Picking the top cross-country teams in the state before the season begins is never easy. A lot can happen over the course of three months. Athletes can experience breakthrough seasons, newcomers can emerge as key contributors, and, of course, injuries to important runners can quickly change the outlook for a team.
But we’ll do our best to set the stage for what we expect will be another exciting season on the trails. For some of the state’s top teams, the outlook appears fairly straightforward if everything goes according to plan. For others, however, the picture is far less clear, and where they’ll ultimately finish by season’s end remains anyone’s guess.
Beginning with No. 10 and counting down to No. 1, here’s our preseason ranking of the top 10 boys’ teams in the state. As always, if we’ve given your team a little bulletin-board material based on our rankings, you’re welcome. It certainly won’t be the first time.
(Above photo by Sterling Vernon @rhodeandtrack)
***
No. 7, Smithfield High
Last year’s results: Second (10-1), Northern Division Championships: Fourth. Class B Championships; Ninth, RIIL State Championships
Key returnees/runners: Mason Smith, junior, 16:36.40; Hunter Vallee, junior, 17:20.92; William Busam, senior, 17:46.17; Daniel Healey, senior, 17:56.0; Parker Gaboriault, junior, 18:27.0; Joshua Mesick; Colin Smith, freshman
Outlook: We think it will be close at the State Meet between Smithfield and our soon-to-be-released No. 6 squad as they battle for the final ticket to New England’s. (Hint: The mystery team competes in the same league.)
The Sentinels lost three runners to graduation from last year’s team that was fourth at the Class B Championships and ninth at the State Meet. Of the top 10 squads at the meet, Smithfield had the fourth-lowest gap between its first and fifth harriers, at 1:15. With the crew they have coming back and the addition of promising freshman Colin Smith, we’re anticipating another close-knit bunch, which, as we know, bodes well when it comes to team scoring. Mason Smith, Vallee, Busam, Healy and Gaboriault all have varsity experience. Colin Smith should also figure into the mix. He was third at last year’s middle school state championships and has the potential to run in the mid-to-high 17-minute range, possibly faster.
Mason Smith was the only runner to break 17 minutes last year for the Sentinels, clocking 16:36.40 on the fast 5K terrain in Cape Cod at the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational. There’s a chance we could have a few more sub-17s this year, which could make the difference between that No. 6 and No. 7 placement at the State Meet.
