It will be a long day of track & field this weekend when teams statewide occupy the PCTA field house for the RIIL Class Championships. The results of Saturday’s meet, which features Class A, B & C, will crown a combined six team champions and 72 individuals/relay squads.
(Above photo by Sterling Vernon of @rhodeandtrack)
The expected nine-plus hours of competition will further give us a glimpse of the outstanding talent out there and what to expect at the State Meet in two more weeks. It will be intense.
Below is a preview of the girls’ Class B meet. With the deadline for submitting entries closing on Thursday night, we’re predicting what we expect might happen in some of the events. Once the entry list is released, changes could be made prior to Saturday’s meet, so check back often.
Without further adieu, here we go…
***
Class B Championship – Girls
Day/Time: Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Teams: Classical, Barrington, West Warwick, North Providence, Chariho, Tolman, Lincoln School, Davies Tech, Ponaganset, Johnston, Mount Hope, Central Falls, Portsmouth, Shea
Top Events To Watch: The 55-meter dash, 55m high hurdles, 300m and long jump. Those are the events that West Warwick’s Lisa Raye will be competing in this weekend. And just like she’s done over the last few weekends at meet like the New York International Showcase, the VA Showcase and the U.S. Marine Corp Holiday Classic, there’s always a chance for a record-breaking performance each time the junior phenom competes. A few records to pay particular attention to are the 55m HH and the long jump. The record for the 55m HH is 8.21 by Chariho’s Mary Serdokowski in 2022. That’s the only running event under 300m (indoor or outdoor) that Lisa does not have a state record. The long jump could prove interesting, too. In that event, Lisa set the current mark of 19 feet, 7.75 inches a few weeks ago. The significance here is will we see a potential 20-footer this weekend? We also can’t forget older sister Xenia Raye. She’ll be matched up against Lisa in the 55m and 300m where a 1-2 finish is essentially ensured. The Wizard senior will also run a leg on the 4x200m and possibly the 4x400m. Right now, Xenia owns the No. 1 time in the state for the 300m with a best of 39.37 from the VA Showcase. Just so you can keep track, in addition to the long jump, Lisa’s state marks are 6.74 for the 55m and 38.74 for the 300m…The throwing events feature Classical’s Gifty Bediako, who is the top seed in the shot and weight throw. She leads the state in the shot with her best of 42-11, set last weekend at the RITCA Invitational. She’s ranked No. 2 in the weight with a PR of 54-4.5. That’s the event she’ll face her biggest challenge against some familiar faces. The two and three seeds are Classical teammates Chibuzo Ihenacho (50-2) and Nelmanx Santos-Mojica (49-1.25). The No. 4 seed is Ponaganset’s Jillian Waters (48-1). Bediako leads the field in the shot by more than 10 feet!…The high jump includes one of our state’s top leapers. Holding the No. 1 seed is Barrington’ Helena Hyde, who soared to a PR of 5-4 at the World Trophy Invitational. That effort tied her for the No. 1 spot with South Kingstown’s Jasmine Thompson. Hyde will certainly have the competition to push her this weekend. Five more in the field have cleared five feet this season, including Chariho’s Emily Brown, whose gone 5-3 this winter.
Team Outlook: This could come down to the final event with two-time defending champion West Warwick and Classical expected to duke it out. The Wizards will score a considerable amount of points from the Raye sister. Combined, we’re guessing at least 60-70 points when you factor in the relays. Classical has some solid runners, too, but the throwing events are where it could make a difference for the Purple, who have the ability to rack up 47 points based on the seeds. Barrington appears to be a strong candidate for the bronze.
