Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Ponaganset High
Teams: Mount Hope, Ponaganset, Shea, South Kingstown, Central Falls, Portsmouth, Chariho, Johnston, Davies, Smithfield, Barrington, Lincoln, West Warwick, North Providence, Classical
Athletes to Watch: Jason Padula, Smithfield; Sean Gray, Portsmouth; Michael Goodson, Smithfield; Brandon Piedade, Barrington; Myles Napolitano, Barrington, Jeremy Roe, Ponaganset; Owen Klein, Ponaganset
Outlook: On paper, this race has the potential to be one of the most exciting of the day. Based on time and his consistency this season, Padula is our pick to win on Saturday. But if most of the top contenders show up ready to race this weekend, the Sentinel senior could have company in the late stages. So far, Padula is unbeaten against his state rivals this fall. He posted the fastest time of the day at the season-opening Injury Fund Carnival in early September with a 15:53 effort. He also went 15:59.40 at the Ocean State Invitational and cruised to a state No.1 of 15:29.38 on a quick course at the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational on Oct.13, his last race before this weekend. In addition, Padula also had an impressive 10-second victory against Cumberland’s Sam Henderson in a Northern Division showdown on Sept. 12. Who are some of the runners capable of pulling of the upset? The Patriots’ Gray has made believers of us and we’re sure most of his competitors in his inaugural X-C season. He ran a 5K best of 15:49.35 at the Maine Festival of Champions on Sept. 30 and was second the past two Thursdays at the Avenger Invitational and Skee Carter Invitational. A race like the one he had at Maine could make things interesting up front. There’s also the Eagles’ Piedade and Napolitano, who both went sub-15:45 at Twilight. A few others like Roe, Goodson and Klein, to name a few, should also be fighting for some top spots.
Team-wise, Barrington is a strong favorite to win its second straight title and 23rd overall on Saturday. The Eagles could have all five of their runners across the line before any of their rivals have their second or third. The host Chieftains and Portsmouth look as through they’ll be battling for that No. 2 spot.
