Yes folks, with the State Meet on Saturday, it’s preview week here at Ocean State Running. We’ll do our best to let you know what to expect this weekend when the best of the best compete at Brown Stadium. Here we feature the girls’ throwing events, which includes the hammer, shot, discus, and javelin.
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HAMMER THROW
Saturday’s meet kicks off with this event, scheduled for 12:45 p.m. If you we’re planning to come a little later for the states, you might want to change your plans. From beyond the cage will be five of the nation’s top 10 throwers, including the 1-2-3 athletes in the rankings – Coventry’s Mia Hoskins, and Woonsocket’s Adelaide Caron and Isabella Piette. After spending nearly the entire season atop the state and national rankings, the Villa Novans’ Caron moved down to No. 2 with a PR effort by Hoskins at this past weekend’s Mount Pleasant Invitational. The Knotty Oaker senior unleashed the first 180-footer of the year with a winning toss and new nation-leader of 180-7. Just like it’s been throughout the season, we’re expecting this one to be a battle. Hoskins has been red-hot lately and Caron has been laser focused and consistent in her specialty with most of her throws in the high 170-foot range, including her season best of 179-8 from the Class A Championships on May 24. After what transpired at Mount Pleasant and the week prior at the class meet where Caron and Hoskins went 1-2, we’re listing both as our co-favorites. Piette unleashed her best at the Sgt. Brian St. Germain Invitational a few weeks ago and went 170-feet even at the Classical Classic. While a definite longshot, another very big throw by the WHS senior could put her in the mix. Other top throwers include indoor weight titlist Vanessa Jones of Toll Gate (169-11) and Ponaganset’s Jillian Walters of Ponaganset (167-5).
JAVELIN
The clear-cut favorite here is defending champion Mackenzie Cleary. The Broncos senior ranks No. 1 in the state with a PR of 127-0 from her victory at the Eastern Division Championships on May 18. Cleary has been solid all season long with consistent throws in the mid-to-high 120-foot range. The real battle could be for second place where there are several athletes that could be contending for that spot. Among them are La Salle freshman Dylan Wolf (119-7), Pilgrim’s Lia Wasilewski (116-5), North Kingstown’s Tayla Schneider (115-2), and Ponaganset’s Alyssa Lupo (114-4).
SHOT
Remember what we said about the hammer, the same could happen inside the circle. While the names will be different, this event could generate quite a bit of excitement. We say it all the time that one big throw can make a difference in throwing events. It certainly applies here. Scheduled to compete on Saturday are three throwers that have exceeded 40 feet this season. That trio includes defending champion Gifty Bediako of Classical (41-1.5), Cumberland’s Payton Goulding (40-9.75) and the Skippers’ Schneider (40-0.5). Bediako, who won the indoor crown, will be looking to make a clean sweep of her specialty for the second straight year. Trust us, it won’t be easy. At the Mount Pleasant Invitational, the Classical senior beat Schneider by just four inches. Goulding was less than two inches behind Bediako at the St. Germain Invite with her current best. No doubt, it’s going to be interesting to see who comes out on top in this one. You have to give Bediako the favorite nod based on her success at the state level, but don’t count out her other two rivals.
DISCUS
This one could be close, real close. The top five seeds are separated by five feet. Included among the group is Piette, the returning champion and the No. 4 seed with a PR of 120-6 from her second-place finish at the Classical Classic a few weeks ago. At last year’s states, the Villa Novan senior surprised the competition with her victory. The same could happen this weekend with a number of lower seeds capable of winning. The Titans’ Jones, who last weekend placed second to Classical’s Nelmarix Santos Mojica at the Mount Pleasant Invite, holds the No. 1 seed with her best of 124-11 from the Southern Division Championships. Mojica is ranked No. 2 with a best of 122-10. Goulding at the third seed (121-11), PIette and the Prout School’s Julia Smith at No. 5 (119-9), are all throwers you can’t ignore on Saturday.
