Judging by the first few days of competition, it appears as though most of our Rhode Island athletes are saving their best for last in the final two meets of the indoor track & field season, the Nike Indoor Nationals and the New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships.
What’s been happening so far as the competition wraps up on Sunday for both meets? Here’s a sampling of some of the great happenings.
At the Nike Indoor Nationals, West Warwick’s Lisa Raye broke another state record in the prelims of the 200-meter dash on Saturday. The Wizards sophomore was the second fastest of the day, winning her heat with a time of 23.68. That effort broke the previous mark of 24.07 by former Hope great Quashira McIntosh in 2015. Earlier in the day, Raye qualified for the 60m dash where she took her heat in 7.50. The semifinals for the 60m is slated for 10:31 a.m., with the finals at 12:39 p.m. The 200m finals are at 2:44 p.m.
The Wizards’ Xenia Raye raced to a season best of 7.77 in her heat of the 55m and Cranston West’s Ailani Sutherland was timed in 7.78, also a SB. Raye (24.65), Sutherland (25.44) and La Salle’s Alexis Caggianno (PR, 25.50) also clocked solid times for the 200m. Caggianno also had a best of 58.93 in the 400m. On Friday, the quartet of Sutherland, Quiana Pezza, Julia Saccoccio and Stalia Biosse finished sixth in the 4x200m relay with a state best of 1:45.43.
Chariho’s Erin vonHousen is two-third done with her work at NIN. So far, so good for the Charger senior. On Friday, vonHousen ran a PR of 10:43.39 to place 21st overall in the Championship 2 Mile. She came back on Saturday and raced to another all-time best, finishing 24th overall in the 800m with a time of 2:14.94. Von Housen will conclude her triad on Sunday with the Championship Mile, set for 12:45 p.m.
Coventry’s Mia Hoskins unleashed a big PR to finish eighth against the nation’s best in the weight throw on Friday. Hoskins had a heave of 49-9.25, more than a foot further than her previous best of 48-6.5 from the Last Chance Qualifier.
At the New Balance Nationals, held the first two days at the Reggie Lewis Center, La Salle’s foursome of Joshua Aceto, Garrett Giroux-Pezza, Thaden Leomensah and Antonio Bearden improved their state leader in the 4x200m with a time of 1:30.92 in the preliminary heats.
In the Distance Medley Relay on Saturday, the St. Ray’s girls broke the school mark with a time of 12:28.73. Rory Sullivan dipped under five minutes for the first time in the mile with a 4:59.16 anchor. Sullivan is scheduled to compete in the Championship Mile on Sunday. Cumberland was the top R.I. school in the boys’ DMR with a combined time of 10:44.66.
The Cumberland girls established a new school record in the 4xMile with a time of 21:21.93. Rose Tuomisto, Anna Bianchi, Charli McCue and Kiley DeFusco comprised the squad. In the boys’ 4xMile, Hendricken’s team of Jack Moretta, Will Dixon, Tommy Flanders and Sam Zabbo combined for a time of 18:07.86, good for 20th overall.
La Salle freshman Jackson Alves was fifth in the Freshmen 400m with an impressive 51.40 clocking.
On Saturday night, Portsmouth Sean Gray averaged sub-5 in the 5,000m, placing 39th overall in 15:16.20. The race was won by American Fork (UT) senior Daniel Simmons in an astonishing 13:38.66, breaking the national record of 13:58.82 by Tyrone Gorze at last year’s meet at the TRACK at new balance.
Narragansett’s Cole Francis was 23rd in the unseeded races of the Championship 2M with a school mark of 9:23.44.
