Throughout the next few weeks, Ocean State Running will be putting the spotlight on some of the top performances of the outdoor track and field season. While we’ve had our share of showstoppers over the past few months, these are the performances we feel stood out the most.
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When it comes to versatility, few athletes matched South Kingstown senior Kai Sorlien. An all-state football player, Sorlien also captured his second consecutive javelin title at this year’s outdoor state championships. But the javelin wasn’t his only standout event. He ranked No. 3 in the state in the 110-meter hurdles (14.70) and No. 7 in the 400-meter dash (50.05).
The performance we consider his most memorable was one that took two days to complete. Competing in the decathlon for the first time at last month’s New Balance Nationals, Sorlien earned All-American honors by placing sixth overall while setting a state record with 6,550 points. He surpassed the previous mark of 6,341 points, set eight years earlier by former East Greenwich standout Connor Sheridan. Sorlien also posted personal records in four events: the javelin (197-1.75), 110-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash (11.31) and 1,500 meters (4:49.58).
