He’s not finished yet. He’s still got one more meet to go.
But so far, Woonsocket’s Shamrock Thoun is two-for-two in confirming that he is without a doubt the best weight-thrower in the country.
On the heels of his winning performance and first 80-footer at the Nike Indoor Nationals a day earlier, Thoun returned to the top of the podium on Saturday. The Villa Novan junior claimed individual gold at the New Balance Nationals with a heave of 79-9.25. Thoun took the lead on his opening toss and held off a challenge from state rival Jack Harmon of North Kingstown to capture his second straight national title with only next week’s adidas Indoor Nationals remaining.
As predicted, it was a banner day for Rhode Island in the event with a 1-2-3-5 finish. Harmon secured runner-up honors with a distance of 78-1.5. He was followed by Exeter/West Greenwich’s Owen Spira (third, 75-8.75) and East Greenwich’s Ryan Evans (fifth, 75-8.75).
Here’s what else happened during Day 3 of New Balance.
***
It’s going to be two incredible finals.
We’re talking about the girls’ 60-meter dash and 200m.
The national 60m record-holder Lisa Raye (West Warwick) versus the No. 3 all-time leader in the 300m Elise Cooper (McDonogh, MD). Two sprinters that were separated by mere strides in 200m at last year’s Nike Indoor Nationals (NIN). Two sprinters that have no doubt established themselves among our country’s finest.
On the infield and the oval at the TRACK at New Balance, site of this week’s meet, both established their ground with blazing-fast openers in their respective preliminary heats. Raye posted the fastest time of the day in the 60m with a 7.31 in her preliminary race, just four hundredths of a second quicker than Cooper. In the 200m prelims. Raye opened things up by breaking her own state record with a time of 23.22. Cooper responded with a near PR of 23:10.
Lat year at NIN, Cooper won the 200m by four hundredths of a second over Raye. Both events could be just exciting in races that could generate enough electricity to light the city of Boston where it’s held.
The 60m semifinals are scheduled for 10:18 a.m., while the finals are at 2:21 p.m. The 200m is at 1:48. Stay tuned.
***
The Wizards’ Xenia Raye produced her fastest efforts of the season in the two sprints. The WW senior looked strong in winning her heat in the 60m where she blasted to a PR of 7.47, an effort that was the eighth fastest of the day and qualified her for the semifinals. In the 200m, Raye raced to an indoor best of 24.37.
***
A day after capturing the individual title in the girls’ weight at Nike, Toll Gate’s Vanessa Jones earned All-American honors again at Saturday’s meet where she finished third overall with a distance of 57-3.75. With two fouls among her six throws (prelims and finals), Jones admitted she was a little off at New Balance. Still, the talented junior managed to finish off a mega-successful indoor campaign with her fourth throw this season that has exceeded 57 feet.
***
Cumberland was fourth in the unseeded section and 14th among 46 schools in the 4xMile Relay with a time of 21:08.72. The quartet was composed of Rose Tuomisto, Anna Bianchi, Charli McCue and Kiley DeFusco. In the boys’ race, Hendricken’s foursome of Fred Russell, BJ Kerachsky, Shepherd Butler and Emmitt Rattey combined for a time of 18::20.68, an effort that was 13th in the unseeded heats and 37th overall.
***
State 55m hurdle champion and record-holder Bobby Wind had a strong day in his specialty. The Barrington senior clocked 8.06 in the prelims of the 60m HH and had a near state mark of 8.02 in the semifinals. That performance was just shy of the 21-year-old state mark of 8.00 by Hope’s Yudehweh “Pete” Gbaa.
