Local cross-country enthusiasts had the opportunity on Saturday to witness both past and present high school harriers in action at the 25th annual Shawn M. Nassaney Memorial Invitational at Bryant University.
For the first time in the event’s history, high school races were held as part of the popular meet, which honors the former St. Raphael Academy standout and Bryant graduate, who tragically died in the 9/11 attacks.
Eight schools participated in the meet: East Greenwich, Cranston West, Mount Hope, Prout, Davies Tech, West Warwick, and Woonsocket. Winning the inaugural boys’ and girls’ races, respecively, were Mount Hope’s Jackson Cicchinelli and Cranston West’s Kristen Fountaine.
Cicchinelli was in control for most of his race, navigating the 5K terrain in a winning 18:10.90. The Huskie senior was challenged early by Cranston West’s Aidan Gosselin, who grabbed second at 18:43.50.
“It was a good race,” he said. “I came in with the intention that it was going to be a lot more competitive. I went out the first mile pretty well. The first mile was around 5:30. My plan was to go out in 5:30 and pick it up. That didn’t really happen, but it felt good.”
So far, so good for Cicchinelli, who is off to a great start to his fall campaign. He’s two weeks removed from a PR performance at the Injury Fund Carnival where he was timed in 17:20.71 for the 5K course at Deerfield Park, nearly a minute faster than what he ran at the meet in 2024, and 19 ticks better that what he did at the State Meet.
“My goal this season is to break 16:30,” he said.
With five of their runners among the top 15, East Greenwich won the team title with 48 points, 10 more than runner-up Cranston West. Brody Tetreault (sixth, 19:54.50), Austin Dufresne (seventh, 19:54.90), Younoussa Faye (eighth, 20:02.30), Liam Burke (10th, 20:27.20) and Zane Pezza (15th, 20:57.20) comprised the scoring.
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On the girls’ side, Fountaine delivered a similarly commanding performance, crossing the line in 20:10.50. East Greenwich’s Olive Willis took second in 20:50.90.
“I felt really good today,” Fountaine said. “IToday, I was like, just let me do what I can. I wasn’t struggling during the race. I was having a great time, and stuff.”
Cranston West edged East Greenwich in the team competition, 30–34. The Falcons’ scoring five were: Lilliana Prendergast (5th, 21:45.90), Annelsia Joyce (7th, 21:51.10), Leah Yanovich (8th, 22:01.90), and Molly Slinko (9th, 22:19.10).
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The college races also showcased familiar names from Rhode Island’s high school scene.
Rhode Island College senior and former Coventry standout Haley Oliver placed sixth overall in the women’s race with a time of 18:49.50. URI freshman Keaney Bayha, a recent Pilgrim graduate, was ninth in 18:54.90. Stonehill sophomore and Mount St. Charles alum Emmy Belvin finished 13th (19:01.50), followed closely by URI sophomore and former Toll Gate runner Alison Pankowicz was 15th (19:05.90).
On the men’s side, Stonehill freshman and former East Greenwich standout Luke Allen was the top Rhode Island finisher, placing eighth overall in 16:00.10. Stonehill sophomore and Cumberland alum Connor Magill was 19th (16:19.70), while Merrimack freshman Brody Fahys of East Greenwich came in 23rd (16:31.30). RIC junior Andrew Freeza, a Bishop Hendricken product, finished 37th in 17:15.40.
