Historic Franklin Field, home to so many great performances over the years, has the possibility of being extra special for some of our track & field athletes making the trip to Philadelphia for the New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships.
The four-day meet, which begins on Thursday, could have several make the podium, including taking the top spot.
Among the top entries making the six-hour trip are three athletes that are currently ranked No. 1 in the country – West Warwick’s Lisa Raye in the 200-meter dash, Coventry’s Zack Del Sasso in the boys’ hammer, and Woonsocket’s Adelaide Caron in the girls’ hammer. Raye, who clocked a wind-aided 22.73 at the State Meet to take the nation lead, had a successful final tune-up at the New England Championships this past weekend by defending her titles in the 100m and 200m and also running a leg on the triumphant 4x100m, which will also be competing at NBN. In the boys’ hammer, the Ocean State could possibly have two or more make the podium. In all, 23 athletes will be in Philly this week for the nationals. In addition to Del Sasso (PR, 223-3), there’s also Hendricken’s Matt Giuliano (219-5), who followed up his win at the State Meet by capturing the New England title. Presently, Rhode Island occupies the top five spots in the rankings. The Novans’ Caron is the only thrower this season to exceed 170 feet in the girls’ hammer, and she’s done it five times. including an all-time best of 176-8 from her victory at the State Meet.
Below are the entries for the New Balance Nationals and a link to live results. The Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., and the adidas Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C., will also be destinations for some of our local athletes. We’ve provided links to Live Results and Entries for those meets, too.
NEW BALANCE NATIONALS
at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Penn.
RI ENTRIES/SCHEDULE – CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
THURSDAY
4xMile (6:12 p.m.)
Cumberland
FRIDAY
Boys’ SMR (12:07 p.m.)
La Salle Academy
Girls’ 100m (2:50 p.m.)
Xenia Raye, West Warwick
Lisa Raye, West Warwick
Boys’ 4x200m (6:52 p.m.)
La Salle Academy
Girls’ 4x200m (7:32 p.m.)
Classical
Boys’ Two Mile (8:11 p.m.)
Sean Gray, Portsmouth
Girls’ Two Mile (8:24 p.m.)
Keaney Bayha, Pilgrim
Rory Sullivan, St. Raphael Academy
SATURDAY
Boys’ Hammer (9 a.m.)
Jayden Wilkens
Ryan Luke, Cranston West
Cooper Conklin, Cumberland
Nathan Ainabe, La Salle
Seth Borges, Smithfield
Ayden Gleeson, Portsmouth
Domenic Corona, La Salle
Marco Lopergold, Barrington
Shane Motta, Cumberland
Jack Harmon, North Kingstown
Brandon Wolfenden, Pilgrim
Seamus Considine, South Kingstown
Aidan Simao, Coventry
Joseph Adams, Barrington
Shamrock Thoun, Woonsocket
Owen Spira, Exeter/West Greenwich
Anthony Colucci, Coventry
Adam Beaudry, Woonsocket
Owen Allen, Ponaganset
Owen Degnan, Narragansett
Zack Del Sasso, Coventry
Matthew Giuliana, Bishop Hendricken
Derek Goll, Bishop Hendricken
Boys’ 4x100m (11:48 a.m.)
La Salle Academy
Girls’ Hammer (1 p.m.)
Jillian Walters, Ponaganset
Lorelai Sacco, Westerly
Adelaide Caron, Woonsocket
Gianna DeCesare, Ponaganset
Brynn Patterson, Cumberland
Bella Piette, Woonsocket
Mia Hoskins, Coventry
Vanessa Jones, Toll Gate
Deidra Picillo, Prout School
Angeliea Ortiz, Woonsocket
Gianna Stanley, Coventry
Julia Smith, Prout School
Payton Goulding, Cumberland
Ava Gallo, West Warwick
Boys’ 400m (2:14 p.m.)
Elias Sposato, Chariho
Girls’ 400m (2:56 p.m.)
Xenia Raye, West Warwick
Boys’ Shot (4 p.m.)
Brandon Wolfenden, Pilgrim
Girls’ 200m Prelims (4:57 p.m.)
Lisa Raye, West Warwick
Ailani Sutherland, Cranston West
Boys’ Mile (6:15 p.m.)
Will O’Shea, Cumberland
Marshall Vernon, La Salle Academy
Girls’ Mile (6:57 p.m.)
Rory Sullivan, Saint Raphael Academy
2K Steeplechase (7:52 p.m.)
Sean Gray, Portsmouth
SUNDAY
Girls’ DMR (11:19 a.m.)
St. Raphael Academy
Javelin (12:30 p.m.)
Mackenzie Cleary, Burrillville
Boys’ 800m (1:30 p.m.)
Thomas Breen, Classical
Boys’ 4x400m (3:04 p.m.)
La Salle Academy
***
NIKE INDOOR NATIONALS
at Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore.
***
ADIDAS TRACK NATIONALS
at Marcus T. Johnson Complex, Greensboro, N.C
