Around the Oval with Bob Leddy

Bob Leddy, RIT&FF Correspondent

A retired sports writer and past track official, Bob Leddy covered high school and college cross-country and track & field for twenty years with the Providence Journal. He is currently the correspondent for the Rhode Island Track & Field Foundation, and graciously continues to provide informative and interesting notes and commentary to the RITCA website.

23 April 2010 – The South Kingstown girls’ track team received the highest number of votes in the first of three coaches polls, administered by the Falk Fund/R.I. Track & Field Foundation. (Boys’ coaches have chosen not to participate in this season’s polling).

Coach Joyce Harvey’s Rebels - who are defending outdoor state team champions - gathered 94 points and six first-place ballots. State Meet runners-up La Salle placed second in the April survey with 88 points. Barrington’s 81 points were good for third place, followed by Hope (62) and Toll Gate (61). The next coaches poll is scheduled for May 14.

Oval Notes: In Bob Gourley’s latest hammer listing (4/23) Hendricken’s Max Milder has posted Rhode Island’s best performance in the 12-pound event: a throw of 60.12 meters (197 feet, 3 inches). Milder is currently ranked eighth on the national list. In the girls’ 4-kilo hammer, Classical’s Angela Onye is currently ranked 10th nationally, at 44.24 (145-2).

Top five local hammer throwers, and U.S. ranking:

BOYS: 8, Milder 60.12 meters (197-3); 12, Nate Irwin, Chariho 55.93 (183-6); 15, Mike Maloof, Hendricken 55.24 (181-3); 18, Remy Steele, Barrington 54.68 (179-5); 20, Joe McGuire, Westerly 53.28 (174-10).

GIRLS: 10, Onye 44.24 (145-2); 13, Robyn McFetters, Barrington 43.68 (143-4); 14, ecky Cousens, Portsmouth 43.46 (142-7); 15, Aliede Fernandes, Central Falls 43.00 (141-1); 17, Catherine Lauro, Classical 41.00 (134-6).

Major meet dates: Here’s a list of this spring’s major meets:

• May 1 - Cumberland Invitational, 11 a.m.
• May 8 - Schomp Invitational (at Chariho High), 10 a.m.; Hartford Invitational.
• May 11 - Boys’ Divisional Championships (South @ Chariho; North @ Cranston West; East @ Portsmouth; Central @ Conley Stadium, Providence).
• May 12 - Girls’ Divisional Championships (North @ Ponaganset; Central @ Toll Gate; South @ Westerly; East @ Barrington).
• May 15 - Classical Classic (boys’ meet), at Conley, 10 a.m.
• May 22 - Class Championships - (Boys: A @ Cr. West; B @ Chariho; C @ Westerly; D @ Ponaganset. Girls: A @ Conley; B @ Barrington; C @ Middletown).
• May 24 - Girls’ Freshman States @ Toll Gate
• May 25 - Boys’ Freshman States @ Westerly
• May 29 - Hendricken Invitational, Hawk Country, 10 a.m.; Girls’ performance meets, Conley, 10 a.m.
• June 2 - Girls’ JV States, Conley, 4 p.m.
• June 3 - Boys’ JV states, Hendricken, 4 p.m.
• June 5 - State Championship, Brown Stadium, 12:30 p.m.
• June 12 - New Englands, New Britain, CT.

Coaches Poll #1

Team               Points    1st-place votes
1. S. Kingstown    94        6
2. La Salle        88        3
3. Barrington      81        1
4. Hope            62                          
5. Toll Gate       61
6. Smithfield      48
7. N. Kingstown    28
8. E. Greenwich    26
9. Bay View        24
10. Coventry       6

3 April 2010 – Distance runners and hammer practitioners had their first taste of the 2010 outdoor track season on Saturday at the 42nd annual Knights of Columbus Relays at Conley Stadium track in Providence. The meet, usually held in either snow or a chilly rain, was contested in 60-plus degree temperatures under a clear blue sky. Longtime Mount Pleasant High boys’ track coach Dick Duggan ably filled his usual role as meet director.

Among the meet highlights was Barrington’s win in the girls’ Division II 4x1-mile relay. The foursome of Abigail Jones, Emily Caesar, Molly Malinowski and Sarah Barry combined for a meet-record time of 21 minutes, 25.2 seconds. That clocking broke the previous mark of 21:32.9, set in 2007 by a Westerly quartet. Barrington’s time was also a qualifier for this summer’s New Balance Nationals in North Carolina.

