The sand pit. The track oval.
Neither matters.
Competition is what lights the fire for Jalen Moseley, who brings his ‘A’ game to whatever event calls his name.
And for the versatile, talented La Salle Academy junior, that often means multiple events.
Moseley’s latest showcase came Saturday at the Sgt. Brian St. Germain Invitational. The Rams standout left West Warwick High – site of the state qualifier – with three gold medals, including one in record-breaking fashion after toppling a nearly 100-year-old state mark.
Moseley swept the hurdle events, capturing the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.29 seconds and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in a near-state-record time of 37.82.
The highlight of his trifecta came in the long jump, where the multiple state champion etched his name into the record books by erasing Rhode Island’s longest-standing mark with a leap of 24 feet, 3 inches. Moseley’s effort eclipsed the previous mark of 24-1, set in 1936 by former Moses Brown standout Don Blount.
“Ninety years is a long time,” he said. “For me to come out here and set a record is really a blessing and a great accomplishment.”
Moseley capped off his day by winning the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, where he finished just 0.15 seconds shy of his state-record time of 37.67 from last year’s State Meet. He had hoped to add another mark to his collection.
In dominating fashion, Moseley won the race by more than three seconds over teammate Antonio Bearden, who clocked a solid 41.12.
“I came out here to set two state records, because two is better than one,” he laughed. “I came out, tried my best. We didn’t get it today. We’ll get it next time for sure.”
Just days after moving to No. 2 nationally in the hammer throw, Bishop Hendricken’s Dimitri Johnson continued his strong run in the event with a winning toss of 227 feet, 2 inches. Johnson captured the title by seven feet over Barrington’s Joe Adams, who finished at 220-1.
The Hawks senior moved to No. 1 in the state and second nationally earlier in the week with a personal-best throw of 230-9 at a league meet. He topped a loaded field Saturday that featured five athletes eclipsing 200 feet, including East Greenwich’s Ryan Evans (219-11), Woonsocket’s Shamrock Thoun (217-8) and Coventry’s Mark Cleverly (214-2).
“It’s been a good week. It’s been a lot of practicing and improving on my technique,” Johnson said. “Today was interesting with the rain and weather. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. It started off a little slow, but I was able to pick it up as we went along. Having competition around me like Joe, Ryan and Shamrock – and a lot of other people throwing big numbers- motivates you and helps you throw farther.”
Johnson trailed for much of the competition before delivering the winning throw on his second to last attempt.
“I was struggling a little bit during the earlier part of the meet,” he said. “To finally get a throw of that caliber was the one I was looking for.”
East Providence junior Justin Jardine set a new meet record in the 400-meter dash, clocking his second straight sub-50 performance with a winning time of 49.45 seconds. Jardine currently ranks No. 2 in the state thanks to his 49.02 effort from last week’s Classical Classic, where he finished behind state leader Garrett Giroux Pezzullo.
East Providence also earned a victory from junior Jack Pawlik in the 200m dash. Pawlik surged over the final 50 meters to win in 22.27, defeating Classical’s Ephraim Teah, who finished in 22.47. Earlier in the meet, Pawlik was edged at the line by Barrington’s Patrick Trainor in the 100m with both runners timed at 10.95.
In the 200, Pawlik overcame a slight misstep down the stretch.
“Coming around the turn, I kind of took a misstep, and then with about 80 meters left I started to get taller and get into my form,” said the defending 100- and 200-meter state champion. “Step by step, I caught him and finished tall and strong. I was pretty confident I could catch him. I just had to keep my composure and push through.”
North Kingstown, a contender for next month’s state title, showcased its depth with three individual winners at the meet.
The Skippers’ Abby O’Neil followed up her victory in the 800 at the Classical Classic with another triumph in the two-lapper, posting her second straight 2:15 performance with a winning time of 2:15.28. O’Neil surged past La Salle’s Alyssa Parenteau (2:17.64) with roughly 300m remaining to claim the title.
State leader Reagan Farrell continued her dominance in the 300m hurdles with a near best of 45.99. The talented junior finished just 0.08 seconds shy of the PR of 45.91 she established at the Classical Classic. Farrell was also third in the triple jump (35-2.75), fifth in the long jump (16-5.75) and fifth in the 100m hurdles (16.30).
“It gets really tiring but I like it because I get to diversify myself and try a little bit of everything,” said Farrell, about competing in multiple events.
In the 3,000m, junior Lucy Stowe earned the victory in 10:31.36, finishing comfortably ahead of runner-up and indoor state champion Anna Bianchi, who crossed in 10:38.94.
Once again, Mount Hope versatile senior Thea Jackson was a multiple victor. Jackson took the 100m dash (12.24) and long jump (18-1), and high jump (5-0).
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