A few state records, a 1-2-3 finish in the hammer and a whole bunch of PRs.
Not a bad way to start the first few days of competition at the three national championship meets taking place this week.
Let’s start with the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia where West Warwick’s Lisa Raye once again lowered her state mark in the 100-meter dash. She did it not once, but twice, and were not even into the finals yet. On Day 2 of the four-day meet, Raye eclipsed her less than two-week old mark of 11.37 seconds from the State Meet with an NBN record and nation No. 2 of 11.29 in the prelims. Although slightly wind-aided at 2.8 mph, Raye was even faster in the semifinals with an 11.21. Heading into the finals, the tenth-grade phenom is the No. 1 seed ahead of pre-race favorite Adaejah Hodge of Montverde Academy (FL), who entered the competition as the top seed. The University of Georgia commit is ranked No. 2 with a best of 11.31 in her heats.
Raye was focused from the start in her opening heat.
“I wanted to make sure I separated myself from the get-go and really get my knees up,” she said. “I definitely felt strong, and it was a meet record, so I was happy.”
The Wizards’ Xenia Raye was fourth in her heat with fast 11.84.
La Salle Academy broke the state record in the boys’ 4x200m relay. The Rams’ foursome of Joshua Aceto, Garrett Giroux-Pezzullo, Amari Monteiro and Jackson Alves combined for a time of 1:27.52, just a hundredth of a second under the eight-year-old mark of 1:27.53 by Central.
At the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore., Chariho’s Erin vonHousen improved on her own state record by more than six seconds in the 2K Steeplechase on Thursday with a time of 6:50.02, an effort that placed her fourth overall. The Charger senior also clocked a PR of 2:12.85 in the 800m on Friday to finish second in her heat in the Championship race. Mount St. Charles’ Emmy Belvin was 21st in the Emerging Elite 800m where she was timed in 2:18.36.
It was a Rhode Island and Classical sweep in the girls’ hammer on Day 1 of the adidas Track Nationals Friday in Greensboro, N.C. The Purple’s Nelmari Santos-Mojica won with a toss of 47.85m Teammates Susan Adekunle (second, 44.69m) and Gifty Bediako (third, 44.68m) took the next two spots.
In other highlights…
NEW BALANCE NATIONALS
Thursday
North Kingstown’s Abbie Tighe finished second in the Freshmen 2 Mile where she clocked a time of 10:55.70. Tighe was in the race from the beginning, leading the pace for the first mile and staying right on the shoulders of eventual winner Stephane DiPiazza of Michigan for the remaining half of the race.
The Lady Skippers’ Tayla Schneider also made the podium, placing sixth in the Freshmen Javelin with a toss of 106-2.
In the boys’ Freshmen Mile, Barrington’s Brooks Mello was eighth in 4:25.65.
Cumberland was the lone RI squad in the boys’ 4xMile. The Clippers’ foursome of Nolan Roganski, Owen Dennen, Connor Magill and Will O’Shea were sixth in their heat with a solid time of 18:14.78.
Friday
Classical’s quartet of James Courtney (1:59.48), Ben O’Sullivan (1:59.77), Michael Healey (2:00.90) and Thomas Breen (1:53.28) improved on their state best in the 4x800m relay by combining for a time of 7:53.41 to place 19th overall and second in their heat.
La Salle ran one of the state’s all-time bests for the Sprint Medley Relay. The Rams’ Aceto, Giroux-Pezzullo, Thaden Leomensah and Marshall Vernon finished with a time of 3:30.48, an effort that placed them second in their heat and 17th overall. La Salle’s time was less than a second from its school record of 3:29.70 from the New Balance Nationals in 2019. After his remaining teammates combined for a time of 1:33.99, Vernon anchored the squad with a 1:56.50 800m leg.
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adidas Track Nationals
Friday
Classical’s foursome of Shakeyri Arroyo, Morrica Bryant, Jasmin Berganza and Zaida Depina combined for a time of 2:18.31 to take seventh in the Swedish Medley Relay.
In the 100m dash, Cranston West’s Ailani Sutherland was clocked in a solid 12.38 to finish 34th overall.
West Warwick’s Christian Briggs grabbed 11th in the hammer throw with a heave of 43.55 meters.