The girls’ Division I relay was won by La Salle in 22:00.4. Tiana Kibbe, Molly Keating, Emily Papazian and Danielle Renzi did the honors for the Rams. The girls’ freshman mile was won by Alice Burgess, of Barrington, in 5:50.6.

Hendricken posted the best time of the day among the boys’ 4x1-mile relays. The Hawk contingent of Brian Doyle, Ryan Meehan, Mike Mack Kenzie and Jake Sienko clocked 18:05.3 to victory in Division I. East Greenwich captured the Division III bracket (19:22.6), with Andy Keene, Chris Millman, Harry Feigen and Nick Ross passing the baton. In Division II boys’, it was Westerly the winner in 19:13.1. Running for the Bulldogs were Pat Moran, Drew Castagna, Sam Kern and John DiGangi.

Chariho’s Jacob Kilcoyne took the gold in the boys’ freshman mile (4:48.4).

Hammer throwers get workout

Throwers limbered up their throwing techniques with the hammer. The girls’ 4-kilogram event was won by the Eagles’ Robyn McFetters with a throw of 43.02 meters (141 feet, 2 inches). Taking the boys’ event was Hendricken’s Mac Milder, who tossed the 12-pound ball 60.12 (197-3). In a special competition with the 6-kilo (13-pound ball), Milder again was the winner; he threw 52.24 meters (171-5).
Oval Note: RIT&FF will conduct three coaches polls this spring: April 23, May 14 and June 3; the latter in advance of the June 5 State Championship.

Knights of Columbus Relays

Girls’ results

• HT (4-kilo) - 1, Robyn Mc Fetters, Barrington 141-2 (43.02 meters); 2, Kate Lauro, Classical 134-6 (41.00); 3, Maggie Dufault, Pilgrim 122-5 (37.31); 4, Charlotte Mintzer, Barrington 120-7 (36.75); 5, Amanda Clark, Smithfield 118-10 (36.22); 6, Grace Janes, Rogers 117-10 (35.92).
• Freshman mile - 1, Alice Burgess, Barrington 5:50.6; 2, Sarah Musard, Smithfield 5:55.7; 3, Olivia August, Barrington 5:58.0; 4, Audrey Boraski, Holyoke (Mass.) 6:00.1; 5, Adeline Hansson, Westerly 6:02.0; 6, Emily Meinertz, Smithfield 6:02.8.
• 4x1-mile (Div. I) - 1, La Salle “A’’ (Emily Papazian, Tiana Kibbe, Molly Keating, Danielle Renzi) 22:00.4; 2, La Salle “B” 23:46.3; 3, Westerly “A’’ 23:48.8; 4, La Salle “C’’ 25:19.6; 5, Westerly “B” 25:49.0; 6, Woonsocket 25:54.1.
• 4x1-mile (Div. II) - 1, Barrington (Abigail Jones, Emily Caesar, Molly Malinowski, Sarah Barry) 21:25.2 (MR. OR: 21:32.9, Westerly 2007); 2, Holyoke 23:04.0; 3, E. Greenwich 24:04.7; 4, Barrington “B” 24:35.0; 5, Mt. Hope 25:26.8; 6, Lincoln 25:41.5.

Boys’ results

• HT (12-lb.) - 1, Max Milder, Hendricken 197-3 (60.12 meters); 2, Mike Maloof, Hendricken 181-3 (55.24); 3, Remy Steele, Barrington 179-5 (54.68); 4, Mike Mulligan, Rogers 160-4 (48.86); 5, Joe McGuire, Westerly 158-2 (48.20); 6, Wilson Adams, Barrington 156-9 (47.78).
• HT (6-kilo) - 1, Milder 171-5 (52.24); 2, Steele 164-6 (50.14); 3, Maloof 162-9 (49.61); 4, Adams 158-6 (48.33); 5, Tim Phok, Classical 144-10 (44.14); 6, Luis Alvarez, Mt. Pleasant 143-1 (43.62).
• Freshman mile - 1, Jacob Kilcoyne, Chariho 4:48.4; 2, Alex Doherty, Hendricken 4:55.3; 3, Adam Rego, La Salle 4:56.7; 4, Caleb Gladstone, E. Greenwich 4:59.7; 5, Trevor Crowley, Cumberland 5:03.5; 6, Tom Barry, Barrington 5:02.0.
• 4x1-mile (Div. I) - 1, Hendricken (Brian Doyle, Ryan Meehan, Mike Mac Kenzie, Jake Sienko) 18:05.3; 2, Brookline (Mass.) “A” 18:32.4; 3, St. Thomas Prep 18:53.2; 4, Brookline “B” 19:01.3; 5, Hendricken “B” 19:03.7; 6, Hendricken “C” 19:13.3.
• 4x1-mile (Div. II) - 1, Westerly “A“ (Pat Moran, Drew Castagna, Sam Kern, John Di Gangi) 19:13.1; 2, Barrington “A” 19:33.9; 3, La Salle 19:48.8; 4, Barrington “B” 21:17.1; 5, Westerly “B” 21:53.6; 6, Westerly “C” 22:09.4.
• 4x1-mile (Div. III) - 1, E. Greenwich (Andy Keene, Chris Millman, Harry Feigen, Nick Ross) 19:22.6; 2, Smithfield 19:31.3; 3, Portsmouth 19:58.9; 4, Lincoln 20:19.1; 5, St. Raphael 20:28.9; 6, Classical 20:29.6.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS RELAY

