Aidan Bienvenue put himself in rare territory at Saturday’s Hendricken Invitational
The North Smithfield senior became the first athlete since 2014 to break 39 seconds for the 300-meter hurdles with a winning time and meet record of 38.98 Bienvenue’s performances ranks No. 3 all-time with North Kingstown alum Benjamin Stewart atop the rankings with his RI record of 38.13 from the State Meet nine years ago.
The host school’s Xavier Wilkens was the state’s first to dip under 22 seconds this season in the 200m dash, breaking the tape in a fast 21.93. Cranston West’s Alonzo Parker Sharpe was second at 22.41.
In the 400m, Chariho’s Elias Sposato moved to No. 3 in the rankings with a triumphant 49.97. He led five under 51 seconds, including Barrington’s star hurdler Ethan Knight, who was fifth overall at 50.87.
An expected duel in the hammer between the nation’s 1-2 throwers did not disappoint. Setting up what should be a classic showdown at next weekend’s State Meet, North Kingstown’s Ethan Wordell held off Lincoln’s Christian Toro with a winning heave of 228 feet, 8 inches. Toro was second at 227-1. Just last week, Wordell overtook Toro for the No. 1 spot in the country with a best of 231-1.
Among other highlights, the Hendricken tandem of Alex Sjoblonm (8:47.43) and Keegan Tierney went 1-2 in the 3,000m. La Salle’s Blake Santos led four under two minutes in the 800m with a triumphant 1:58.31. He was just ahead of West Warwick’s Jesse Principe, who was timed in 1:58.65.
Hendricken won the team title with a 129-85 decision over runner-up La Salle Academy, Portsmouth was third with 60.5 points.
