Picking the top cross-country teams in the state before the season begins is never easy. A lot can happen over the course of three months. Athletes can experience breakthrough seasons, newcomers can emerge as key contributors, and, of course, injuries to important runners can quickly change the outlook for a team.
But we’ll do our best to set the stage for what we expect will be another exciting season on the trails. For some of the state’s top teams, the outlook appears fairly straightforward if everything goes according to plan. For others, however, the picture is far less clear, and where they’ll ultimately finish by season’s end remains anyone’s guess.
Beginning with No. 10 and counting down to No. 1, here’s our preseason ranking of the top 10 boys’ teams in the state. As always, if we’ve given your team a little bulletin-board material based on our rankings, you’re welcome. It certainly won’t be the first time.
(Above photo by Sterling Vernon @rhodeandtrack)
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No. 4, East Greenwich High
Last year’s results: Second (9-1), Suburban Division; Second, RIIL Class B Championships; Sixth, RIIL State Championships
Key returnees/runners: Jeremiah Moon, Sr., 16:09.81; Andrew Parisi, Sr., 16:19.95; Quinn Connolly, Jr., 16:59.57; Zacharie Carron, Sr., 17:38.70; Malafronte, Jr., 17:40.34
Outlook: Between graduation and transfers, East Greenwich lost several runners from last year’s squad that earned a spot at the New England Championships. Still, we believe the Avengers have enough firepower to make another trip to New Englands and contend for another top-six finish at the State Meet.
Moon and Parisi lead the way for EG. Both finished among the top 25 at last year’s State Meet, a group that will be minus 14 runners this season due to graduation. Parisi placed 16th, running a best of 16:36.40 at Ponaganset. Moon was 25th and posted a PR of 16:30.65 on the Chieftains’ 5K course at the Class B Championships.
Look for Connolly to make significant gains this fall. He didn’t have his best race at the State Meet last year, averaging just under six-minute pace after placing 13th at the Class B in 17:09. This past outdoor track season, Connolly won the 1,500 meters at the JV State Championships with a huge PR of 4:16.74. Even more impressive was his 16:27.20 performance for 5,000 meters at the CT Distance Festival on May 8.
Like all the teams in the state, we’ll get a better idea of where the Avengers stand at the upcoming Injury Fund Carnival. East Greenwich has shown in recent years that it can compete with some of the state’s top teams, highlighted by the best finish in school history when the Avengers placed second at the championship meet in 2024. We don’t expect them to match that finish this season, but despite their losses, we believe a top-six finish and another trip to New Englands are both realistic possibilities
