‘15 CROSS COUNTRY CAMPAIGN WAS ‘THE YEAR OF THE RAMS’
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
With postseason events yet to be staged (Foot Locker and New Balance qualifiers), one thing is clear: In RIIL competition, La Salle Academy is “top dog’’ in both girls’ and boys’ cross country. The Rams took the girls’ state title at the Nov. 8 State Championship for the third straight year. The girls out-pointed second-place North Kingstown, 28-74, and were paced by senior Eliza Rego’s second-place finish (18:14). La Salle copped its second straight boys’ title, 35-59, over Hendricken. It was the Rams’ senior workhorse DJ Principe winning his second consecutive individual crown, with a meet-record 15:09.
The accent was on youth this fall, as South Kingstown sophomore Ellie Lawler repeated her Class A performance of the previous week in winning the individual state championship with a course-record 17:29. For the boys, Skipper freshman Sam Toolin capped an amazing cross country debut by finishing fourth at the State Meet (15:57). Toolin was this year’s freshman state champ.
Besides Lawler, girls’ Class champions this year were Westerly’s Randi Burr in Class B, and Marissa Mc Phillips, of Narragansett, in Class C. Principe took the Class A boys’ title, with Classical’s Joe Murphy winning the Class B title, and Charles Berg, of Mt. St. Charles, taking it all in Class C.
At the Nov. 14 New England Championships, run over hilly terrain in Vermont, the Rams successfully defended both their 2014 regional titles. The Rebels’ Lawler was Rhode Island’s top finisher, placing second to nationally-ranked senior Hannah De Balsi, of Connecticut. Lawler clocked 18:32. La Salle senior Eliza Rego finished fourth overall (19:01). Displaying his customary poise, the Rams’ Principe led the boys’ field with a gold-medal performance of 15:48.
Course note: Unfortunately, Barrington senior Emma Mc Millan, the three-time state champion, suffered an injury that kept her out of postseason competition.
COACHES ASSOC. ALL-STATE TEAMS FOR 2015
GIRLS
First team
Ellie Lawler, S. Kingstown; Eliza Rego, Grace Connolly, Karina Tavares, Emily Kane, La Salle; Randi Burr, Westerly; Marissa Mc Phillips, Narragansett.
Second team
Danika Wayss, Pilgrim; Beth Nunnery, Katy Brayman, N. Kingstown; Amy Laverty, Cumberland; Claire Hanlon, Bay View; Alyson Walsh, La Salle, Audrey O’Neill, La Salle.
Third team
Lily Nunnery, N. Kingstown; Elise Papazian, La Salle; Elizabeth Sullivan, Portsmouth; Una Treanor, Smithfield; Kate Zitzmann, Tea Bishop, Barrington; Liz La Croix, Chariho.
Rhode Islanders making “All-New England”
Ellie Lawler, S. Kingstown; Eliza Rego, Karina Tavares, Grace Connolly, Emily Kane, La Salle.
BOYS
First team
David Principe, Jr., Matt Bouthillette, Jack Salisbury, Alex Campagna, La Salle; Sam Toolin, N. Kingstown; Dominic Parlato, Hendricken; Ben Drezek, Cumberland.
Second team
Sean Laverty, Cumberland; Charles Berg, Mt. St. Charles; Avery Ingegneri, Mike Kiernan, Hendricken; Kyle Keefe, Chariho; Mars Bishop, Barrington; Alan Greenleaf, Ponaganset.
Third team
Jackson Cronin, Dylan De Priest, E. Greenwich; Joe Murphy, Classical; Matt Walker, Westerly; Tom Mc Mahon, Max Waite, Hendricken; Will Connolly, Barrington.
Rhode Islanders making “All-New England”
David Principe, Jr., Jack Salisbury, Matt Bouthillette, La Salle; Sam Toolin, N. Kingstown; Dominic Parlato, Hendricken; Ben Drezek, Cumberland.