In her first time competing on R.I. soil this outdoor season, Xenia Raye wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to excel.
The West Warwick senior was among several athletes that came up big at Sunday’s Southern Division Championships. With younger sister Lisa Raye in attendance but nursing a sore hamstring beyond the oval, Xenia Raye continued the family tradition at the league competition by sweeping all the sprinting events with victories in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes as well as anchoring the Wizards’ triumphant 4x100m squad.
For her efforts, Raye was awarded the meet’s outstanding female performer, an honor that her talented sibling took home the last two years.
“I am very happy,” Xenia Raye said. “I came here – this is my first meet in Rhode Island – and I was able to win four golds. That was a big goal for me. My times aren’t exactly where I would want them to be. But I know once the states come, the nationals, the New England’s, all those events, I know I am going to be where I want to be. It was good enough today, and I’m proud.”
Not where she wanted to me is where most wouldn’t mind being.
The Wizards multiple all-stater blazed to meet records of 11.73 seconds for the 100m and 24.37 in the 200m. She claimed the 400m title in a solid 57.32 and also ran a leg on the first-place 4x100m squad. The foursome of Jailynn Huffman, Tatianna Baldinelli, Gina Mattera and Raye combined for a MR of 50.36.
This was the fourth meet of the spring campaign for Raye. She kicked off the season at the Arcadia Invitational in California on April 12. She also competed at the Penn Relays Carnival in Philadelphia at the end of April and just last weekend, participated at the Glenn B. Loucks Games in New York. The focus is now on next Saturday’s class championships, followed by the State Meet on June 7.
“It was definitely different having to adjust from running out-of-state and the competition levels,” said Raye, who ran PRs of 11.67 and 23.82, respectively, for the 100m and 200m at Arcadia. “But I’m happy to be back in Rhode Island and happy to run for everyone in my state.”
Among several goals, two of which include team titles at the class and state meets, Raye is eyeing the 400m state record of 54.10, held by former Moses Brown great Sophia Gorriaran from 2021. The Wizard senior’s current best is 54.73 from her win at last year’s states.
“I really just want to get my time down,” Raye said. “I know it’s going to happen…I know states, I’m going to be pushed by some great competition and I’m going to take it.”
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In the team competition, it was all North Kingstown. The Skippers dominated the girls’ meet, compiling 256 points. Chariho Regional was second with 97 points. West Warwick was right behind in third with 91 points. The NK boys also had little to worry about, easily earning the hardware with a 183-87 win over second-place East Greenwich. The Prout School and South Kingstown tied for third with 85 points.
On the girls’ side for North Kingstown, the sophomore tandem of Lucy Stowe and Abbie Tighe took the top two spots in the 1,500m and 3,000m. Stowe won the 1,500m in 4:59.81 with her teammate at 5:05.77 for second. The results were reversed in the 3K with Tighe crossing the line in 10:43.56 and her fellow classmate nabbing runner-up honors in 10:48.56. Stowe and Tighe also ran legs on the 4×8. Tayla Schneider scored 24 points with triumphs in the javelin (109 feet, 1 inch) and shot (38-4.5) and was fifth in the hammer (143-4). The Skippers also took first in the 4x400m (4:19.83) and the pole vault where junior Abigail Nicolopoulos cleared 10-feet even. Nicolopoulos also was second in the 400m (1:00.60).
For the boys, NK swept the relays with times of 44.23 for the 4x100m, 3:31.96 for the 4x400m and 8:17.23 for the 4x800m. The Skippers’ Gavin Shipperley broke the tape in the 1,500m (4:17.83) and Cole Shotwell and Kelsey Hurwitz each cleared 12-0 in the pole vault to finish 1-2.
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The meet featured several multiple champions. In addition to Xenia Raye, Westerly’s Marcus Uben swept the boys hurdles with times of 15.34 for the 110m HH and 39.40 for the 300m IH. Chariho’s Emily Brown won those events for the girls, registering times of 15.40 and 47.43. She also came out on top in the high jump (5-3) and was third in the long jump (17-5.25).
Exeter-West Greenwich’s Nini Olawuyi struck it rich in the long (18-9) and triple (38-5) jumps. She also placed third in the high jump (5-3). Zachary Morgan of West Warwick cleared a state-leading 6-7 to take the high jump. He also won the long jump (20-6.5) and was second in the triple jump (40-0).
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Among other highlights…
- Exeter-West Greenwich’s Owen Spira continued his dominance in the hammer with his fourth straight throw over 230 feet. He claimed Sunday’s title with a distance of 232-6.
- Westerly’s Noah Roberts took charge in the 800m with a gun-to-wire victory and time of 1:57.91. That time moves him to No. 2 in the state rankings.
