Everything counts.
In a loaded field without a clear-cut favorite, every stride, every move and every ounce of energy can make the difference between winning and coming up just short.
La Salle Academy senior Alyssa Parenteau proved that Saturday afternoon at the RIIL State Cross-Country Championships at Ponaganset. The Rams standout held off a furious late charge from South Kingstown’s outstanding freshman Emma Morrissey to capture her first individual state title. Parenteau crossed the finish line in 18:16.33, just 1.22 seconds ahead of Morrissey.
“My legs started giving out with about five feet until the line and I knew she was kicking on me and I was like, ‘Oh, no.’ My legs were literally giving up because I pushed so hard,” she said. “I made it to the end and I am in utter disbelief.”
While the individual race came down to a thrilling finish, the team competition was a different story. Packing all five scorers among the top 11 finishers, Cumberland rolled to its fourth consecutive state championship, defeating runner-up La Salle Academy, 40-71. North Kingstown placed third with 92 points.
Freshman Cayle Kurbec led the way for the Clippers, finishing an impressive fifth overall with a PR of 18:33.29. She was followed by defending individual state champion and junior teammate Cecelia Ludwig, who placed sixth in 18:36.79. Rounding out Cumberland’s scoring five were sophomore Natalie Crawford (eighth, 18:58.01), senior Gabriella Stoothoff (10th, 19:09.84) and senior Anna Bianchi (11th, 19:10.36).
“I see what they do in practice every day. I know what they are capable of,” Cumberland coach Kerrie Carpenter said proudly. “I was just telling a parent earlier, before the day started, it’s always my wish that every single kid that stands on that line, shows their parents and friends what the coaches see in them, day in and day out. I do see what they can do and I want them to showcase that to the rest of the world.”
The Clippers did just that, and more. Under cool, wet conditions on the Chieftains’ Covered-Bridge Trail, Cumberland’s five scorers averaged a crisp 18:53, with just 37 seconds separating its top five finishers.
Employing a strategy she had used in each of the previous two seasons, Carpenter elected to rest Kurbec and Crawford at last weekend’s Class A Championships. The Clippers finished third behind champion La Salle Academy, but had both underclassmen back in the lineup Saturday.
Their contributions proved significant.
“Every team is different, every season is different, our strengths and weaknesses are different each year. There is no carbon copy,” Carpenter said. “You have to sit down and say what will work for this team, for this year, under these conditions. Their bodies get pretty banged up. We start in the beginning of the summer. You got to make sure you can last this late in the season. Sometimes that means stepping back from races.”
The Clippers’ championship performance was consistent with what they had accomplished throughout the fall. Cumberland turned in strong showings at several major invitationals, including runner-up honors at the Manchester Invitational (NH) and a victory at the Bowdoin Park XC Classic (NY).
The Clippers will continue their season next Saturday at the New England Championships in Orono, Maine. From there, it’s back to Bowdoin Park for the Nike Cross Regionals Northeast.
As for Parenteau, her victory follows her second straight Class A title. In that race, the recent Providence College commit went out hard from the gun, establishing a strong lead early in the race and breezing to a nearly nine-second win over North Kingstown’s Abbie Tighe with her previous best of 18:34.92.
The La Salle standout didn’t quite go as fast in the early stages of Saturday’s race. But did assume control before she reached the one-mile mark and was able to maintain that front-runner position until the finish.
“I didn’t want to fully die out. I still went out pretty tough. I don’t know what was my time (at the beginning),” she said. “Not as tough as last week, but I knew I needed to race smart for the win.”
Taking third behind Parenteau and Morrissey (18:17.50) was Barrington sophomore Carly Gill with a PR of 18:20.84. The Skippers’ Tighe was fourth overall with a best of 18:29.19, Among others in the top 10 besides the Clippers were St. Raphael Academy’s Mackenzie Lickert (seventh, 18:37.31) and North Kingstown’s Lucy Stowe (ninth, 19:00.61).
