The month of April is almost finished and already things are starting to shape up for our track & field athletes.
Back on April 1 at the Knights of Columbus Relays, Lincoln’s Christian Toro unleashed the hammer at national-leading 226 feet, 5 inches. As of now, that distance still ranks No. 1 in the country. The Lions’ Jillian Leahy won the girls’ hammer at that meet at 150-7. Her mark hasn’t moved from its No. 4 ranking from three weeks ago.
Let’s take a look at what transpired this past weekend.
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Guess it’s time to keep an eye on La Salle Academy’s Garrett Giroux-Pezzullo. The Rams’ promising freshman won an exciting 400-meter race on Friday night at the BSR Mid-Distance Classic, held at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, MA. Giroux-Pezzullo broke the tape in 51.70 seconds. He edged Ipswich’s Colin Hansen at the line, who also clocked 51.70. Just to give you an indication of the level of talent in the country. That time ranks No. 130 among freshmen from coast-to-coast. Giroux-Pezzulo indicated at the meet that his goal is to dip under 50 seconds by season’s end. A time like that now would put him among the top 20.
“I had to put a lot of work into it,” he said, about his race. “It was certainly a lot of competition. I just pushed myself and fell at the end. I just came out and gave it my all.”
The Rams’ Blake Santos was sixth in the 800m at the Mid-Distance Classic where he crossed the line in a state-leading 2:01.02. Mount St. Charles’ Emmy Belvin ran a 10-second best of 5:18.33 o take second in the girls’ mile.
“I was just kind of hoping around 5:20,” Belvin said. “I was really happy and excited for (my time). It’s a big PR, better than last year, better from indoor. I am excited about that and I’m hoping to do better in the future.”
It looks like the La Salle girls might have a strong 4x400m this outdoor season. The Rams went 1-2-4 in the 400m at Friday’s meet with Christian Cormier (first, 1:00.67), Alexis Caggiano (second, 1:02.06) and Kayla Bacon (fourth, 1:04.20) taking those spots.
“I honestly didn’t think I could win because I was seeded second,” Cormier said. “I got this big push at the end and I just pushed thorough.”
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Saint Raphael’s Devan Kipyego had a busy weekend with back-to-back victories in Connecticut and New York. On Friday, Kipyego captured the 5,000m at the CT Distance Festival where he was timed in 14:49.35. The following day the Saints senior was at Icahn Stadium on Staten Island where he earned gold in the 2K steeplechase at the New York Relays with a time of 6:03.01. Kipyego, the defending champion in this event from last year’s New Balance Nationals, ranks No. 4 with his current performance. A few weeks ago, the Iowa State-bound runner ran 8:59.24 for 3,200m at the Arcadia Invitational. Kipyego has two big races coming up in the next two weeks. On Friday night, he’ll be at the Penn Relays Carnival competing as a member of Saints’ DMR squad. Thanks to a 4:04 mile anchor from Kipyego, last year’s team nearly pulled out a victory, finishing second overall with a time of 10:14.42. On May 5, the SRA standout will be aiming for a sub four-minute mile at the BSR Elite Scholastic Mile.
The Saints’ Jeremiah Rocha, who will be part of his team’s DMR squad in Philly also competed twice this weekend. He was 17th in the mile at the CT Distance Festival in a time of 4:28.98 and tenth in the 800m at the New York Relays where he finished at 2:01.68. Cumberland’s Cole McCue was just ahead of Rocha in CT where he was 14th overall in the mile with a 4:27.57 clocking.
In her first attempt at the 2K Steeplechase, Chariho’s Erin von Housen was a dominating winner at the NY Relays, taking the title with a nation No. 4 of 7:10.93. She won by nearly 17 seconds over the second-place finisher.
How about Hendricken in the 5K at the CT Distance Festival? Troy Silvestri was second to Kipyego with a school record of 14:55.20. .Six more Hawks broke 16 minutes in the race, including Brayton Gazerro (fourth, 15:08.13), Keegan Tierney (12th, 15:20.30), Alex Sjoblom (15th, 15:22.72), Jack Moretta (19th, 15:39.38), WillOlson (21st, 15:41.72) and Sam Zabbo (30th, 15:53.28).
Also from the CT Distance Festival, the Ocean State had some impressive mile times turned in on both the girls’ and boys’ side.. East Greenwich teammates Rylee Shunney (fifth, 5:08.47) and Reese Fahys (eighth, 5:10.55), along with St. Ray’s Rory Sullivan (tenth, 5:11.11), were among the to 10 in the girls’ Championship race. EG’s Nick Martin ran a PR of 4:19.03 to place third in the boys’ Championship race.
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On Thursday and Friday, teams were scattered at three different locations for the non-scoring Injury Fund Carnival. We ha a chance to talk with the Cranston West girls’ winning 4x200m relay squad at Bishop Hendricken where the Class A squads competed. The Falcons ran an impressive, hand-held time of 1:46.5. Check out what they had to say in the video below.