1, Birch Vocational (Kyra King, Kelvin Tavares, Manuel Martinez, Jeff Williams) 5:14.1; 2, Bristol-Warren Huskies (Tom Lake, Ryan Miranda, Marina Temple, Connor Devin) 6:12.4; 3, Birch “B” (ike Ventura, Chris Wells, Giovanni Mazariegos, Pedro Alba) 6:37.9; 4, Birch “C” (Chris and andy Matzouranis, Marixa Lopez, Sergio Santos) 7:44.9.

21 Mar. 2010 – With the upcoming 2010 outdoor track season, here are the current R.I. state records for girls’ and boys’ events. The records are maintained by Track & Field News, and are routinely noted in Prov. Journal results:

Girls

• HT - 189-3 (57.98 meters), Kate Johnston, Warwick Vets 2001
• SP - 44-10 (13.66), Emily Carslten, Warwick Vets 1996
• DT - 134-9 (41.08), Wadudah Nural-Islam, Hope 1998
• JT - 145-1 (44.22), Leigh Petranoff, Cr. West 2007
• HJ - 5-9 (1.75), Christine Engert, Cumberland 1983
• TJ - 39-8.25 (12.09), Micky Jusme, Classical 2008
• LJ - 19-2.50 (5.85), Pam Hughes, Hope 1985
• PV - 11-9 (3.58), Jenna Poggi, Moses Brown 2009
• 100 - 12.12, Alexa Monti, E. Greenwich 2008
• 200 - 24.83, Konique Ballah, Wheeler School 1997
• 400 - 56.20, Leah Grant, Hope 1999
• 800 - 2:09.72, Samantha Gawrych, Westerly 2005
• 1500 - 4:28.54, Gawrych 2004
• *Mile - 4:55.06 (= 4:33.1 @ 1500m), Laura Turner, Portsmouth 1998
• *Two mile - 10:30.42 (= 9:43.8 @ 3000m) Turner 1998
• 3000 - 9:57.18, Turner 1998
• *5000 - 18:01.07, Erin Lagasse, Cr. West 2006
• 100HH - 14.68, Mary Serdakowski, Chariho 2000
• 300IH - 44.66, Emily Barrett, La Salle 2008
• *400IH - 1:03.16, Barrett 2008
• 4x100 - 47.60, Hope 2009
• *4x200 - 1:42.95, Hope 2009
• 4x400 - 3:53.73, Westerly 2003
• 4x800 - 9:12.66, Westerly 2006
• *4x1-mile - 21:04.19, Westerly 2008
• *SMR (@ 800m), 1:48.60, Westerly 2005
• *SMR (@ 1600m), 4:00.40, La Salle 2007
• *DMR - 12:02.15, La Salle 2007

