While it’s often a difficult decision when choosing our HOKA Athletes of the Week when you have several of our star track & field athletes competing (and excelling) at meets like the three national championships that took place this past week, this time it proved to be a no-brainer. How can anyone argue with us when the four athletes we chose all went home with national titles, one of whom had two wrapped around her neck.
Congratulations to West Warwick’s Lisa Raye, Coventry’s Zack Del Sasso, Woonsocket’s Adelaide Caron and the Wheeler School’s Scott Sloan are recipients for this week’s honor.
It was a memorable weekend for the Wizards’ Raye at the New Balance Nationals. A memorable one, indeed. The West Warwick sophomore, who already made a name for herself on the national level as a gifted ninth-grader last year, proved that she’s not only among the country’s elite, but the fastest from coast-to-coast. Raye won both the 100-meter dash and the 200m at NBN, establishing meet records twice in the 100m where she clocked a new state and New England mark of 11.26 seconds in the finals. She also had a wind-aided 11.21 in the semifinals. For the 200m, Raye beat a immensely-talented field with a best of 22.77. She was the only runner to go sub-23 for the weekend.
Coventry’s Zack Del Sasso and Woonsocket’s Adelaide Caron continued Rhode Island’s strong tradition in the throwing events by capturing the respective boys’ and girls’ hammer competitions, both with all-time bests. Del Sasso unleashed a winning toss of 224 feet, five inches to claim his crown. Caron exceeded the 180-foot mark for the first time all season, taking her title with a distance of 182-1.
Last, but certainly not least, is Sloan. In only his second year competing in the javelin, the Wheeler School senior surprised the competition by taking individual honors in his specialty with a a 12-foot best of 206-6.
