It all comes down to this weekend.
The best of the best. The cream of the crop. The elite.
Call it what you will. They’ll all be at the PCTA field house. They’ll all be ready to go at Saturday’s RIIL State Track & Field Championships. As we often say, “Folks, is doesn’t get any better than this!”
(Above photo by Sterling Vernon @rhodeandtrack)
Over the next few days, we’ll preview our top individuals and teams that will be part of the Best Show in Town. Who has the best chance to earn that coveted gold medal? Who are others we feel can contend this weekend? We’ll give it our best shot with our predictions of the day’s happenings.
Ready, set, go!!! It’s time to get started!!!
Here we feature the girls’ throwing and jumping events.
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WEIGHT THROW
Are you serious? This event has been simply incredible this season. In all, we had a record 10 girls go over 50 feet this season. Putting that number into perspective. Last year, we had two. We had one each in in the two years prior and five in 2021. The favorite on Saturday is nation-leader Vanessa Jones of Toll Gate. Jones, who boast a PR of 57 feet, 0.25 inches. Jones not only has the No. 1 throw from coast-to-coast but has been ridiculously-consistent the last few weeks. The Titans’ junior has gone 50-plus feet eight of nine meets this season, including her all-time best from the Class A Championship on Feb. 1 and her recent runner-up finish to New York’s Meagan Ewers at the recent Millrose Games. At last Thursday’s competition against Evers, who she overtook for the No. 1 from the class meet, Jones went 56-3.75, just an inch behind Ewers. Her series of throws included efforts of 54-5.5, 53-10.25, 55-9.25, 53-9.75, 55-4.75 and her near winner. That’s impressive!!! That’s tough to beat! Now the question – Can she get beat? Let’s put it this way. There’s not a very big margin for error. There will be plenty of talent behind her on Saturday. Occupying the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds are Classical’s Gifty Bediako (54-4.5) and Mia Hoskins (54-4). Among several others that could make things interesting are Woonsocket’s Isabella Piette (52-6), the Prout School’s Julia Smith (52-1.5) and defending champion Adelaide Caron (51-7).
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Shot
The favorite here is Bediako, who swept her specialty last year with titles at the indoor and outdoor states. The Purple’s gifted senior has a streak of seven straight meets where she’s unleashed the metal ball 40-plus feet, including her PR of 43-4.5 from her win at the Class B Championship. Bediako’s biggest threat appears to be Cumberland’s Payton Goulding who is the only other shot-putter that has hit the 40-foot mark this winter, capturing the Headley Division title at 40-0.5. Goulding has generally been in the 37-38 foot range this season and will have to have another big 40-footer, to have any chance at upsetting Bediako, who has a good track record in championship meets. North Kingstown’s Tayla Schneider (38-10) and Scituate’s Ava Pilderian (37-4.75) are a couple of others that could earn high placements on the podium.
High Jump
This is an event that could come down to a jump-off. The top two seeds are South Kingstown’s Jasmine Thompson and Barrington’s Helena Hyde, who both have cleared identical heights of 5-4 this winter East Greenwich’s Sydney Spitzer is ranked third at 5-3 and four more are at 5-2. A win by Thompson would make it two straight by the Thompson family. Winning the crown in 2024 was older sister and SK grad, Sierra Thompson. Last year’s event has just one senior among the top 15. We should see several familiar faces making their way back to the podium.
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Long Jump
This is one of four events that recent 60-meter national record-holder Lisa Raye will be competing on Saturday. The West Warwick junior has achieved an abundance of milestone this year and could produce another one here. No, we’re not thinking another national mark, but we are thinking a possible 20-footer. On Jan. 5, Raye set the current state record when she soared to a distance of 19-7.75 in a league meet. She followed that performance by hitting 19-feet even at the divisional championship and 19-2 with her win at the Class B Championship. Her top challengers are the 2-3 finishers from that meet, Mount Hope teammates Thea Jackson (18-9.75) and Lola Silva (18-8.25). Exeter/West Greenwich’s Nini Olawuyi, who won the recent Last Chance Qualifier with a best of 18-4.25, is another jumper you can’t ignore.
