Before shifting our attention to New Englands this weekend, we’d like to share some final thoughts on what transpired this past Saturday at the RIIL State Cross Country Championships.
It was a memorable meet indeed.
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Maybe we’re a little biased. But then again…
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again — and again, and again. It’s not just the sport itself that makes us love cross country and track & field so much.
There are other components that make this sport so special — qualities you don’t always see as often in other sports. It’s the camaraderie and sportsmanship we witness time and time again at the meets we’ve covered over the years. That never changes.
Fierce competitors out on the trails or on the track — and once the competition stops, good friends and supporters of their rivals. This was so evident throughout the day at the State Meet and last week at the Class Championships, where teams from across Rhode Island made Ponaganset their home.
It’s always good to see — and the Awards Ceremony at the conclusion of the States was a perfect example. Camaraderie and sportsmanship were on full display, and the smiles seemed genuine as each athlete congratulated their rivals on a job well done.
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Unless you’ve worn the shoes and participated in cross country — or any sport, for that matter — you can never truly understand how difficult it is to compete in a meet like the State Meet. Especially when you’re at the elite level and everyone is expecting you to perform at your best.
For anyone to qualify for a championship meet like this past weekend’s states, it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, and a lot of sacrifices. It’s not easy. Like previous meets, there was the expected and the unexpected. Not everyone performed to the expectations they set for themselves, or that we had imagined. It happens — and it happened this past weekend.
For those athletes, there’s no need to hang your head low. There’s no reason to assume you failed in your attempt to achieve your best when you wanted it most. Yours truly has been around this sport long enough to know that some days, it just happens — some days, the stars simply don’t align.
Like any other sport, cross country has a way of making you feel on top of the world when personal records or top performances are achieved on the biggest stages. But it also has a way of humbling us, reminding us that perfection is elusive — and that effort, not outcome, is what truly defines a runner.
Congratulations to all the runners that competed at the State Meet. Kudos to our team champions, Bishop Hendricken and Cumberland, and our individual titlist, Portsmouth’s Sean Gray and Cumberland’s CC Ludwig. We’d also like to extend praise to everyone else that put it all out there on Chieftain’s Covered-Bridge Trail. You’re efforts deserve equal recognition as the team and individuals that took home the hardware.
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For the past 23 years, Ponaganset has been the proud host of the Class and State Cross Country Championships.
Each and every year, it’s the same — when teams and coaches arrive on campus, they’re given the red-carpet treatment. Former Ponaganset coach Jim Caron, current coach David Glasberg, and their dedicated staff always have the course in tip-top shape and add something special to make the experience memorable.
During the State Meet, there’s always that familiar line of pumpkins lining the final 100 meters — a festive touch that perfectly captures the spirit of the season. At last week’s Class Championships, banners were displayed along the tennis court fence, honoring the all-time top 25 runners for both boys and girls. In past years, flags representing each school have lined the course, adding even more color and pride to the event.
No matter the year, the meet is always well organized, and the first-class treatment never wavers. All of this goes along way, and were sure is deeply appreciated by all those that attend this great event.
Well done.
(Above photo by Sterling Vernon @rhodeandtrack)
