The boys’ divisional championships begin on Monday night with the Southern and Northern division teams battling it out at the PCTA. The action kicks off at 6 p.m.
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SOUTHERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
Day/Time: Monday at 6 p.m.
Teams: North Kingstown, Portsmouth, South Kingstown, Coventry, Rogers, Prout School, Exeter/West Greenwich, Chariho, Westerly, Middletown, Narragansett
Top Events/Athletes To Watch: So far this season, five runners have broken nine minutes for the 3K. Cole Francis is one of them. The Narragansett junior is ranked No. 2 in the state with a best of 8:48.48. This is an event that Francis placed second last year at the State Meet. On Monday, he’s also entered in the 1,000m. Even though he has the top seed in the 3,000m by more than 30 second, we’re predict he’ll go all-out, hoping for a faster time in this event, possibly in the low 8:40 range (or faster)…The shot features the state’s No. 1 thrower with Rogers’ Kaden Thomas stepping into the circle. The Vikings junior has a top seed of 52 feet, 11 inches. His teammate Nicholas Kennedy is at No. 2 with a 45-9.5 best. Could we have a 1-2 finish?…While we’re on the throws, how about the 25-pound weight? This event features some of our state’s best with 60-plus athletes like Exeter West Greenwich’s Owen Spira (64-1.5), and Coventry teammates Zack Del Sasso (62-0.5) and Anthony Colucci (60-10.25)…Portsmouth, a favorite for the team title, has the potential to do a lot of damage in the 55m hurdles. The Patriots have the top four seeds with Landon Rodrigues (8.0), Maciey Tabak (8.36). Owen Gervelis (8.61) and Sean Wilkey (8.65). Add it up. That’s 29 points right there…Middletown has the state’s top high jumpers for both the boys and girls. The Islanders Cam Miller will be looking to keep it that way on Monday. He has a best of 6-5.
Team Outlook: It looks like this meet could turn into a battle between North Kingstown and Portsmouth. Both teams appear to match up well, but the Patriots get the favorite nod with the definitive edge coming in the hurdles and jumping events. Portsmouth has the ability to score at least 50 points in those events, which is considerably more than the Skippers.
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NORTHERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
Day/Time: Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Teams: St. Raphael Academy, Woonsocket, North Smithfield, Mount Pleasant, Shea, Tolman, Cumberland, Lincoln, Ponaganset, Mount St. Charles
Top Events/Athletes To Watch: The first individual event on the oval, the 3,000m, could produce some excitement with the Saints’ JJ Rocha and Mount St. Charles’ Ethan Fadden the top two in the field. Rocha has a best this season of 9:07.62. Fadden checks in at 9:12.37…The weight throw should prove interesting with state-leader Adam Beaudry of Woonsocket (64-8) and teammate Shamrock Thoun (63-5.25, who is ranked No. 5 in RI, the 1-2 seeds. You can’t ignore Lincoln’s Tyler Durang (63-3.75). He’s the three seed in the field. No doubt Durang will be looking to achieve a milestone in the shot. He’s the top seed in the event with a best of 49-9.25, less than three inches from 50 feet…Look for a battle in the 1,500m where Ponaganset’s Jeremy Roe leads a talented field with a best of 4:09.36. Keep an eye on Cumberland’s Will O’Shea, the two seed. He had an indoor PR of 4:13.12 from last month’s RITCA Invitational. His all-time best is 4:06.68 from his fourth-place finish at the outdoor states.
Team Outlook: This one looks like it could come down to the final few events with defending champion Saint Raphael Academy and perennial power Cumberland fighting for that top spot. The Saints appear to hold the edge with the difference coming in the sprint events.
