La Salle Academy won its 20th boys’ team title and first since 2002, while Cumberland ended a 36-year-old drought with the school’s third girls’ crown in its history on Sunday, the “unplanned” second day of the RIIL State Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Brown Stadium. The Rams scored in 14 of the 19 events to coast to a convincing 147-113 victory over second-place Bishop Hendricken. Defending titlist Barrington was third with 111 points. Cumberland won the team hardware for the first time since 1989 in a down-to-the wire battle with defending titlist West Warwick. The Clippers defeated the Wizards, 67-64. North Kingstown scored 58 points for third.
For Cumberland, Kiley DeFusco was the star of the day by scoring 24 points individually. DeFusco dominated the 1,500-meter run, leading from the gun and crossing the finish line with a PR of 4:29.03. She came back and beat a talented field to take the 800m with a six-second best of 2:09.30. DeFusco also was fourth in the 3,000m (10:24.28) and ran a 59-second leg on the 4x400m team (4:13.84). The Clippers essentially sealed the deal in the 3K where they scored 16 points with a 2-4-7 finish. Away from the oval, Payton Goulding scored 18 points by winning the shot (PR, 41-7.75) and taking runner-up honors in the discus (128-1).
Sophomore Jalen Moseley earned two victories for La Salle He broke his own state record in the 300-meter hurdles (37.67 seconds) and clocked a PR in the 110m high hurdles (14.18). Moseley was also a runner-up in the long jump (22 feet, 2.5 inches) and the 200m (21.5), an event the Rams had a 2-3-4-5 finish and 23 points. Junior Garrett Giroux-Pezzulla claimed the 400m title (48.75), was third in the 200m (22.20) and ran legs on the triumphant 4x100m (42.09) and 4x400m (3:19.38). Eamon O’Brien, another junior, found gold in the 800m (1:54.54) and ran a leg on the 4x400m.
West Warwick’s Lisa and Xenia Raye ran the final State Meet of their outstanding careers. Lisa won her third straight crowns in the 100m (11.64) and 200m (23.76) dashes. She also ran the anchor on the Wizards’ victorious 4x100m relay (47.77). Xenia won her third consecutive 400m title (54.93), finished second in the 100m (11.83) and 200m (24.14) and also ran a leg on the 4x100m.
Other highlights…
- Rogers shot-putter Kayden Thomas hit the 60-foot milestone for the first time of his career to take top honors. The Vikings’ senior hurled the metal ball a distance of 60-2 to beat top rival Brandon Wolfenden of Pilgrim, who had a heave of 56.4.25. Thomas was also victorious in the discus at 158-6.
- Chariho’s Emily Brown swept the girls’ hurdling events, registering a PR of 15.12 in the 100m HH and taking the 300m IH in a near best of 46.10. Brown also cleared a PR of 5-4 in the high jump to place second. Her effort in the high jump matched the performances of first- and third-place finishers, Thea Jackson of Mount Hope and Exeter-West Greenwich’s Nina Olawuyi.
- The Huskies’ Jackson had a successful two days. In addition to her victory in the high jump, she was also first in the long jump (19-1) and third in the 100m (12.35).
- East Providence’s Jack Pawlik was the fastest of the day. The gifted underclassman blazed to triumphs in the 100m (10.86) and the 200m (21.90). Pawlik also ran a leg on the Townies’ second-place 4x100m squad (42.34).
- Nation-leader Owen Spira went 230-plus for the fourth time this season in the hammer, capturing that event with a toss of 233-3.
- Pilgrim’s Keaney Bayha won her second state 3K title of the year. Nearly four months after winning her indoor crown, Bayha was a convincing victor in Saturday race, taking the 7.5-lapper in 10:07.45. Sean Gray defended his title on the boys’ side with a state-leading and PR of 8:27.50.
Ocean State Running will have more to come on this weekend’s State Meet
