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 the 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 final of our previews, the boys’ middle & long distance events. Here’s where it gets tricky, Here’s where the guessing game comes more into play than the rest of the events, especially with teams that are battling for team titles.
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3,000m
Our top two seeds are also scheduled to compete in the 1,500m and the 1,000m. But don’t expect this race to be tactical. That’s not happening, especially with the others in the field. Defending state titlist Marshall Vernon and Hendricken’s Colby Flynn are the fastest in this field. Vernon only ran the 3K once this season, clocking an “easy” 8:45.45 in a dual meet in late December. Flynn has a seed of 8:52.89, but ran an all-time best of 8:28.91 at the Yale Track Classic. Don’t expect either to do much of the pace-setting with more races on their plate. As he stated to us last week after winning the 3K at the Last Chance Qualifier, Portsmouth Sean Gray has every intention to make this race honest. That’s always been his style and we don’t expect it to change when he toes the line on Saturday. Gray, the reigning outdoor champion, is coming off an early-season injury, but admitted to us it’s behind him now. He ran a controlled 9:10.24 last weekend. Prior to his injury, he was third at the Tale Track Classic with a season best of 8:41.75. At his best, Gray’s capable of faster. Don’t be surprised to see Barrington’s Myles Napolitano in the mix. The Eagles’ junior looked awfully strong with his 3K/1,500m double at the Class B meet where he ran 8:57 and 4:08, respectively. Hendricken’s BJ Kerachsky and East Greenwich’s Luke Allen should could also make the podium. We’re predicting that the winner in this race will be in the low 8:30 range with the quality of talent.
1,500m
Since his near victory over Devan Kipyego in the 3K at the indoor states back in 2023, Narragansett’s Cole Francis has been one of our state’s top distance runners. Here’s a race he has a good chance to win his first individual state crown. Francis scratched out of the 3K to focus on the 1,500m. The Mariners senior will be fresh-legged and ready to go against an elite field that includes Vernon and Flynn. Francis breezed to an easy victory and PR of 4:01.81 at the Class C Championship. Could a time like that win on Saturday? It’s hard to tell. At last year’s states, Vernon won with a time of 4:01.73 after taking the 3K in 8:40. The La Salle junior ran an indoor best of 4:10.88 for the mile back in late December at the MSTCA Boston Holiday Challenge. If he’s rested enough, he can certainly bounce back after a hard race earlier. The same with Flynn, who clocked a best of 2:31.21 for the 1,000m after a 4:11 1,500m at the Class A meet. Francis may have to get that time under four minutes to thwart off his rivals in this race.
1,000m
Take your pick in this one. This one could be interesting, very interesting. There’s a list of runners we feel are capable of winning on Saturday. Vernon, Flynn and Francis could all make it happen, depending on the extent of their races prior to the gun. Look for Barrington to score quite a points in their quest to make it back-to-back titles with the Nos. 4-6 seeds – Daniel Chun (2:36.99), Michael Chun (2:38.24) and Napolitano (2:39.47).
