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RESULTS
Towards the end of Saturday’s Classical Classic, Ethan Knight was presented with a plaque as the meet’s top track performer after establishing a school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a state-leading 14.77 seconds.
While it was well-deserved for the Barrington High senior, if there was any argument about him not being a worthy recipient, Knight put those thoughts to rest just 10 minutes later.
For the second time in the six-plus hour meet, the Eagle standout earned a school mark in his specialty. In a nearly flawless performance, Knight captured the 300m IH, blasting to a PR of 39.90. In both races, North Smithfield’s Aidan Bienvenue took runner-up honors. The NS senior was timed in 41.21 for the 300m IH and 14.87 for the 110m HH.
In terms of FAT timing, Knight’s effort in the 110m HH was a PR by almost half a second. His previous best was 15.18 from his third-place finish at last year’s State Meet.
“I’m very glad I have some competition,” said Knight, making reference to Bienvenue. “He motivated and pushed me (in the 110m HH). That’s why I PR’d by so much.”
Knight, the indoor 55m HH state titlist, is hoping to make a clean sweep of the hurdle events this spring.
Cranston West’s Ailani Sutherland, the girls’ top performer on the oval, was a multiple winner, too. The Falcons junior won a close race over West Warwick’s Lisa Raye in the 100m dash, edging her rival with a PR of 12.14 to Rayes’ 12.18 effort. Sutherland also won the 200m (25.83) and anchored her team’s first-place 4x200m relay (49.54). In the 200m, Mount Hope freshman Thea Jackson took the silver (26.42) and East Providence’s Nazarae Phillip placed third (26.77).
Sutherland’s matchup with Raye was the first time since finishing second to the Wizards’ ninth-grader in the 55m dash at the state and New England indoor championships.
“Basically I have been working on my acceleration. That’s been like the main thing and my block starts because they haven’t been my best,” she said, while making reference to the 100m. “My focus going in was I have to stay with (Raye) in order to accelerate at the end…She really pushed me to the end.”
The Wizards’ Lisa and Xenia Raye both proved victorious inside Conley Stadium, the site of the longtime meet. Lisa claimed the 300m hurdles with a time of 46.36, while Xenia broke 60 seconds in the 400m, crossing the line at 59.69. In both events, underclassmen populated the podium with five of the top six finishers either freshmen or sophomores. Cranston West tenth-grader Stalia Biosse was second in the 400m. Chariho sophomore Emily Brown took that position in the 300m IH.
La Salle’s Morgan Correia, the state’s top returnee in the pole vault, won her specialty by soaring to a height of 10-feet even. Correia, who has a best of 10-6 from her runner-up finish at last year’s Class A Championship to eventual state titlist Allyson Humphries of Classical, had three good attempts at 10-7.
La Salle went 1-2 in the boys’ 400m with freshman Garrett Giroux-Pezzullo edging senior teammate Blake Santos at the line with a best of 50.98. Santos was timed in 51.05, while St. Raphael sophomore Devan Tavares nabbed third at 51.79.
With six of the top seven finishers, Bishop Hendricken dominated the boys’ 3,000m. The Hawks’s Brayton Gazerro and Troy Silvestri went 1-2 with Gazerro just strides ahead of Silverstri with a time of 8:47.14 to his teammate’s 8:47.54 effort. St. Rays Jeremiah Rocha was third at 8;50.04.
In the girls’ 3K, East Greenwich claimed the first two positions with Resse Fahys winning the race in 10:17.88. Rylee Shunney was second at 10:19.15.
The Saints’ Devan Kipyego, who is eyeing a possible sub four-minute mile at Friday’s BSR Elite Scholastic Mile in Marshfield, proved he has the potential to become the latest high school runner to accomplish the feat. After running a workout prior to the meet, one that consisted of sets of 200s, 300s and 400s at sub 60-second 400m pace with limited rest, the Iowa State-bound senior was in race mode late in the meet. Competing in the 800m, Kipyego didn’t let a boxed-in start effect his mindset and won with a time of 1:57.08. Smithfield’s Elijah Saddlemire, who the SRA standout passed with about 200m left, held on for second at 1:59.0.
In the boys’ 1,500m, East Greenwich’s Nick Martin looked strong from the start. Martin led from the gun and broke the tape at 4:02.58. West Warwick’s Jess Principe was second (4:06.17) and Cumberland’s Cole McCue took third (4:07.52).
Patrick Conserve of Cumberland unleashed the shot a winning didtance of 50-4.50. The Clippers’ Alyssa Yankee was a double-winner, taking the shot (37-1) and the discus (109-8).
Christian Toro was far ahead of the field in the hammer with a heave of 221-3. Woonsocket swept the top two spots in the girls hammer with sophomores Adelaide Caron (151-8) and Bella Piette (147-3) going 1-2.
