Some things never change.
Over the last few years, Classical and Cranston West have produced some of the state’s top girls’ 4×200-meter relay squads, including last year where they went 1-2 , respectively, at the State Meet and both went under 1:45 at the New Balance Nationals.
Competing in separate meets at Saturday’s Injury Fund Relay Carnival, the two talented quartets showed they haven’t lost much in their respective races. In the Bayha-Dwyer Division meet, Cranston West’s foursome of Ailani Sutherland, Quiana Pezza, Julia Saccocio and Stallia Boisse dominated the competition with a winning time of 1:49.71, more than six seconds ahead of second-place Barrington (1:55.92). In the following meet, the Bayha-Sullivan Division, Classical came out on top with the team of Shakeyri Arroyo, Jasmine Berganza, Zaida Depina and Morricia Bryant combining for a time of 1:50.98, just a few strides ahead of East Providence (1:51.76).
Sutherland, who ran a leadoff leg of 25 seconds, admitted she was surprised with the final outcome.
“We didn’t really practice handoffs until this week,” said the all-state sprinter. “It’s been really cold to be doing it outside, so we’ve been practicing handoffs in the hallways. We’re like, ‘We’re just going to go out and do our best and see how it goes.'”
The Falcons lost two seniors from last year’s team that had a state-leading time of 1:43.98 from their fifth-place finish in the Rising Stars’ race at the New Balance Nationals with Sutherland and Pezza the only returners. Judging by their effort at Saturday’s meet, not much has changed with Saccocio and Boisse running legs.
For Classical, the Purple had to withstand a spirited effort by East Providence, another team you can’t count out when the season switches into championship mode. The Townies were ranked No. 5 last year with a best of 1:50.29. Classical had a best of 1:44.71 from its ninth-place finish in the Rising Stars’ race at New Balance in mid March.
“It was fun to start racing again,” said head coach Dan O’Kleasky. “We are looking forward to a competitive season.”
***
Here’s a rundown of all four meets that took place at the PCTA on Saturday.
Metropolitan & Suburban Divisions – Boys
Barrington coach Bill Barrass is looking forward to the indoor season and believes his team has a chance to prosper this season at the State Meet. While it’s still far too early to make any predictions, the Eagles certainly demonstrated their outstanding depth by taking the team title with an 84-59 win over Bishop Hendricken. Classical was third with 59 points.
Among their top finishes, the Eagles captured the 4x55m shuttle hurdle (33.60), sprint medley (3:48.52), 4x200m (1:35.66), and long jump (57-6) relays and were second in the high jump (16-6), 4x800m (8:27.62), 4x400m (3:46.35), and distance medley (11:40.38) relays.
Hendricken averaged 55 feet by its three athletes in the weight throwers relay where the Hawks beat La Salle by 26 feet with a combined distance of 165-6. East Providence won the high jump relay with an impressive 17-10 by its three leapers.
Northern & Southern Divisions – Boys
Portsmouth ran away with the team title in this one, scoring 71 points. Rogers and North Smithfield tied for second with 37 points each.
The Patriots came out on top in five relays with victories in the long jump (56-5), 4x55m shuttle hurdle (33.44), sprint medley (4:03.11), distance medley (11:43.47), and high jump (16-6) relays.
In the weight throw, Woonsocket had the best effort of the day with a combined distance of 167-6, just eight inches ahead of runner-up Coventry.
Photos courtesy of STERLING VERNON (@rhodeandtrack) of Sterling Vernon Sports Photography And More.
Bayha & Dwyer Divisions – Girls
Barrington completed the team sweep for the Eagles by scoring 59 points for the title. Cranston West was second with 46 points and La Salle was third with 43.
The Eagles garnered first-place ribbons in the 4x400m (4:30.28), high jump (13-6), and weight throw (101-9) relays.
Cranston West established a new school record with their winning time of 4:34.03 in the Sprint Medley Relay. Sutherland and Boisse each ran legs on the squad, along with Reece Vitale and Lilliana Pendergast. The Falcons also won the 4x200m, and 4x55m shuttle hurdle relays.
Cumberland’s quartet of Addison Buchanan, Kiley DeFusco, Charli McCue and Rose Tuomisto ran a fast, early-season time of 10:04.48 to capture the 4x800m relay.
Sullivan & Headley Divisions – Girls
Defending state titlist Classical was a 55-49 victor over second-place North Kingstown in the final meet of the day. Westerly was third with 35 points.
The Purple won the 4x200m, sprint medley (4:39.51), and shot put (98-8) relays.
Woonsocket’s trio of Isabella Piette, Adelaide Caron and Angelia Ortiz showed their strength in the weight throw by winning the relay with a combined distance of 134-11. Piette, who finished second at the State Meet last year, was just a few inches from her best of 47-5.75 from that meet.
“I have been sick and had to take a week and a half off,” she said. “I was just hoping I could throw right around my PR and I was like three inches under, so I was really happy about that.”
Caron was right near her best of 44-3.25 and Ortiz was about three feet further than her PR of 40-10 from 2023.
