The weather was more suited for a nice, warm day beside the fireplace. Still, the cold and raw conditions at Saturday’s RIIL Outdoor Track & Field Championships didn’t prevent our teams and athletes from putting on a show at Conley Stadium. Congratulations to Bishop Hendricken (boys) and West Warwick (girls) for capturing the team titles.
The Raye sisters (Lisa and Xenia) were at their best in guiding the Wizards to their first ever team title in the school’s history. Lisa went home with four gold medals wrapped around her neck as the freshman phenom captured the 100-meter dash (12.23 seconds), 200m (24.95), 100m hurdles (14.87) and 300m IH (44.08). The latter was less than two tenths of a second from the state mark of 43.91, set 13 years ago by South Kingstown’s Molly Reilly. Xenia won her first individual crown by breaking the tape in the 400m with a PR of 57.77. She also took runner-up honors in the 200m (25.55) and was third in the 100m (12.50).
In their final State Meets, Moses Brown’s Sophia Gorriaran and Saint Raphael’s Devan Kipyego had fitting closes to their outstanding high school careers. Gorriaran was thrice a champion by winning the 1,500m ( 4:35.24), 800m (MR, 2:06.52) and anchoring the first-place 4x400m squad (4:02.08). Kipyego competed in just one individual event and proved victorious with a three-plus second win and solid 1:54.20 clocking. He began his day by anchoring the Saints’ triumphant 4x800m (8:08.42) with a 1:59 split. As the final leg of the 4x400m, Kipyego split low-52 to help his team earn a podium spot.
Among other highlights, East Greenwich’s Nick Martin was a double winner, capturing the 1,500m with a best of 3:58.47 and coming back to take the 3K where he crossed the line in 8:42.59. La Salle’s Jared Gibbons continued his dominance in the short sprint by making it back-to-back titles in the 100m where he was timed in 11.21. Gibbons won the last three indoor 55m crowns. Pilgrim’s Dasani Stewart swept the long and triple jumps with distances of 17-7.5 and 37-3, respectively.
Ocean State Running will have story on the meet coming soon. For now, enjoy a few pics from six-plus hours of competition at Conley. Above is Barrington’s Ethan Knight, yellow singlet, holding off North Smithfield’s Aidan Bienvenue, green singlet, in the 110m hurdles.
COMPLETE RESULTS
It’s celebration time for the girls of Cumberland High. The top-seeded Clippers won the 4x800m relay with a time of 9:42.59.
The boys’ 400m came down to the last few meters with Chariho’s Elias Sposato, right, taking top honors with a winning time of 50.09. Tolman’s Youton Doe, middle, was second (50.42) and Hendricken’s Jacob Coates, left, placed third (50.91).
The Big Three. West Warwick’s Lisa Raye (first, 12.23), right and Xenia Raye (third, 12.50), left, and Cranston West’s Ailiani Sutherland (12.49), middle, are neck-and-neck the final few meters of the 100m dash.
Moses Brown’s Sophia Gorriaran en route to her meet record of 2:06.52 in the 800m.
