The divisional championships were held this past week, and with four meets taking place, a host of top performances were produced by our track & field athletes. Indeed, we had plenty to choose from for this week’s New Balance Athletes of the Week.
Where do we start? On the girls’ side, three athletes posted state-best marks at the divisionals. In one of three victories on the day, Mount Hope’s Thea Jackson soared to a height of 5 feet, 6 inches to win the high jump at the Headley Division Meet. La Salle’s Alyssa Parenteau earned gold in the first of two wins at Headley with an indoor PR of 4:44.90 in the 1,500m, while North Kingstown’s Tayla Schneider improved upon her state No. 1 mark in the shot put with a heave of 41-7.75.
On the boys’ side, there were two new state leaders. Barrington’s Henry Stockwell captured the 600m at the Dwyer Meet with a time of 1:23.9, and the Eagles’ Kelly Hill and La Salle’s Judah Mullings won their respective Dwyer and Headley competitions by clearing 12 feet even in the pole vault, sharing the top spot.
Mixed in with all these standout performances were many more outstanding efforts by Rhode Island athletes. So who do we pick? Our choices for this week’s honor include one athlete from the list above and another deserving individual not mentioned earlier. Congratulations to the Huskies’ Jackson and Bishop Hendricken’s Fred Russell.
Just as she has been all season—and seasons before—Jackson was a workhorse at the Headley meet. The versatile senior was a triple winner, capturing the 55m dash (7.27), 55m hurdles (9.11), and the high jump (5-6). If that wasn’t enough, she also finished second in the long jump (17-8.75) for a total of 38 points.
Russell earned gold twice for the Hawks in their dominating victory at the Bayha Division Championships. He captured the 1,500m with an indoor PR of 4:04.12, then returned shortly after to score 10 more points with a victory in the 1,000m, where he was timed in a best of 2:38.79. His effort in the 1,500m moved him to No. 3 in the state rankings.
Above photos by Sterling Vernon @rhodeandtrack
