.43); 3, Classical 153-5 (46.76);p 5, Class. “B” 137-1 (41.82); 6, Hendricken 131-10 (40.19); 7, Lincoln 128-1 (39.03); 10, Mt. Pleasant 112-8 (34.35); 13, Central 87-1.50 (26.55); 14, Chariho 83-10.25 (25.35); 15, Cumberland 83-2.25 (25.35).
SP relay – 4, Cumb. 123-5 (37.62); 6, Westerly 115-1 (35.09); 7, Woons. 114-9 (34.98); 10, Hendricken 112-0 (34.15); 11, N. Kingstown 110-8 (33.73); 13, Lincoln 98-11 (30.14); 17, W. Warwick 79-10 (24.33); 18, Chariho 74-6.50 (22.72).
HJ relay – 2, Hendricken 17-1 (5.20); 5, Class. 10-10 (3.30); 6, WW 10-7 (3.22).
LJ – 1, Paulo Pereira, EP 21-7.25 (6.58); 2, Trystan Casey, EP 21-6 (6.55); 6, Ryan Lennon, West. 20-5 (6.22); 7, Avery Williamson, WW 20-4.50 (6.21).
TJ – 7, Lennon 40-10.75 (12.46).
PV – 3, Jon Cavanagh, Barr. 12-0 (3.65); 5, Ben Duhaime, Pon. 11-0 (3.35).
Open mile – 1, Jack Salisbury, LS 4:21.31; 4, Dan Paiva, LS 4:27.27; 5, Sean Laverty, Cumb. 4:28.77; 7, Tommy Sommer, EG 4:31.76.
Frosh mile – 1, Matt Walker, West/ 4:53.46; 5, John Marshall, EG 5:07.80; 7, Alex Mansour, BH 5:17.50; 8, Gian Pandolfini, BH 5:21.41.
3000 – 2, Ian Stellar, Wheeler 9:15.13.
800 – 7, Mitch Carrier, Char. 2:04.10; 9, Dave Agudelo, Cumb. 2;05.61; 12, Joe Craven, NK 2:10.50.
300 – 8, Al Duarte, EP 37.65.
55m – 4, Power Kanga, BH 6.76.
55mH – 1, Nate Narcisse, Class. 7.88; Charles Hazzard, EP 8.26.
SHR – 7, Classical 42.56.
4×200 – 2, Hendricken 1:35.04; 4, Central 1:36.30; 9, Central “B” 1:39.59; 12, Class. 1:40.08; 14, Cumberland 1:41.16; 22, Chariho 1:46.23.
4×400 – 5, Central 3:40.04; 6, Hendricken 3:40.82; 12, Chariho 3:49.95; 13, Hope 3:54.36.
Fr./Soph 4×400 – 2, Hendricken 3:47.33.
4×800 – 1, Hendricken (Jared Boulanger, Pat Hagerty, Avery Ingegneri, Tom Grizzetti) 8:22.37; 2, Hendricken “B”: 8:33.89; 3, Chariho 8:37.72; 11, La Salle 9:00.06.
Fr./Soph SMR – 3, Class. 3:59.01; 4, Hendricken 4:01.11; 5, N. Kingstown 4:02.17; 6, Central 4:03.97.
SMR – 5, Hendricken 3:51.09; 11, Cumb. 3:59.74.
DMR – 1. La Salle (Matt Bouthillette, Jim Placco, Jake Grundy, DJ Principe) 10:31.80 (No. 1 U.S.); 2, Hendricken 10:40.13; 3, Cumb. 10:53.13; 11, E. Prov. 11:48.56.
All times FAT. MVPs: Field – Adam Kelly, Barrington; Track – Rai Benjamin, Mt. Verrnon, N.Y.