COMPLETE RESULTS
The tradition each spring for the last 55 year has always been to kick off the outdoor track & field season with the annual Knights of Columbus 4xMile Relays. What has also been tradition in the meet’s long history is the not-so-great weather that greets the athletes each and every year at this season-opener.
Save for last year and very few others, the meet is either unseasonably cold, windy or rainy or a combination of all three. Saturday’s 55th annual event at Conley Stadium kept that tradition going with a steady rainfall for nearly the entire meet, weather conditions that, in particular, don’t exactly suit the hammer throwers that have been part of the meet since 1972.
Still, it didn’t stop Lincoln’s Christian Toro from unleashing a nation-leading toss in his specialty. The Lion senior let loose an eight-foot PR with a heave of 226 feet, 5 inches.
“It was great,” Toro said. “We kind of went into this not really expecting much because it’s a season-opener. So, to have that eight-foot jump is really good. It’s a confidence-booster.”
Toro’s effort was more than 20 feet further than his closest rival. North Kingstown’s Ethan Wordell claimed the runner-up position with a distanxe of 204-11. Hendricken’s Keith Daigneau was third at 199-2. Barrington’s Michael Fay (fourth, 199-1) and Connecticut’s Dylan Sheehan (fifth, 191-3) rounded out the top five.
In the girls’ hammer, Lincoln also came out on top with Jillian Leahy capturing the top prize with a toss of 150-1, a performance that currently ranks No. 3 in he country. Finishing second was Kylee Bennett of Narragansett with a best of 143-2. She was followed by Woonsocket teammates Adelaide Caron (third, 139-10) and Isabella Piette (fourth, 137-1), and Barrington’s Lily Cregan (fifth, 133-0).
“Definitely, being the first meet you always want more from last season,” said Leahy, who has a best of 153-9 from last year’s Knights of Columbus meet. “But I am pretty happy how I was able to compete today. I have a dual meet on Tuesday and I think it’s going to go well.”
In the featured relay races, Bishop Hendricken’s foursome of Jack Morett, Will Olsen, Troy Silvestri and Brayton Gazerro posted the fastest time of the day with a winning time of 18 minutes, 27.50 seconds, The Hawks finished comfortably ahead of Saint Raphael Academy, which was timed in 18:38.70 for second. Hendricken’s ‘B’ team was third overall at 18:50.40. Barrington (18:57.90) and Cumberland (19:13.20) were fourth and fifth, respectively. St. Ray’s anchor Devan Kipyego ran the quickest leg of the day with a 4:17 split.
The Saints quartet of Chandanley Boyce, Tyla Forbes, Faith Perry and Rory Sullivan won the girls’ 4xMile with a combined time of 22:46.30. Cumberland was second at 23:02.50.
In the freshmen races, Cumberland’s Jake Schonhoff survived a neck-and-neck battle with Hendricken’s Jacob Silva. Silva poured in on strong the final 50 meters to take the crown in 4:43.50. Silva was second at 4:45.20. Bay View’s Jackie Mattos was first among girls with a triumphant 6:23.30. Pilgrim’s Tiffany Blanco took the silver in a time of 6:30.90.
