Perfect weather, perfect executions
For both our team and individual titlists at Saturday’s RIIL State XC Championships you couldn’t have asked for better results under ideal conditions at Ponaganset
Pre-race favorite Keaney Bayha of Pilgrim didn’t disappoint in the girls’ race. The Patriots’ senior led from the start and won with a time of 18 minutes, 19.23 seconds. Finishing less than 50 meters behind was North Kingstown sophomore Abbie Tighe in 18:28.96. Freshman Cecilia Ludwig of Cumberland edged Portsmouth’s Allie Kaull at the finish to secure the bronze in 18:40.06, just .28 ahead of Kaull.
“There was a lot of people that didn’t think I could do it. There was a lot of people that didn’t want me to do it,” Bayha said. “That just makes (it better). Even the time. I am so happy I broke 18:20 on a real course. That’s great.”
For the second straight year, Cumberland claimed the girls’ title. The Clippers scored a low 34 points, 50 more than second-place North Kingstown. La Salle finished third with 88 points.
The Blue and White had all five of its scoring runners in the top 11 with Ludwig, senior Kiley DeFusco (sixth, 18:50.03), junior Charli McCue (seventh, 19:00.05), senior Rose Tuomisto (ninth, 19:05.52) and sophomore Anna Bianchi (11th, 19:14.85).
“They showed up today,” Cumberland coach Kerrie Carpenter said. “I knew what they were capable of. I am with them everyday. All season, just working so hard. Our goal always is for everybody else to see what we see everyday in practice…I knew we could really push a lot of them in the front, a lot in that top-10, top-15 range.”
La Salle Academy’s Marshall Vernon came mere strides from breaking 15 minutes to capture the boys’ crown. In an expect duel with Portsmouth’s Sean Gray, Vernon was able to break away from the Patriots’ junior with about 1,000 meters remaining to win with a 5K best of 15:00.75. Gray held on for second with a time of 15:11.82. Hendricken sophomore Colby Flynn (third, 15:43.50), Narragansett’s Cole Francis (fourth, 15:45.48) and Cumberland’s Sam Henderson (fifth, 15:46.41) rounded out the top five.
“I was really happy to come out here and get the win,” Vernon said. “Thanks so much to Sean Gray for pushing it. Without him today, we wouldn’t have run that fast. I love how he was a competitor. He helped push me. And my teammates, they have been pushing me all season.”
There was no surprise for the team prize as heavily-favored Hendricken rolled to its fourth straight title and its 28th in school history with a 64-103 victory over runner-up East Greenwich. La Salle was third with 104 points.
The Hawks had a gap of just 1:07 between its’ top five. Following Flynn across the line were senior BJ Kerachsky (ninth, 16:09.10), junior Fred Russell (tenth, 16:19.74), senior Jack Moretta (20th, 16:36.72) and junior Brayden Searichyk (26th, 16:50.99).
“Anytime you go to a championship meet, anything can happen,” said longtime coach Jim Doyle. “These guys rose to the occasion. They ran together as a team. Sometimes when you run together as a team you sacrifice yourself individually. The pace was hot. They all stuck together.”
Ocean State Running will have more on the State Meet, including video coverage with commentary of both races.
