“Around the Oval’’
Former Journal sports writer Carolyn Thornton in RIIL post
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
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4 March – – Hope High senior Quashira “Q” Mc Intosh set a new R.I. state indoor record for 200 meters this week at the Eastern States Championships at the Armory in New York. “Q” hit the tape in 24.32 seconds, erasing her own SR of 24.54, set in 2013 at the New Balance Championships at the Armory track.
This is the third state record Mc Intosh has set during the 2014-15 indoor season. She owns the 55-meter dash standard of 7.09, along with a 38.89 SR clocking in the 300 meters.
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Award-winning sports scribe Thornton on the RIIL team
Carolyn Thornton, a longtime sports writer at The Providence Journal, has joined the R.I. Interscholastic League (RIIL) staff as its Director of Multimedia Content. The announcement was made on Tuesday by RIIL Executive Director Thomas Mezzanotte.
In addition to providing media content for the league’s website and managing the RIIL’s social media presence, Thornton will mentor aspiring high school journalists, teaching them the craft of feature writing and game coverage. “We are very excited to have a person of such great capability and experience working with us,’’ Mezzanotte said.
Thornton joins the RIIL after a sterling 25-year career at The Journal. Among her many varied assignments she covered Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. (1996) and Sydney, Australia (2000). Included in her daily reports, Thornton provided coverage of local track stars such as Providence College All-American distance runner Amy Rudolph, and nine-time NCAA long-jump champ (while at the University of Arkansas) Robert Howard, formerly of Shea High.
Locally, Thornton has always been highly valued by the track & field and cross country communities for her unwavering commitment to, and enthusiasm for, those sports.
She was recognized by the R.I. Press Association and New England A.P. News Executives Association. Thornton received the 2012 Ronald McDonald House of Providence Women’s Leadership award; the Service to Cross Country Award from Brown University (through its high school invitational), and the RIIL Girls’ and Women in Sports Award for service, among other honors.
Significantly, Thornton brings a competitor’s perspective to her high school coverage. A Johnston High three-sport star, including cross country (and a member of that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame), Thornton was a three-time All-Ivy League center fielder while at Brown University. She’s a member of the R.I. Track & Field Coaches Hall of Fame, Words Unlimited Hall of Fame and the New England U.S. Specialty Sports Assoc. Hall of Fame.
“This is an exciting time to come on board with playoffs in full swing,’’ Thornton said in the statement. “Rhode Island high school athletes, coaches and teams are achieving so many great things, both on and off the field. Our goal is to shine a spotlight on those great moments, and hopefully to inform and inspire our online readership. I have worked closely with the league and its coaches for many, many years, and look forward to continuing that relationship in my new position.’’
The R.I. Track & Field Foundation wishes Carolyn Thornton the best of luck.