Matched up against top seed and pre-meet 300-meter favorite Shelldon Simpson II at Saturday’s New England Championships, La Salle Academy’s Garrett Giroux-Pezzullo knew exactly what he needed to do – get out fast and never let up, keeping his foot on the accelerator through the finish.
Executing that plan to perfection on the banked oval of the Reggie Lewis Center, the gifted senior stormed to a meet- and state-record performance, crossing the line in 33.87 seconds. He finished comfortably ahead of the Windsor senior, who was timed in 34.24 for second. The Boston University commit erased the state mark of 34.12, set by former La Salle standout Steven Doss in 2020.
“I didn’t really care what place I got going into this race,” Giroux-Pezzullo said. “I just really wanted that record. I watched this video about race mentality. It was about a guy who won the 800 at a meet and opened up with like a 24-second 200, something crazy. Afterward, he had this amazing interview. He said, ‘My goal going into this race, I just wanted to drown everybody. I wanted to make it a question to them why they wanted to run this race. I wanted to drag them out in deep waters.’ I really think that was my philosophy going into it.”
Giroux-Pezzullo’s 300m title highlighted a strong day for the Rams and several other athletes from the Ocean State at the regional meet.
Among them was Skyler Maxwell, who captured the 600m crown by unleashing a blazing final lap to defeat a talented field in 1:31.97, a two-second personal best. The Moses Brown senior’s effort came just two weeks after she claimed her second straight state title in 1:33.69, which at the time was a three-second PR.
“I knew it was going to be a fast time just because this is the first time I ran a banked track (this season), and usually the New Englands, it’s a really hyped meet. I knew the adrenaline coming in was going to help me run a fast time. And also my competitors were so fast. Whenever you run against fast people, you know you are going to run a fast time.”
Finishing behind Maxwell was recent MIAA Meet of Champions winner Penny Blumenthal of Newton North in 1:32.33. Naugatick’s Lauren Kropo, who captured the CIAC State Open title last weekend, placed third at 1:32.46. All three went into the race with bests of 1:33.
Abigail O’Neil of North Kingstown won her heat and was fifth overall with a time of 1:36.22.
North Kingstown shot-putter Tayla Schneider also brought home a gold. The recent state titlist turned in her best performance of the season with a toss of 43 feet, 6.75 inches.
It was the Skipper junior sixth straight 40-footer this winter and seventh overall.
“I wasn’t expecting much this weekend. I have thrown in a week and a half,” she admitted. “I just been doing drills in my kitchen. I am super excited.”
With the foursome of Giroux-Pezzullo, Jalen Moseley, Jackson Alves and Antonio Bearden, La Salle captured the 4x200m relay with a season best of 1:29.33. In the 4x400m, the Rams’ quartet of Eamon O’Brien, Abraham Ghamrawi, Bearden and Giroux-Pezzullo won this heat and finished second overall in the 4x400m with a SB of 3:22.76.
Earlier in the meet, Moseley finished second in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.37 seconds, tying the state record of 7.37 set at last year’s New Englands by former Barrington standout Bobby Wind.
The versatile La Salle junior appeared to win the long jump after reportedly extending his own state mark with a leap of 24-5 during his flight. But during the awards ceremony, he learned his distance — and his placement — had changed. He was announced as the second-place finisher with a mark of 24-3, the same distance as overall champion Aaron Rich of Lyman Hall (CT).
“They told me, ‘New state record, Jalen Moseley, 24-5,’” the Ram jumper recalled. “I was happy and energetic and went to run the 4×200. When I came back, they told me, ‘You’ve already won. There’s nobody else jumping.’ They asked me if I wanted to jump and I said, ‘Why not?’ I go out, take my last jump, then go to the podium and they give me second place. I’m like, ‘What do you mean second place?’”
Head coach Eldon Santiago protested the call, but after a lengthy discussion among officials, the decision was upheld – primarily because the long jump official was not present at the meet.
Moseley’s 24-3 still stands as a new state record, an inch better than his previous best at the Last Chance Qualifier. The mark also ties him for No. 6 nationally.
Hope’s Zariyah Brown, the state 300-meter champion, nearly broke 40 seconds in her specialty, placing second overall from an unseeded heat. Brown won her section in 40.05. St. Raphael sophomore Francesca Justin captured her heat and placed fifth overall with a personal-best 40.47.
La Salle also clocked the fastest time in the state this season in the girls’ 4×800-meter relay. Alyssa Parenteau, Layne Stevens, Olivia Wahlberg and Carolina Terlato combined for 9:21.60. North Kingstown finished fourth in 9:29.31.
Parenteau, who led off with a 2:16 split, returned a few hours later to place fourth in the 1,000 meters in 2:57.48, a two-second PR.
“I ecstatic,” she said. “I ran the 4×800 with my team and split a 2:16, which is a big PR for me. That was kind of my main focus today, help my team in the 4×800. We want to go to Nationals. I ran the first leg, and felt great. Then in the 1K, I just wanted to see what I had left. I went with the pack. I was ranked ninth, but I knew my state performance (3:01.08) was good, and that I could run faster.”
PHOTOS (more to come!)
