The biggest and most competitive invitational meet of the season is on the docket this weekend when the Rhode Island Track Coaches Association (RITCA) host its annual East Coast Invitational, which is sponsored by HOKA and Marathon Sports. More than 1,400 athletes will invade the PCTA Fieldhouse for Saturday’s meet with an abundance of talent vying for podium placements in the 17 different events expected to be contested.
Here we features a preview of some of the top boys’ events.
(Ocean State Running will provide complete coverage of the meet from start to finish, including a free LIVE stream with commentary. Our State Running Team will also be out in the lobby, selling T-shirts and other great merchandise.)
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THROWING EVENTS
We’re bunching this one together as both the shot and 25-pound weight should prove interesting this weekend. In the boys’ championship shot we have a 60-footer in the field with Thomas Matlock schedule to step into the circle. The East Lyme (CT) senior has a top seed of 60 feet, 4.25 inches. He’s among a field that features seven more that have exceeded 50 feet, including two seed Braiden Pulver of Shenendehowa Central (NY) and Winslow Sightler of Burlington (VT), who come in with bests of 58-10.75 and 57-1, respectively. Rhode Island’s top entry is Rogers junior Kaden Thomas, who improved on his state No. 1 earlier this week with a toss of 52-3.75. Little Rhody should fare well in the weight throw with the top six seeds. Woonsocket’s Adam Beaudry is at No. 1 with a best of 62-10.75. He’s followed by Lincoln’s Tyler Durang (62-3), Coventry’s Zackery Delsasso (62-0). Barrington’s Joe Adams (61-10.25), Coventry’s Anthony Colucci (60-10) and Woonsocket’s Shamrock Thoun (60-6.75).
55m HURDLES
The top two seeds in this event also happen to be teammates with Barrington’s Bobby Wind (7.63) and Ethan Knight (7.67) occupying those two spots. The two hurdlers earned their current bests by taking the top two spots at the RITCA Invitational last month. Knight returned the favor this past Saturday with a slight victory over Wind in the 60m hurdles at the Marathon Sports Winter Classic. Owen Viera of Greater New Bedford (MA) and North Smithfield’s Aidan Bienvenue are the only other athletes in the field that have done sub-8 with Viera at 7.74 and Bienvenue at 7.8. This race could be tight at the finish.
400m
Could we have one or more under 50 seconds on Saturday? Even without a banked oval, we believe it could happen. Greater New Bedford’s Danial Ward has the top seed with a time of 49.53 from the MIAA Division 3 Championships on May 27. This winter, Ward has twice done under 1:23 for the 600m. He’s the guy to beat this weekend. He’s also got the talent to push him or perhaps even beat him inside PCTA. South Kingstown’s Brody Shiels and the Eagles’ Knight each have seeds of 50.8. We had a chance to witness Knight’s sub-51 at the Marathon Sports Winter Classic. He felt there was still plenty in the tank after winning his race. In all, six have seeds better than 52 seconds.
200m
The one-lapper should prove exciting. The top seed is Chris Stevens of Keene (NH), who was the NHIAA Division 1 champion last spring. He’s the only sprinter in the field with a seed under 22 seconds with a best of 21.78. The next five in the field are in the low-to-mid 22-second range, including Cranston West’s Alonzo Parker-Sharpe, the recent 200m victor at the Marathon Sports Winter Classic. He ranks fifth in this field with a seed and PR of 22.55. Central teammates Elijah Gardes and Joseph Forbes both have seeds of 22.5. There’s also Greater New Bedford’s Jared Quinn (22.44) and NH’s Ethan Schnyer of Nashua South (22.59) that could figure in the mix.
800m
We expect this event to be one of those races that could come down to the last stretch. Christian Menounos of Woodstock (CT) holds the coveted No. 1 seed with a PR of 1:57.73, which he did to capture the ECC Division Championships last May.. Griffin Madrirola of Suffield (CT) comes in with a seed of 1:58.32. He recently placed third in the mile at the MSTCA Holiday Challenge where he ran a best of 4:26.36. Two other runners in the field have seeds under two minutes with VT’s Andrew Thornton of St. Johnsbury (1:58.40) and NY’s Abednego Compere of Amityville Memorial (1:59.07). RI’s top entry is Cumberland’s Benjamin Roderick. who ran a best of 2:02.12 at the Hendricken Invitational this past spring.
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EVENT SCHEDULE
(Girls followed by Boys unless noted) (Fastest Heats will run First)
- Youth Mile 9:00 a.m.
- Shuttle Hurdle Relay
- 4 x 200m 10:00 a.m.
- 55H
- 55m
- High School Mile
- 55H Finals (Boys followed by Girls)
- 55 m Finals
- 400m (Athlete may enter either 200 or 400, not both)
- 200m
- 800m
- 2 Mile
- 4 x 400
- 4 x 800
Saturday Field Events - Championship Weight Throw Top 24 10 a.m. (Girls followed by Boys)
- Emerging Weight Throw Unlimited (Boys followed by Girls)
- Championship Shot Put Top 24 10 a.m. (Boys Followed by Girls)
- Emerging Shot Put Unlimited (Girls Followed by Boys)
- Long Jump Top 48 10 a.m. (Boys Followed by Girls)
- Pole Vault Top 18 10 a.m. (Girls Followed by Boys)
- High Jump Top 30 10 a.m. (Girls followed by Boys)
