It was only a matter of time.
It was only a matter of time before La Salle Academy’s Alexis Caggiano and Cranston West’s Ailani Sutherland broke 25 seconds for the 200-meter dash.
It was only a matter of time before Lisa Raye lent her footspeed on West Warwick’s 4x100m relay.
Not surprisingly, all three performances equated to a trio of top finishes on a sunny afternoon at Conley Stadium, site of Saturday’s Mount Pleasant Invitational.
Caggiano won a highly-competitive 200m where the top five were separated by 1.27 seconds. The Rams’ diminutive senior edged Sutherland with a PR and state No. 2 of 24.72. The Cranston West senior became our state’s fourth sprinter to go sub-25 with an all-time best of 24.97. Sierra Thompson of South Kingstown was third in 25.34. In the 100m, it was Sutherland over Caggiano with times of 12.41 and 12.51, respectively.
As for Raye, she bypassed her individual events and joined teammates Jailynn Huffman, Tatianna Baldinelli and older sister Xenia Raye to clock the fastest time in the state of 48.82 in the 4x100m. East Providence was second in 49.48.
The all-girls’ meet and final state qualifier featured other top performances in the five-plus hour competition.
Classical’s Zaida Depina led four runners under a minute in the 400m. The talented senior raced to a season best of 58.59, just .09 from her PR from last year’s New England Championships. She was followed across the line by Westerly’s Sydney Halk (58.62). Barrington freshman Kate Pearse (59.15) and Classical sophomore Morricia Bryant (59.66).
Prepping for a possible 1,500m-800m double at this Saturday’s states, Chariho’s Erin vonHousen had her second sub 2:16 of the season in the 800m with a triumphant 2:15.49. That effort was just shy of her PR and state-leading 2:15.33 from the Glenn B. Loucks Games in N.Y., a few weeks ago. Mount St. Charles’ Emmy Belvin was second overall in 2:18.59. Placing third was La Salle frosh Alyssa Parenteau at 2:22.64.
For the hammer, it appears as though the nation’s top thrower, Adelaide Caron, is locked in. On Saturday, the Woonsocket standout had her third straight 170-footer with a toss of 175-8. Fellow classmate Bella Piette was second with a PR of 160-5. So far this season Caron has exceeded 170 feet five times with a best of 176-7.
A week after her convincing victory in the 3K at the Class B Championships, Portsmouth’s Allie Kaull ran away from the field in the 1,500m. The Patriots junior won by nearly five seconds with a time of 4:51.69. South Kingstown’s Sofia Caito took runner-up honors in 4:57.54.
In the high jump, Middletown’s Katelin Cruikshank took gold in a jump-off with Barrington’s Helena Hyde. Both cleared 5-3. Cruickshank is the state-leader with a best of 5-4 from the Classical Classic last month./
The rankings have been jostled somewhat in the javelin. Cranston West’s Maia Riccio still holds the No. 1 spot with her best of 123-4. The next three spots are where the changes have occurred. Moving into those positions are the 1-2-3 finishers from Saturday’s meet – Scituate’s Ava Pilderian (113-8), Classical’s Harmony Forrest (113-4) and Piette (112-6).
