It’s back!
Beginning this week and continuing throughout the high school season, Ocean State Running will unveil its New Balance Athlete of the Week. Each week, OSR will highlight one male and one female athlete for their standout performances.
As we’ve learned from past features, selecting just two athletes is no easy task, with so many competitors delivering exemplary performances week after week—but we’ll give it our best shot.
Here’s the tricky part: what can—and often does—happen is that an athlete is worthy of this honor multiple times over the course of a season. While we recognize that level of excellence, we’d also like to spread the wealth and shine a spotlight on as many deserving athletes as possible.
With the exception of the championship season, an athlete will be chosen just once during the regular season.
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Now on to our pick for this week’s recipient of New Balance’s Male Athlete of the Week.
The recent East Coast Invitational attracted more than 1,800 athletes to the PCTA Fieldhouse, with the majority coming from beyond the borders. Among the limited number of local competitors, three Rhode Islanders emerged victorious during the meet’s grueling nine-plus hours – Woonsocket’s Shamrock Thoun, Barrington’s Patrick Trainor, and the Eagles’ 4×200-meter relay squad.
While Thoun delivered yet another impressive performance in the weight throw with an 80-plus-foot victory, this week’s honor goes to Trainor, who struck gold twice—and then some—over the weekend.
Trainor captured the title in the 200m dash with a winning time of 23.04 seconds, and also ran a leg on Barrington’s victorious 4x200m relay, which clocked 1:33.47. In addition, he was the top Rhode Island finisher and placed second overall in the 55m dash, sizzling to a 6.52, a time that matches his personal best.