BOYS

• HT (12-lb.) - 253-3 (77.20 meters), Jacob Freeman, Hendricken 1999
• *HT (16-lb.) - 216-2 (65.89), Freeman 1999
• *HT (6k), 211-10 (64.58), John Freeman, Hendricken 2005
• SP - 62-3 (18.97), Charles Ajootian, Classical 1964
• DT - 198-7 (60.54), Al Baginski, Classical 1979
• JT - 231-5 (70.54), Matt Maloney, La Sale 2005
• HJ - 7-1 (2.16), Dave Arundel, S. Kingstown 1997
• TJ - 51-5.75 (15.90), Robert Howard, Shea 1994
• LJ - 24-0.50 (7.32), Don Blount, Moses Brown 1936
• PV - 15-3 (4.64), James Strawderman, Cr. West 2009
• 100 - 10.62, Eric Osei, E. Providence 2005
• 200 - 21.17, Bobby Young, Mt. Pleasant 2003
• 400 - 46.42, Delon Gomes, Hope 1992
• 800 (@ 880y) - 1:52.0(y), Phil Kane, Rogers 1973
• 1500 - 3:45.46 (Enr. mile), Andrew Springer, Westerly 2009
• *1600 - 4:01.06 (Enr. mile), Springer 2009
• * Mile - 4:02.70 (= 3:44.5 @ 1500m), Springer 2009
• *Two mile - 9:02.93 (= 8:22/8 @ 3000m), Springer 2009
• 3000 - 8:23.2(h) - Springer 2009
• *5000 - 14:56.46, Springer 2007
• 110HH - 13.98, “Pete’’ Gbaa, Hope 2004
• 300IH - 38.16, Colin Aina, E. Providence 2000
• *400IH - Jesse Andoscia, N. Kingstown 2000
• 4x100 - 42.20, Hope 2007
• *4x200 - 1:29.81, Hope 2007
• 4x400 - 3:18.7(h), Hendricken 3:18.7(h) 2004
• 4x800 - 7:55.05, Westerly 2009
• *4x1600 - 17:59.8 (h), Hendricken 1987
• * 4x1-mile - 18:29.45, Hendricken 2006
• * SMR (@ 800m) - Hope 2007
• * SMR (@ 1600m) - 3:34.47, Westerly 2009
• * DMR - 10:01.13, Westerly 2009

14 Mar. 2010 – Hendricken won the “New England’’ 4x400-meter relay for New England schools at the Nike Indoor National High School Track & Field Championships at Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury, Mass. The Hawk quartet of Andre Collins, Ryan Brannigan, John Ferris and Dave Revens clocked 3 minutes, 29.34 seconds for the golod medal.

La Salle senior Kadeem Kushimo broke a Rhode Island state record in the boys’ 60-meter dash, and ran leadoff leg on the Rams’ sprint medley that eliminated another state mark.

In the 60 meters, Kushimo clocked 6.90 seconds in trial heat No. 3, erasing Eric Osei’s 2005 standard of 6.94, set at the 2005 National Scholastic Indoor Championships. Kushimo did not advance to the finals, however.

Kushimo, this season’s state titlist in the high jump and 55-meter dash, provided the leadoff leg on the Rams’ SMR; they finished 15th overall in a state-record time of 3:35.74. Besides Kushimo, Baptista Kimani, Jalen Young and Zach Fraielli comprised the rest of the Ram relay. The old mark - 3:35.99, was set by a Hope SMR in 2005.

Oval notes: Classical senior Angela Onye, the state champ at the 20-pound weight throw, led a large Rhode Island contingent at the NIN event. Onye finished second with a throw of 17.08 meters (56 feet, 0.50 inch) . . . In the NIN boys’ weight event, Hendricken senior Max Milder was the top local finisher; he placed fifth with a distance of 20.45 meters (67-1.25). Milder was last month’s state WT champ . . . At the NCAA Indoor Championships, former Classical All-Stater Victoria Flowers - a UConn sophomore - placed second in the women’s weight throw. Flowers unloaded the ball 21.44 meters (70-4.25).

Girls’ NIN Local Results

• WT - 2, Angela Onye, Classical 56-0.50 (17.08 meters); 3, Aleide Fernandes, Central Falls 51-1 (16.79); 7, Charlotte Mintzer, Barrington 48-1.75 (14.67); 15, Nicole Johnson, Central Falls 42-7 (12.98); 16, Robyn McFetters, Barrington 42-4.25 (12.91); 20, Parrisha Louis, Classical 41-3.75 (12.59); 24, Cate Lauro, Classical 38-7.75 (11.78); 32, Grace Janes, Rogers 34-9.50 (10.60); 34, Jeannette Leo, Classical 34-0.75 (10.38); 38, Maneula Vadis, Classical 32-3.75 (9.85); 41, Venetcia Otiz, Central Falls 28-1.50 (8.57).
• TJ - 11, Kim Ezeama, Smithfield 36-2.25 (11.03).
• Two mile - 13, Abigail Jones, Barrington 10:55.49 (= 10:06.9 @ 3000m); 39, Molly Malinowski, Barrington 11:30.97 (= 10:39.8 @ 3000m)
• Mile - 32, Sarah Barry, Barrington 5:08.23 (= 4:45.2 @ 1500m).
• Freshman mile - 5, Kendall Feaster, S. Kingstown 5:07.76 (= 4:45.2 @ 1500m)
• 400 - 15, Angie Quiah, Hope 57.82.
• 60m - 31, Royal Cheatham, Hope 7.96.
• 4x200 - 5, Hope 1:44.49.
• New England 4x400m - 8, Hope 4:11.34.

