From one highly-competitive meet to another.
That has been the theme over the last few weeks, and it’s a trend that should continue with Saturday’s New England Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
We’re expecting Rhode Island to have a strong presence throughout the day, with several Ocean State standouts positioned to contend for titles and podium finishes. After digging through the performance lists, we’ve identified some of the most intriguing matchups and storylines to watch as the action unfolds this weekend.
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Girls’ 100m
Massachusetts seems to have a firm hold in this event with the top two seeds and the only sprinters that have broken 12 seconds – Sharon’s Nina Kyei-Aboagye (11.83 seconds) and Methuen’s Lauren Quarm (11.84).
But you never know. In a race like this where the competition is moderately close, one bad start, could make a difference.
Recent state champion Francesca Justin of St. Raphael Academy (12.13) and Hope’s Zariyah Brown (12.16), the state runner-up, hold the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.
Girls’ Pole Vault
Here’s one of our state’s best opportunities for a gold medal this weekend. The top seed is Amber Shaw of Ponaganset, who enters as both the state champion and state record-holder.
he Chieftains talented senior simply shattered her previous state mark by six inches at the State Meet, soaring to a height of 12-9. Shaw has been remarkably consistent throughout her career and heads into the weekend as the athlete to beat.
But it won’t come easy. Lurking close behind is No. 2 seed Kaylin Diglio, a sophomore from Guilford (CT) sophomore Kaylin Diglio, who owns a best of 12-8. Shaw and Diglio are the only competitors that have surpassed 12 feet this season, setting the stage for what could become one of the meet’s most exciting head-to-head battles.
Don’t be surprised if we see a 13-footer this weekend. Shaw did come close to that milestone on her second attempt at the states, and appears primed for another breakthrough performance. The meet record stands at 13-2.5 by Emily Savage of Weston (CT) back in 2013.
Girls’ Javelin
This another event where Rhode Island has a legitimate shot at capturing gold.
Leading the field is top-seeded Lia Wasilewski of Pilgrim, who enters the competition with a PR and state-leading 135-1.
With three other throwers with seeds of more than 125 feet, Wasilweski does have some competition in this event. The Patriots junior has had a strong season, thrice exceeding 130 feet. She should be ready.
Boys’ 110m hurdles
La Salle’s Jalen Moseley has been chasing the state record of 13.97 in this event all season. This could be the meet the gifted junior finally gets it.
Moseley is the No. 4 seed with his best of 14.09 from his victory at the State Meet. Ahead of him are the Connecticut trio of East Hartford’s Davian Johnson, Danbury’s Rysaiah Saunders and Bloomfield’s Javonni Reynolds.
Johnson is the overwhelming favorite with a nation No. 14 of 13.58 from the Glenn B. Loucks Games. Saunders has also gone sub-14 with a best of 13.84. Reynolds checks in at 14.00.
This is the type of competition that should push Mosesly to a career best this weekend. Will it be fast enough to break the state mark? We think so.
Boys’ 4x400m
The final event of the day could provide the meet’s most exciting finish. The field features eight teams that have broken 3:20 this season, including La Salle Academy.
The top seed is Abington (MA), which captured the Meet of Champions last weekend with a sizzling state-leading time of 3:16.06. La Salle owns a season best of 3:19.93 from the Hendricken Invitational on May 31.
Unlike at the State Meet, where the Rams ran a winning 3:21.64, all four members of La Salle’s relay are expected to be focused solely on the 4x400m will less individual events to compete in this weekend. Without the burden of multiple events, the quartet should be fresher and better rested for the day’s finale.
La Salle ran a state record of 3:14.56 at last year’s New Balance Nationals and return two members of that squad in Eamon O’Brien and Garrett Giroux-Pezzullo. They have also found capable replacements for graduated seniors Thaden Leomensah and Joshua Aceto, giving them the depth and experience to contend for the title.
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