Throughout the remainder of the week, Ocean State Running will preview all six meets (boys & girls) for this weekend’s class championships. Here we feature the girls’ Class B meet. The performance lists come out on Thursday night. For some events, we’re predicting who we believe will be competing at Saturday’s meet. If needed, we’ll adjust once we have access to the lists.
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Class B Championships – Girls
Day/Time: Saturday/11 a.m.
Site: Portsmouth High
Teams: South Kingstown, Smithfield, Portsmouth, West Warwick, East Greenwich, Barrington, Chariho, Rogers, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, Mount Hope, Ponaganset, Shea
Last year’s results: South Kingstown rolled to the team title in 2022. The Rebels breezed to a 130.5-73 victory over second-place Smithfield, 130.5-73 . Portsmouth (third, 72 points) and West Warwick (fourth, 63 points) took the next two spots.
Events To Watch: The 300m hurdles could be one of the more exciting events of the meet. It features our two top athletes in the state right now and the likely contenders for the individual title at the states if both decide to do it. The individuals are West Warwick’s Lisa Raye and South Kingstown’s Sierra Thompson. In their only match-up this season, Raye got the best of her rival with a winning time and state best of 46.29. Thompson was second with a PR of 46.38. The state record is 43.91 by former SK standout Molly Reilly from 2005. That appears untouchable, but a time in the 45-second range is certainly possible with these two warriors on the line…The 3,000m could get interesting. The No. 1 seed is multiple state champion Reese Fahys of East Greenwich. Fahys comes in with a state best of 10:17.88 from last month’s Classical Classic. We’re expecting that Chariho’s Erin von Housen will be in this race, too. She looked awfully strong at this past weekend’s Mariner Invitational where she clocked a PR of 10:23.51 in a solo effort under hot conditions. She proved she’s capable of a sub 10:20 with someone to push her and the temperature expected to be a lot cooler. The current forecast has the temperature in the mid 60-degree range with a 50-percent chance of precipitation…The sprints will certainly create some sparks with some of the state’s top sprinters expected to compete this weekend. Among them are Lisa and Xenia Raye of West Warwick, and Mount Hope’s Thea Jackson. In the 100m, Lisa Raye and Jackson, who is also a ninth-grader, could be contending to the end. Raye holds the No. 1 time in the state with her best of 12.11. Jackson is at No. 3 with a PR of 12.17. Xenia Raye is ranked fourth with a time of 12.28. The Raye sisters hold the top two seeds in the 200m with times of 25.03 and 25.49, respectively. Jackson has done 26.42. If she’s scheduled to run, Thompson could be a factor, too. She has a best of 26.21 this spring…You have to keep an eye on the hammer just because of our top seed. State-leader Jillian Leahy is the overwhelming favorite with a nation No. 3 of 167-1, nearly 30 feet further than the two seed. The best in the country right now for the hammer is 170-5. All it takes is one big throw to take over that top spot. Could it happen this weekend? We’re sure Leahy has done it before in practice…The triple jump features Smithfield’s Lauren Boyd (35-0) and Jackson (34-0.5), who are No. 2 and No. 3 in the state rankings…Only one runner has broken 4:40 for the 1,500m this season and she will more than likely be answering the gun in this meet on Saturday. Defending titlist Rylee Shunney of East Greenwich is the owner of a 4:39.92 best this season. The UMass Amherst-bound senior ran a PR of 4:37.82 at last year’s meet. Shunney is having a great season so far. It wouldn’t surprise us if she improved on that time this weekend.
Team Outlook: Unlike last year, we expect this one to be close, real close.The teams we’re expecting to be fighting for the top spot in the standings are South Kingstown, East Greenwich and West Warwick. All three have a legitimate chance to get it done this weekend with the Rebels and Wizards potentially turning this into a two-team battle. Expect Smithfield to be in the mix, too.