Boys’ NIN Local Results

• WT - 5, Max Milder, Hendricken 67-1.25 (20.45 meters); 6, Wilson Adams, Barrington 65-11.75 (20.11); 11, Mike Maloof, Hendricken 63-4 (19.30); 19, Tim Phok, Classical 59-2.75 (18.05); 20, Mike Mulligan, Rogers 58-11.50 (17.97); 24, Shane McLaughlin, S. Kingstown 57-10.25 (17.63); 26, Gabre Winters, Classical 56-11.50 (17.36); 28, John Steele, Barrington 54-5.50 (16.60); 29, Joe Velez, Classical 53-3 (16.23); 31, Joel Cabellero, Classical 52-11 (16.13); 35, Evan Fleming, Classical 50-9.50 (15.48); 39, Gustavo Reynoso, Classical 47-2.25 (14.38); 40, Evan DeCosta, Classical 44-8 (13.61); 41, Robert Palazzo, Classical 40-4.75 (12.31); 42, Marv Garduno, Central Falls 37-0.25 (11.28).
• TJ - 13, Craig Amado, Central 43-3 (13.18).
• PV - 13, James Strawderman, Cr. West 15-2.25 (4.63).
• Two mile - 15, Brian Doyle, Hendricken 9:25.23 (= 8:43.1 @ 3000m).
• Mile - 17, Nick Ross, E. Greenwich 4:20.21 (= 4:00.7 @ 1500m); 44, Brian Mc Laughlin, Barrington 4:32.26 (= 4:11.9 @ 1500m); 29, Matt Mercurio, La Salle 9:45.31 (= 9:01.7 @ 1500m); 32, Mc Laughlin, Barrington 9:47.34 (= 9:03.5 @ 1500m); 34, Jake Sienko, Hendricken 9:48.27 (= 9:04.9 @ 1500m).
• 400 - 35, Jarrel James, Hope 51.23.
• 200 - 4 (7 H1, 22.17) - 4, Kadeem Kushimo, La Salle 21.93.
• 60m - 2, H3 6.90. (SR. OR: 6.94, Eric Osei, E. Prov. 2005); 14, H7, Mike Read, Barrington 6.99; 59, H1 Mike Monti, E. Greenwich 7.35.
• 60mH (Semis) - 13, Kushimo, La Salle 6.99; 17, Read, Barrington 7.02.
• 4x200 - 21, Barrington 1:33.62.
• New England 4x400 - 1, Hendricken (Andre Collins, Ryan Brannigan, John Ferris, Dave Revens) 3:29.34.
• 4x800 - 20, Hendricken 8:07.23.
• 4x1-mile - 4, Hendricken 17:53.56.
• SMR (@ 1600m), 15, La Salle 3:35.74 (Kushimo, Baptista Kimani, Jalen Young, Zach Fraielli. SR. OR: 3:35.99, Hope 2005); 30, Westerly 3:40.76.

11 Mar. 2010 – Here is a list of local track and field student/athletes slated to compete at this weekend’s Nike Indoor National meet at the Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury, Mass. The meet will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 12, 13 and 14. In addition further competition in the weight throw will be held on 14 March at the National Scholastic Championships in New York.

Following are the events, and the athletes scheduled to compete in that event, preceded by the Rhode Island state record (SR).

NOTE: This is the list know up to this time; there may be additions.

“OVAL’’ NOTES: At a “last chance’’ meet at Virginia Tech on 6 March, Bradley Holtz - formerly of Barrington High, and R.I.’s record-holder in the boys’ indoor pole vault - finished fourth by clearing 5.38 meters (17 feet, 7.75 inches). Holtz was competing unattached . . . At the March 7 ECAC Women’s Championship in Boston, former Classical High standour Victorial Flowers won the 20-pound weight throw with a distance of 20.07 meters (65-10.25). Flowers holds the state mark in that event.

GIRLS

BOYS