It’s long been established that Bishop Hendricken has established a dynasty here in the state when it comes to cross country (and track & field, too). The Hawks continued that dominance at this past weekend’s RIIL State X-C Championships by winning the school’s 28th team title.
How about the girls from Cumberland High? Is it a little premature to say that a potential dynasty could soon be created by the Lady Clippers.
You be the judge.
Back in 2022, East Greenwich pulled off an upset by defeating the favored Clippers by 22 points. Since that loss, it’s been all Cumberland the last two years and the future looks bright. The Blue and White’s latest came on a cool Saturday afternoon on Ponaganset’s covered-bridge trail.
In a race where the results almost seemed inevitable after the first 600 meters, Cumberland scored a low 34 points, 50 more than a strong North Kingstown squad, Perennial power La Salle finished third with 88.
Thirty-four seconds – yes, 34 seconds! – separated the Clippers’ five scoring runners, who all finished among the top 11. Freshman Cecilia Ludwig led the brigade by placing third overall with a time of 18 minutes, 40.6 seconds for the five-kilometer layout. Taking up the next four spots were 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). The Blue & White’s next two harriers also had solid performance with sophomore Gabby Stoothoff placing 23rd in 19:39.63 and senior Emily Bourke taking 40th at 20:40.61.
Notice something here? Four of Cumberland’s runners will be coming back next year. And here’s the kicker, one of its’ feeder programs, North Cumberland Middle School, won the junior high state title a few weeks ago. If a good portion of those harriers stay in town in the coming years, that’s a pretty lethal squad with some solid depth.
PHOTOS by STERLING VERNON @rhodeandtrack
On Saturday, head coach Kerrie Carpenter couldn’t have asked for better from current, and very-talented squad.
“I haven’t even seen times yet, but the few that I’ve seen were 45 seconds to a minute growth over last year,” said Cumberland coach Kerrie Carpenter, shortly after her team’s victory. “On the girls’ side, that’s really exciting for me.”
Ludwig, a two-time middle school champion, clocked the fourth fastest freshman time ever by a Rhode Islander with her sub-19 effort. The Clipper frosh came on strong in the closing stages of the race to edge Portsmouth’s Allie Kaull at the line by .28 of a second.
“She battled,” Carpenter said. “You could see that battle coming down here right down the center of the field. She just doesn’t let up. That’s part of her fierceness that she’s brings to the table as a runner, as an athlete. The sky is the limit on this kiddo. She’s just a fierce competitor and we could all see that. That was exciting.”
For the boys, Hendricken made it four straight team titles and its sixth in the last eight years. The Hawks defeated second-place East Greenwich, 64-103, La Salle was third with 104 points, just four more than fourth-place Barrington.
Just as he’s done all season, sophomore Colby Flynn was the first Hawks to cross the finish, placing third overall behind 1-2 finishers, La Salle’s Marshall Vernon (15:00.75) and Portsmouth’s Sean Gray (15:11.82). Flynn clocked a PR at Ponaganset of 15:43.50.
“Colby has worked hard,” said head coach Jim Doyle. “Since the time he arrived here at Hendricken, he wants to accomplish a lot, but we take it one step at a time. We held in back a few times on certain occasions. He’s had a tremendous season. Every time he’s gone out, he sets a record as a sophomore in the state. There’s some pretty impressive runners that have come through Bishop Hendricken. Every meet we’ve had, he’s set a new course record.”
Behind Flynn were senior BJ Kerachsky (ninth, 16:09.10), junior Fred Russell (10th, 16:19.74), senior Jack Moretta (20th, 16:36.72), and junior Brayden Seraichyk (26th, 16:50.99). After about 600m, the point in the race where runners enter the wooded section of the course for the first time, the Hawks were already in prime position with all their scorers among the top-15, top-20 spots.
“That was the plan,” Doyle said. “I was happy. I knew we had to stick together to accomplish the team championship. At one point, I was like woah when Colby went by me so hard. I was like, ‘Hopefully he hangs on.’ He was tough, and the other guys were right there. We put ourselves in the race. It hurt a little bit in the end because a couple of guys fell off, but we were strong up front and we’re able to hold on.”
