With so many variables, it’s never easy. But we’ll give it our best shot predicting who we feel will be some of our top track & field athletes this outdoor season. Here we feature the girls’ throwing events, which includes the hammer, shot, javelin and discus.
HAMMER
Underclassmen were prevalent on the podium as last year’s State Meet with four sophomores in the top six. All four will be back at it again this season with Woonsocket teammates Adelaide Caron and Isabella Piette, Classical’s Gifty Bediako and Coventry’s Mia Hoskins returning. The early favorite is Caron, who captured the weight throw this past indoor season and was a runner-up in this event last year at the states. She finished with a best and stare-leading 167-6 from her win at the Class A Championships. Piette (155-9), Hoskins (154-6) and Badiako (152-2) all went 150-plus last year and are coming off solid indoor campaigns. There’s several more that can’t be ignored such as Classical’s Susan Adekunle (144-4) and Barrington’s Lily Cregan (140-2), just to name a few.
SHOT
The favorite here is Bediako, our top returnee from last spring and the indoor state titlist. The Classical junior had her all-time best of 38-2.75 to take her indoor crown last month. She exceeded 36 feet four times this winter, a mark only achieved by our No. 2 athlete in this event, Cumberland’s Lacie Grenier (36-11.5). Ponoganset’s Giana Decesare (34-11.5) and Cumberland’s Payton Goulding (34-8.5), the 3-4 finishers at the states, our two others that could be battling for those top spots.
DISCUS
Woonsocket’s Angeliea Ortiz, a fourth-place finisher at the State Meet, is the early favorite in an event we feel is wide open. Ortiz was the most consistent last season and finished with a PR of 113-8. Chariho’s Weeko Thompson had the No. 1 throw among our returnees with a distance of 116-2 from the Southern Division Championships. Others we expect to contend are La Salle’s Grace Keosykhao (109-6), the Prout School’s Julia Smith (107-2), Classcal’s Bediako (106-0) and Toll Gate’s Vanessa Jone (105-0).
JAVELIN
Based on last year, our leading athletes in this event are Cranston West’s Maia Riccio and Classical’s Harmony Forrest. Riccio was third at the State Meet last year and had a top throw of 118-10, which is best among our returnees. Forrest, who was seventh at the states, has a PR of 116-1, an effort she did to win the event at the New England Hammer Throws Championships.
