Particularly when it’s championship season, anything can happen — and often does when the pressure is highest.
That turned out not to be the case on Saturday as teams statewide competed in their respective races at the RIIL Class Cross Country Championships.
In the end, the favorites held their ground.
Here’s a rundown of what transpired over four-plus hours on a cool, occasionally Indian summer–like day at the Chieftains’ covered-bridge trail.
Class B
No matter the year, when it comes to the Class or State Meet, Jessica Deal always seems to be at her best. In the first race of the day, the Mount Hope senior once again delivered. This time, however, she was the first to cross the finish line.
Deal claimed the meet opener with a winning time of 19 minutes, 31.58 seconds. She held back in the early stages and made her move with less than a mile remaining. Barrington’s Evelyn Lefort finished second in 19:48.83, while early race leader, Chariho freshman Meridan Alge, took third in 20:04.96.
With four runners among the top 10, East Greenwich secured its second straight team title, edging Barrington, 47–64.
There was little suspense in the boys’ race. Portsmouth’s Sean Gray — the overwhelming favorite and the state’s top-ranked runner — took command once the lead pack entered the wooded section of the course after the first mile, passed in 5:11.
Calling it more of a tempo run, Gray cruised to victory in 15:58.29. Fast-improving teammate Patrick Orbon claimed the runner-up spot in 16:13.19.
In one of the closest team battles of the day, Barrington captured its ninth team title with a narrow 41–45 win over last year’s champion, East Greenwich. Colby Napolitano led the Eagles by solidifying third in 16:19.16.
Class C
There would be no repeat of last year’s finish for MacKenzie Lickert. In 2024, the St. Raphael Academy standout just missed her first individual title at the Class Meet, getting edged at the line by five-hundredths of a second by North Smithfield’s Julia Dowling.
An expected rematch of their classic duel never materialized this time. When the runners exited the woods for the final 600 meters, Lickert was all alone and comfortably in the lead. She maintained her position to the finish and broke the tape with a personal best of 18:56.78. Bay View’s Jackie Mattos followed about 100 meters behind in 19:16.68, and Dowling placed third in 19:37.26.
Moses Brown claimed its third straight team title — and fourth in the last five years — with a hard-fought 60–64 victory over runner-up Burrillville.
Individually, it was also a big day for St. Raphael’s boys. Pre-race favorite and senior Arthur Ferris lived up to his top billing, cruising to victory in 16:31.25. Providence Country Day’s Leo Woodman was second in 16:40.80, while Prout’s Juelz Harris claimed third with a time of 16:57.82.
South Kingstown, a Class B champion back in 2012, earned its first class title since that meet, scoring just 54 points. Moses Brown was second with 95 points. The Rebels’ five scoring runners were separated by only 49 seconds, with Tucker Richardson leading the pack in sixth place at 17:53.49.
Class A
In a race that was difficult to predict, La Salle’s Alyssa Parenteau made it clear who would take home individual gold in the girls’ competition. In perhaps one of the biggest races of her career, the Rams’ talented junior produced the fastest girls’ time of the day with a personal-best 18:42.09. Cumberland sophomore CC Ludwig also broke the 19-minute barrier, finishing second in 18:51.95.
La Salle removed all doubt in the team race early, placing all five of its scorers among the first eight finishers to total just 21 points — good for the school’s third consecutive title and 14th since 2007. North Kingstown was second with 75 points. Running without three of its top varsity athletes, Cumberland still managed a respectable fourth-place finish with 127 points.
Like his counterpart, La Salle’s Marshall Vernon delivered a winning performance — and the fastest time of the day — in the boys’ race. The Stanford-bound senior clocked 15:23.75, out-dueling Hendricken rival Colby Flynn, who finished in 15:29.42.
As expected, Bishop Hendricken dominated the team standings. With all seven varsity runners placing among the top 11, the Hawks captured the championship plaque with a 23–66 victory over North Kingstown.
JV State Meet
You want to talk about depth? Bishop Hendricken showcased its back-up plan should any of its varsity members get injured or fall ill before next weekend’s state meet. The Hawks scored the minimum 15 points, sweeping the top five spots.
Twin brothers Aaron and Justin Stockford went 1–2 with times of 16:32.98 and 16:40.22, respectively. Christian Nunez placed third in 16:59.35, followed by Andrew Williams (fourth, 17:01.12) and John Oliveira (fifth, 17:04.00).
La Salle proved just as dominant in the girls’ race — and perhaps even more so. The Rams also scored a perfect 15 points, sweeping the first six places. Gemma Kent led the charge with a winning time of 19:53.91, followed by Kenya Depina (second, 20:05.18), Mary Monahan (third, 20:51.80), Aubree Silva (fourth, 21:09.95), Malia Miller (fifth, 21:10.19), and Taylor Maluk (sixth, 21:13.69).
Ocean State Running will have more on the Class Championships coming soon.
