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 girls’ middle & long distance events.
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3,000m
The favorite here is Pilgrim’s Keaney Bayha. While she’s also entered in three other events, we’re not expecting her to hold back. Much like the Class A meet, where she took charge from the beginning and coasted to a time of 9:59.80, were predicting a similar type race on Saturday. Look for another sub 10-minute effort, perhaps the state meet record of 9:54.79 by former La Salle great Kaylie Armitage in 2021. Behind her, expect a slew of underclassmen to fill those top spots with the North Kingstown’s sophomore duo of Abbie Tighe (10:13.19) and Lucy Stowe (10:13.22), St. Raphael sophomore Mackenzie Lickert (10:20.17), La Salle freshman Stella Pelagio (10:46.60). The Rams could have several on the podium in this race with two more runners in this field that have broken 11 minutes with seniors Jayden Donnelly (10:49.52) and Maeve Casey (10:53.36).
1,500m
The top seed and the runner we believe will win this race is Cumberland’s Kiley DeFusco. The Clipper senior won the Class A title with a state best of 4:42.38. Much like that race and pretty much any race that she runs, we’re predicting that DeFusco will be all business right from the gun and put a significant gap on the competition by the time she reaches the midway point. The field is strong with five runners coming in with seeds under 4:50, so she can’t hold back. Look for a potential sub 4:40 on Saturday by the Clipper all-stater. Depending on how fast Bayha runs her 3K, she could be a factor early in this race. Don’t ignore Allie Kaull of Portsmouth, too. The Patriots’ talented senior won the RITCA Invitational with a PR of 4:48.14 and was the Class B winner. There’s also North Smithfield’s Julie Dowling and La Salle’s Alyssa Parenteau, who are both coming in with 4:49 bests.
1,000m
With most of our top runners in this field having competed in one or more races prior, they’ll be some tired legs on the line. DeFusco is the top seed with a time of 2:58.12. The Clipper standout proved she can come back relatively strong with the 1,500m/1.000m double. At the class meet, she followed her mile victory with a win in the 1K where she was timed in 3:02.17. We’re expecting Bayha, Parenteau, Stowe and Cumberland’s Charli McCue to be in the mix, too. Keep an eye on North Kingstown sophomore Maura Whitney. She’s the sleeper in this event. Whitney’s a sixth seed and will be going into this race with fresh legs. She has a best of 3:06.52, which she did after a 4:55 1,500m at the Class A meet. As a ninth-grader last spring, she ran a PR of 2:16.74 for 800m at the New Balance Nationals. Don’t be surprised if she shocks the field on Saturday.
