At times, the wind proved to be no one’s friend at the Classical Classic.
But it didn’t stop the usual suspects from coming out on top at Saturday’s competition.
Mount Hope’s Thea Jackson was one of several athletes who’s times or distances were fell far short of their season or personal bests due to the unfavorable conditions. Jackson finished off a productive day at Conley Stadium with victories in the 100-meter dash (12.66 seconds) and long jump (18 feet, 1.25 inches), along with a pair of third-place finishes in the high jump (5-0) and triple jumps (36-2.5).
For the 100m, an event the Huskies’ versatile junior ranks No. 3 in the state with her best of 12.07 from last week’s win at the St. Germain Invitational, Jackson found herself in unfamiliar territory. The top-seeded sprinter was ranked fifth going into the finals after finishing second behind Ponaganset’s Lillian Richie in her preliminary heat with a time of 13.15. Jackson regained order in the finals where she finished comfortably ahead of runner-up Kendra Satine of Moses Brown, who was timed in 12.87.
“Right went I got out of the blocks I just felt the wind blowing in my face,” she said. “All I could do was hear the wind. I was like ‘Oh no, this is going to be a long race.’ I just had to make sure I mentally prepared for the finals, seeing how my time in the prelims was definitely a little degrading.”
It’s been a typical season so far for the Mount Hope standout. She currently ranks No. 1 in the state for the long jump (18-11.5), a tie for the top spot in the high jump (5-2), No. 2 in the triple jump (37-8.5) in the triple jump and No. 3 behind West Warwick’s Lisa and Xenia Raye in the 100m.
A time under 12 seconds in the 100m would put her among a short list of Rhode Island’s best that have accomplished the feat. Just five have done it in the history of the state. For the long jump, just two have gone 19-plus
“I want to get there so bad, especially how close i was to both in the 100 and the long jump,” said Jackson, while making reference to her dual victories at the St. Germain Invite. “I really want to get there. That’s my main goal before I leave high school. I definitely want to get there and I’ll do the best I can to do that.”
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In the boys’ 100m, East Providence tenth-grader Jack Pawlik continued the momentum from last weekend’s victory at St. Germain with a PR of 11.08. Pawlik held off the La Salle tandem of Joshua Aceto (second, 11.12) and sophomore Jalen Moseley (third, 11.16). Pawlik also finished second in the 200m (22.51) behind Aceto’s winning 22.34 effort.
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Defending state champion MacKenzie Clearly won the javelin. Cleary’s final throw of 116-11 proved to be her best. Finishing second was La Salle’s Dylan Wolf at 108-10.
Clearly was coming of a PR of 124-1 from last week’s St. Germain meet. This time she was dealing with a strong head wind.
“I feel a lot of people were thrown off by the head wind,” she said. “I certainly was. It was definitely a factor going into it.”
Besides winning another state title, Cleary is looking to achieve big gains in her specialty.
“My goal for the end of the season is to reach 130 (feet),” she said. “Just by throwing that 124 last week at St. Germain, it already proves that I’m one step closer to where I wany to be. I definitely think I need to get in the weight room more. definitely put on some blocks when I throw, and probably giving myself more space, pushing myself backwards for a longer run up. If I do all that, I’ll be able to throw 130.”
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In one of the more exciting races of the day, Barrington’s Myles Napolitano was able to win the 1,500m where he was timed in an outdoor best of 4:02.52. The Eagles’ senior engaged in a tight battle with La Salle’s Eamon O’Brien down the final stretch, having just enough at the end to secure a slight triumph over the Rams’ junior, who crossed the line in 4:03.23. Behind the duo was a slew of six Hendricken runners, led by third-place finisher BK Kerachsky at 4:07.64.
“My kick has been proven to be strong throughout the years,” Napolitonio said. “It’s something I can usually rely on. Going into races I usually think I can outkick the guys. But especially with Eamon. he’s an extraordinary fast 800 guy. Obviously, the 1,500, too. I was really worried about him coming through the line. He didn’t give up for one second down that line. It was a fight all the way.”
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Defending state champion Carson Dean of Hendricken established a school and meet record in the pole vault by soaring to a height of 15-feet even. Finishing second was La Salle’s Alex Campbell at 13-6. Barrington’s Ellie Noonan, last year’s state runner-up, took the girls’ pole vault at 11-0.
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State-leaders Owen Spira of Exeter/West Greenwich and Woonsocket’s Adelaide Caron earned the respective boys’ and girls’ hammer titles with throws of 231-0 and 178-0, respectively. In the shot, Pilgrim’s Brandon Wolfenden (58-4) and North Kingstown’s Tayla Schneider (38-3) were the winners.
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Portsmouth’s Allie Kaull went sub 4:50 in then girls’ 1,500m in a close race with Cumberland’s Charli McCue coming down the stretch, Kaull edged the Clipper junior with a time of outdoor best of 4:49.87 to McCue’s 4:50.94 effort. The Portsmouth senior was just a couple of days removed from competing in three events at a league meet on Thursday, which included a 10:28 best for the 3K after running the 1,500m and 800m.
“I was coming in a little tired. I really didn’t have much expectations,” she admitted. “I’m feeling real strong this season. My aerobic capacity is way up. I have been hitting some really good times in workouts. I’m just really super strong. I just wanted to see what I can do today. I exceeded my expectations.”
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Not surprisingly, Barrington’s Bobby Wind won the 110m hurdles. The Eagles senior was timed in a 14.58. Hendricken’s Elijah Guertin was second at 15.41. Wind, the state indoor 55mHH champion and state-record-holder, is looking to prosper again this season.
Back on May 2, Wind unofficially tied the state record in the 110m HH by winning the individual title at Track Night NYC in 13.96.
That was pretty nice,” he said. “It was a beautiful day out there. I had a little tail wind. We’ll see if the wind is legal (for a record). But it was great competition. I really came in there with the mentality that I was going to break 14 (seconds). That was my goal for the day. I was glad I was able to do it. I ran a 14.02 in prelims and going into the finals, I knew I could do it. That was one of my best races I have ever run so far.”
