After unveiling our previous nine squads, it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out who we’ve got at No. 1. Defending champion Bishop Hendricken gets the nod with a team that boasts strong front-runners and the kind of depth that makes the Hawks dangerous year after year.
On paper, the Hawks could score under 40 points at the State Meet with the lineup they’re expected to field. As with past Hendricken squads, the gap between their first and fifth harriers — and even beyond — has the potential to be small, perhaps a minute or less.
Leading the way is junior Colby Flynn, a gritty competitor who should be in the conversation for the individual title. Flynn placed third at last year’s State Meet in 15:43.50 and owns a 5K best of 15:35.70 from the Great American XC Festival. He followed that with a stellar track campaign, winning his first state title in the 1,500-meter run during the spring and narrowly missing the indoor 3K crown, where La Salle’s Marshall Vernon edged him with a dramatic dive at the finish. Word is Flynn has been putting in the work this summer and is primed for another big fall.
Hendricken also added a key piece with the arrival of David Hayes from East Greenwich. Hayes, a top-seven contender at States, ranked No. 6 among returnees from 2024 with his 16:24.26 performance at the Class B Championships. He made an immediate impact for the Hawks in the spring, earning a bronze medal in the 1,500m at the outdoor states. Right with him should be senior Fred Russell, who was 10th at last year’s meet in 16:19.74.
And then there’s the depth. Senior Brayden Seraichyk, sophomore Oliver Redmond, and sophomore Shepard Butler all dipped under 17 minutes on Ponaganset’s Covered Bridge Trail last fall. All are capable of cracking the top 15, or at least come close.
There will be talented challengers this season, no doubt. But if Hendricken is at its best, anyone hoping to dethrone the Hawks might need to bring their A-plus game to the line.
