We’re ready for another exciting season on the indoor track & field season. To get you pumped up for the winter campaign, Ocean State Running will preview some of the top athletes that we expect will make an impact over the next few months.
Here we begin our previews with the girls’ throwing and jumping events.
WEIGHT THROW
Over the years, Woonsocket has made a name for itself in this event on the boys’ side with athletes like Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, Logan Coles, Jared Briere and Craig Pearce among the elite. Of that talented quartet, Briere won a state crown in 2017 and Pearce captured back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. This season, the Villa Novans could very well have their first girl added to that impressive list with Isabella Piette coming back. The Woonsocket junior, who is the daughter of head coach Marc Piette, comes into the season as the top returnee. She was second at last year’s State Meet behind Lincoln grad and All American Jillian Leahy with a PR of 47 feet, 5.75 inches. Over the last two years, PIette has shown a steady improvement inside the cage and we expect that to continue this winter with a 50-footer within her grasp. Also returning this season are Barrington’s Lily Cregan and Woonsocket’s Adelade Caron, who both made the podium at the states with their respective fifth- and sixth-place finishes. Cregan comes in with a best of 46-3.5, while Caron has a top throw of 44-3.25. Keep an eye on Classical teammates Gifty Bediako (45-4.5) and Susan Adekunle (44-8.5), who also could secure high placements on the podium.
SHOT
The favorite here is Classical’s Gifty Bediako, who was third in this event at last year’s states. Bediako unleashed an indoor best of 36-2.5 to take eighth at the New England’s and went 35-3.5 for the bronze a week earlier at the State Meet. Bediako had a best of 35-0 to place third at the Class A Championships in the spring. Right now this does seem like an event that’s wide open. Behind Bediako are a few other shot-putters that are in the 32-33-foot range, such as Adekunle (33-11.25), St. Raphael’s Gemma D’Orazao (33-8.5) and Woonsocket’s Amanda Almonte (33-3.75). Once the season starts, we’ll have a better picture about this event and whether or not there will be some talented newcomers and/or much-improved returners that could make an impact.
LONG JUMP
Seven of the top eight finishers from last year’s State Meet are coming back with multiple all-stater and individual winner Dasani Stewart of Pilgrim the only one lost to graduation. That means, of course, we could have several familiar faces occupying the podium at this year’s meet. Cranston West’s Quiana Pezza, who was second to Stewart in 2022, is the No. 1 returnee and the only athlete to exceed 18 feet with her best of 18-1.5 from the states. Based on last year, there seems to plenty more that could also be in contention this winter. Exeter/West Greenwich’s Nini Olawuyi leads a list of three other talented underclassman from the 2022-23 season. Olawuyi was third at the states with a best of 17-8.5, There’s also Mount Hope teammates Lola Silva and Thea Jackson and, of course, Lisa Raye of West Warwick. Silva was fifth at the states with a best of 17-3. Raye, a sixth-place finisher at the championship meet, went 17-5 at divisionals and Jackson soared to a best of 17-8.75 during the outdoor season. We can’t forget Barrington’s Sophia Ford, too. The Eagles’ senior was fourth at the indoor states with a best of 17-5. Don’t be surprised if Raye battles for that top spot. The long jump is not the primary event for one of nation’s top sprinters. With a little more experience and the speed that’s translated into state records of 7.05 for the 55-meter dash and 23.58 for the 200m as a freshman last year, she appears capable of exceeding 18 feet, which should be her in the mix for individual honors.
HIGH JUMP
The top returnee and our pick to win it all this season is South Kingstown’s Sierra Thompson, who won the Class B title with a PR of 5-4, an effort that tied her at No. 1 with eventual state champion Morgan Casey of Portsmouth. The Rebels’ senior, who missed the states last winter due to a sickness, will be looking to win her first individual crown in this event. Underclassmen were prevalent at last year’s State Meet where seven of the top 10 finishers were either freshmen or sophomores. Among that group are Middletown’s Katelin Cruikshank and Exeter/West Greenwich’s Nini Olawuyi, who are the only other five-footers that are back this year. Cruishank and Olawuyi had bests of 5-2 and 5-0, respectively, during the outdoor season.
