It’s back!
Beginning this week and continuing throughout the high school season, Ocean State Running will unveil its New Balance Athlete of the Week. Each week, OSR will highlight one male and one female athlete for their standout performances.
As we’ve learned from past features, selecting just two athletes is no easy task, with so many competitors delivering exemplary performances week after week—but we’ll give it our best shot.
Here’s the tricky part: what can—and often does—happen is that an athlete is worthy of this honor multiple times over the course of a season. While we recognize that level of excellence, we’d also like to spread the wealth and shine a spotlight on as many deserving athletes as possible.
With the exception of the championship season, an athlete will be chosen just once during the regular season.
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Now on to our pick for this week’s recipient of New Balance’s Female Athlete of the Week.
On Saturday, teams and athletes from across the region descended upon the PCTA Fieldhouse for the 14th annual East Coast Invitational. Our selection for this inaugural honor was one of five event winners at the meet.
Among the victors were Ponaganset’s Amber Shaw, who continued her stellar season in the pole vault; Barrington’s Kate Pearse, who dipped under 60 seconds in the 400-meter run; Toll Gate’s Vanessa Jones, who added another 50-footer in the weight throw; and West Warwick’s talented foursome of Jailynn Huffman, Riley Heilborn, Jordan Carollo, and Ivory Black, winners of the 4×55 shuttle hurdle relay.
While all were deserving of recognition, we’re singling out the fifth and final performer. Congratulations to North Kingstown shot putter Tayla Schneider, our New Balance Female Athlete of the Week.
The Skipper junior kept her perfect record inside the circle intact at East Coast and showed she’ll be tough to beat in the chase for this year’s state title. Schneider improved upon her own state-leading mark, unleashing the shot for a personal-best throw of 40 feet, 8.5 inches.
