Like most that make their way to White Plains (NY) High School this time of year, Rhode Island athletes always seem to shine at the prestigious Glenn B. Loucks Games. The tradition continued at the 57th annual event, held from Thursday to Saturday of last week.
On the opening day, Bishop Hendricken captured the overall title in the Freshmen/Sophomore DMR with a time of 10 minutes, 57.71 seconds. The all-freshmen quartet with their legs/splits were Oliver Redmond (1,200 meters, 3:21.10), Courteney Thomas (400m, 55.3), Aaron Stockford (800m, 2:06.44) and Shepherd Butler (1,600m, 4:34.88). The Hawks showed the depth of their underclassmen by also finishing fourth with its’ ‘B’ team timed in 11:16.81. Placing 13th was Chariho Regional with a time of 11:36.4.
In the featured varsity race, Hendricken was fourth overall with a solid 10:34.5 clocking, That foursome included Fred Russell (1,200m, 3:13.92), Andrew McCarthy (400, 50.3), Brayden Seraichyk (2:02.14) and David Hayes (1,600m, 4:28.16). The Hawks were also third in the Freshmen/Sophomore 4x400m that finished in 3:35.94.
One of the signature events of the three-day meet is the boys’ 3,200m. This event has been very kind to the Ocean State the last decade. In 2015, former La Salle great Matt Bouthilette set the current state record by finishing fifth in the race with a best of 8:51.23, just two tenths of a second ahead of star teammate DJ Principe. On Friday, we had two of our runners break 9:10 with Portsmouth’s Sean Gray placing sixth with a best of 9:04.27 and BHS sophomore Colby Flynn clocking 9:08.67 for 12th overall. Gray’s effort ranks seventh on the state’s all-time list while Flynn takes over the No. 11 spot. Saint Raphael’s MacKenzie Lickert was the lone Rhode islander in the girls’ race. She was 19th overall with a best of 11:02.68.
Cumberland’s Payton Goulding was second in the shot with a heave of 37 feet, 6 inches.
Saturday’s competition saw several of our athletes earn spots on the podium.
Lisa Raye did what she does best by winning the 100m dash. The West Warwick junior powered her way to a fast 11.40. The Wizards’ Xenia Raye was fourth at 12.11. She came back later and placed fifth in the 400m with a season best 56.21.
Cumberland’s Kiley DeFusco came a mere stride from her PR in the mile by placing sixth with a time of 4:52.74. Six days earlier, DeFusco ran her all-time best of 4:52.74 from her fourth-place showing at the BSR Elite Scholastic Mile.
In the girls’ 400m IH, Chariho’s Emily Brown had her best effort by placing fourth in the 400m IH with a time of 1:04.93. The Clippers’ Goulding was fifth in the discus at 116-5, good for ninth.
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When it comes to the Raye family, it’s not just Lisa and Xenia that know how to run fast.
The talented siblings’ older brother and West Warwick alum Lionel Raye Jr., a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island, won the New England title on Saturday with a school and meet record of 10.27 seconds.
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The RIIL Division Championships are on tap this Saturday. The Central Division meet will be held at Cranston West, the Northern Division will lock horns at Cumberland, the Eastern Division will be at Barrington and lastly it will be the Southern Division at Coventry.
This is another qualifier for the state meet with events following the same format as the championship meet.
