How do you know when your team’s ready for championship season?
Just look at what East Greenwich did at the recent Dick Atkinson Invitational in Westfield, Mass.
After finishing runner-up at their previous two out-of-state competitions, the Avengers broke through with a decisive victory Saturday, placing six runners in the top 10 to roll past West Springfield, 18-95.
Even more encouraging than the lopsided score was the consistency across the lineup. All seven varsity runners recorded either a personal or season best, while the team showcased pack running at its finest.
Senior Andrew Parisi led the way, capturing the individual title in 15:50 on the 5K course at Stanley Park. Junior teammate Jeremiah Moon followed in third at 16:25.5. The Avengers’ next three scorers finished within 11 seconds of one another, with junior Nathan Malafronte taking fifth in 16:38.7, freshman John Lehmann placing sixth in 16:42.8 and senior Adam Kortz finishing seventh in 16:48.9. Sophomore Zane Prezza capped the team’s dominant pack performance with an eighth-place finish in 16:50.7.
“It was a great day,” said East Greenwich coach Sean Connolly. “I brought them out here as I have fond memories running for St. Anselm at Stanley Park for the NE-10s in 2011. This is the site of the James Invitational for college athletes on Columbus Day weekend. It’s a fun course. The team’s work is coming together.”
