Before the state’s top runners head to Ponaganset for this weekend’s RIIL Class Championships, it’s time for the underclassmen to shine.
On Monday, the RITCA will host its annual Freshmen State Championships at Deerfield Park.
Leading the girls’ field is South Kingstown’s Emma Morrissey, the recent winner of the Skee Carter Memorial/Bronco Invitational, where she clocked an impressive 18:10.0 for the five-kilometer course. Her success at Deerfield Park is nothing new. In her first high school race, the Rebel freshman set a meet record in the freshmen race at the Injury Fund Carnival, covering the four-kilometer terrain in 14:58.6.
Morrissey will face a strong challenge from Cumberland’s Caylee Kurbec, the 2025 middle school state champion. Kurbec finished second to Morrissey at the Sept. 5 meet in 15:38.1. Since then, she has emerged as one of the Clippers’ top runners, consistently posting 5K times in the mid-19-minute range on challenging courses. Her season has included a personal-best 19:30.4 at the Manchester (N.H.) Invitational.
East Greenwich’s Julia Fulmarello, Barrington’s Sarah Clegg, and Barrington’s Elizabeth Van Hull are a few others to keep an eye on. Al;l three have broken 20 minutes for 5K.
Among the top boys to watch are Pilgrim’s Kingston Bayha, Smithfield’s Colin Smith, Barrington’s Finn Evans, and East Greenwich teammates John Lehmann and Tyler Levy.
Levy won the freshmen race at the Injury Fund Carnival and owns a 5K best of 17:01.49 from last month’s Maine XC Festival of Champions. The other four runners have all broken 17 minutes this fall. Bayha clocked 16:02.10 at the Bay State XC Invitational in Wrentham on Oct. 3, while Smith ran 16:36.70 at the MSTCA Bob Glennon Invitational a week later. Lehmann recorded a 16:40.70 at the Catholic Memorial Invitational in Boston on Oct. 17, while Evans also posted a personal best at the MSTCA Dick Atkinson Invitational that same day.
Click on the link below for live results.
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SCHEDULE
4:15 p.m. – Boys’ Race
4:45 p.m. – Girls’ Race
