Ask anyone who has attended an RIIL Track & Field Championship what the highlights were — and you might be waiting a while for an answer.
How do you choose in a meet where nearly every event feels like a headline moment? That’s what happens when the state’s best come together for one unforgettable day of competition.
As we always do, here are a few of the moments and storylines that stood out at the State Meet this past Saturday.
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In our recap of the boys’ meet, we talked about the sacrifices athletes make to give their teams a chance at a state title. We highlighted La Salle’s Eamon O’Brien risking a potential individual victory in the 600 meters to anchor the Rams’ 4×800-meter relay with a gutsy leg, and we mentioned Garrett Giroux-Pezzullo, Jalen Moseley and Marshall Vernon competing in multiple events to help secure the championship.
But they weren’t alone.
As is the case every year at the State Meet, athletes are called to duty again and again, and almost always accept that responsibility without hesitation. The list of multiple-event scorers among Saturday’s top-three teams was extensive.
Mount Hope’s Thea Jackson (high jump, long jump, 55m dash, 55m hurdles) delivered across four disciplines, while North Kingstown relied on Abigail O’Neal (600m, pole vault, 4x800m), Abbie Tighe (3,000m, 1,500m, 4x800m) and Tayla Schneider (shot put, weight throw).
La Salle counted on Alyssa Parenteau (1,500m, 1,000m) and Olivia Wahlberg (1,500m, 1,000m), along with Jillian Lewis (high jump, 4x200m), and Moses Brown’s Skyler Maxwell (600m, 4x200m, 4x400m) handled a full slate of sprint duties.
On the boys’ side, Barrington’s Patrick Trainor (55m, 4x200m), Brooks Mello (1,500m, 1,000m, 4x400m) and Joe Adams (shot put, weight throw) carried heavy loads. Hendricken’s Colby Flynn (3,000m, 1,000m) and Brayden Serachyk (3,000m, 1,500m) doubled in the distance events, while La Salle’s Antonio Bearden (high jump, 55m hurdles, long jump) spanned disciplines from hurdles to horizontal jumps.
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Trust us, hard work and dedication to your craft always pay off — no matter what level you’re at. For some, it’s a PR or a podium finish at a championship-level meet. For others, it’s that long-awaited state title after having it within your grasp so many times before.
In 2025 at the indoor state meet, that athlete was Cole Francis. After a string of near misses, including three runner-up finishes at the State Meet, the former Narragansett standout finally broke through, capturing his first state title with a win in the 1,000m.
This past weekend, it was Alyssa Parenteau.
The Rams’ gifted junior has been one of the state’s top cross-country and middle- and long-distance stars since her freshman year. An injury during the fall of her sophomore season essentially wiped away her cross-country campaign and may have limited what she could accomplish on the track. Still, she finished that year with promise, setting a PR and placing fifth at outdoor states in 4:42.48 for the 1,500m.
This fall, she was again among the state’s best. After winning the Class A Meet in 18:42.1 — the fastest time of the day among all classes — she entered the championship meet as one of the favorites. When she finished seventh, earning first-team all-state honors, you could see the disappointment. It was a strong finish. But it wasn’t the gold medal she wanted.
That changed this weekend.
Her persistence. Her belief in herself. Her hard work and the never-ending dream she knew would one day become reality. It all came together at Saturday’s meet with a victory in the 1,500m, a race she was favored to win after a standout winter campaign.
There was no hesitation. There was no letting up. You could see it. From the gun, she went to work. She remained focused and relentless and rode it home down the stretch.
Yet another reason to believe that dreams are attainable if you put in the work and stay the course. That you never drift from the path you built, no matter what stands in your way.
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We see it all the time – fierce rivals during competition, friendly rivals away from the track.
Athletes from opposing teams offering praise for their competitors and cheering them on when they’re not facing each other.
Barrington’s Harry Stockwell was a prime example of the mutual admiration athletes often share, particularly in track & field. After winning the 600m at Saturday’s meet, we asked Stockwell how it felt to capture his first individual title.
The first words out of his mouth weren’t about the joy of crossing the finish line.
They were about his top competitor, La Salle’s Eamon O’Brien.
“I want to give a shout out to Eamon,” he said. “He doubled today, ran the 4x800m. I don’t think he was feeling too good for this one, so a huge shout out to him. He’s a great runner.”
It was a class act by a runner that certainly deserves equally respect for what he accomplished on track. Well done!
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When she was a freshman at Moses Brown, Skyler Maxwell got a firsthand look at one of our state’s most prolific track & field stars – two-time Olympic Trials qualifier Sophia Gorriaran.
During her storied career with the Quakers, Gorriaran was a constant presence on the national stage, breaking records, winning state and national titles, and establishing herself as a bona fide middle-distance star with rare versatility – capable of excelling from the sprints to the longer events.
So how does the next top athlete at Moses Brown follow a legacy like that?
You don’t.
You create your own legacy, your own identity.
That’s exactly what Maxwell has done the last few years for the Quakers. We saw it towards the end of the indoor season last year and particularly during the spring where the Boston University commit was beginning to elevate her talent to another level. Her runner-up finish in the 800m, highlighted by a five-second best of 2:11.70, cemented that rise.
This past weekend, Maxwell captured her second straight 600m title. She didn’t just win it, she dominated the field with a PR of 1:33.69 – a nearly three-second best. In the history of the state, that effort ranks No. 7 on the all-time list, with the New England Championships ahead. At Moses Brown, it’s second behind Gorriaran’s amazing school record of 1:27.02 from the 757 Showdown in Virginia.
Not surprisingly, the Quaker standout credits Gorriaran as a strong influence in her success.
“She was a senior when I was a freshman,” she said. “I have been running with her since middle school and the Providence Cobras, and her dad is my coach. I have been running with her forever. I’ve just seen how well she leads a team by example and I really wanted to adapt that this year. Watching her run inspires me so much to run that and know that I can run that. She’s just really a big inspiration.”
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While you see my byline on the articles and hear my voice in interviews, Ocean State Running is far from a one-person show.
I can’t thank our social media guru, Nessa Molloy, enough for the tireless work she does with our Instagram account, always ensuring our athletes are getting the recognition they deserve and keeping our followers up-to-date in the latest happenings. The numbers have skyrocketed since she told me five simple words a few years ago – “Give me that Instagram account!”
I’d also like to offer praise to my top photographer, Bryan Raposa. I give it my best shot, but Bryan’s the professional – and it shows in his work. This past weekend alone, he was there from start to finish, and more than 2,100 photos were uploaded because of his efforts.
I’d also like to recognize Sterling Vernon of Rhode And Track Sports Photography for allowing us to use the many great photos he produces throughout the year.
Finally, I’d like to thank all our OSR followers – especially the athletes. You make my job easier every week by creating content through your performances. You’re all rock stars in my book.
