7 Nov. 2010 – Hendricken copped its third straight team championship (its 19th overall), while the La Salle girls earned a fourth consecutive team prize at the RIIL State Cross Country Championships at Ponaganset High’s 3.1 mile course. Gusty winds exacerbated the chill of 40-plus degree temperatures under leaden skies. Nonetheless, for many it was perfect cross country weather.
Individually, Cranston West senior Bob Allen finished strong. Indeed, he motored the final 100 yards to the finish as if it were a 100-meter dash. Allen, a second-place finisher in ‘09, hit the tape in 15 minutes, 30.9 seconds. The Hawks’ Meehan, who last year placed tenth, came across in 15:37, good for second place.
In gaining her second state championship, La Salle junior Molly Keating was the clear winner. She finished 18:51.9. At the ‘09 States, Keating, then a sophomore, clocked 18:51 to victory.
Allen, who ran consistently strong all season (including an impressive win in the Class A Championship race on the same course), proclaimed “mission accomplished” in out-kicking a talent-loaded field that included Meehan, La Salle’s Zach Fraielli (third in 15:48), North Providence’s Alex Gallo (fourth: 16:08). Chariho junior Mike Marsella (fifth in 16:12) and Hawk senior Andrew Andraka (sixth: 16:17).
“I was pouring it on,” said a drained but happy Allen. “I ran the same race as I did [at Class meet]. I broke [from pack] in the last thousand meters. If I’d waited too long, I’d have been passed.”
Rounding out the top seven boys’ finishers was La Salle’s Ryan Walsh, who placed seventh in 16:18.
La Salle spotted the Hawks a two-point lead in the team race, finishing with 79 points to Hendricken’s 77. Chariho was third in team scoring with 96 points, followed by North Kingstown (100) and Barrington (182).
Keating led pretty much from the gun, and by the ¾-mile mark had opened up a wide lead. Coming in second was Cranston West’s Michaela Hackett (19:03). Eagle senior Molly Malinowski finished third (19:05). The Rams went 4-5, with Emily Papazian and Caroline Falvey placing respectively. Promising freshman Abigal Livingston came in sixth (19:22). La Salle’s Evie Jansen rounded out the top seven scorers.
“The wind was a factor,” said Keating, who clocked 18:28 last year. Coming into the meet as defending state champ made Keating “nervous. There are so many amazing runners.”
Barrington placed second among teams, with 52 points. South Kingstown was third (138), and Cranston West fourth, with 141 points.
Course Notes: The New England Championships head north next Saturday. The Woods Trail Course at Tehtford Academy in Vermont will host the event.
Girls State Championship At Ponaganset High Team scores 1, La Salle 30; 2, Barrington 52; 3, S. Kingstown 138; 4, Cr. West 141; 5, N. Kingstown 157; 6, E. Greenwich 245; 7, Coventry 248; 8, Westerly 265; 9, Ponaganset 265; 10, Cumberland 266; 11, Burrillville 267; 12, Toll Gate 271; 13, Bay View 291; 14, Mt. St. Charles 355; 15, Pilgrim 361; 16, Smithfield 382; 17, Prout 395; 18, Chariho 452. Individual results 1, Molly Keating, LS 18:51; 2, Michaela Hackett, CW 19:03; 3, Molly Malinowski, Barr. 19:05; 4, Emily Papazian, LS 19:20; 5, Caroline Falvey, LS 19:21; 6, Abigail Livingston, Barr. 19:22; 7, Evie Jansen, CW 19:28; 8, Alex Hackett, CW 19:34; 9, Jackie Burr, West. 19:39; 10, Jenna Moen, TG 19:41; 11, Kate DelGreco, NK 19:49; 12, Alice Burgess, Barr. 19:51; 13, Caitlin Marino, LS 19:52; 14, Fiona Paine, Barr. 20:08; 15, Julia Watson, BV 20:10; 16, Casey McGrath, Pon. 20:15; 17, Julie Portelli, Barr. 20:18; 18, Kendall Feaster, SK 20:21; 19, Tiana Kibbe, LS 20:22; 20, Kelly Reiss, SK 20:24.3; 21, Anna Dumais, Burr. 20:24.9; 22, Allison Lomas, NK 20:32; 23, Jaimee Dorsey, EG 20:35; 24, Danielle Renzi, LS 20:35; 25, Becky Stamp, CW 20:36; 26, Michaela Lawler, SK 20:42; 27, Liz Hanke, Pil. 20:49.1; 28, Becky Tellier, Smith. 20:49.4; 29, Amy Cunningham, EWG 20:51; 30, Mollie Anderson, EG 20:54; 31, Daria Braboy, BV 20:54; 32, Lauren Lapierre, Cumb. 20:56; 33, Paige Ethier, SK 20:57.1; 34, Jenn Haley, Cov. 20:57.7; 35, Rachel Orlando, West. 20:58; 36, Jess Elliott, Prout 21:00; 37, Alex August, Barr. 21:01; 38, Melissa Viens, NK 21:02; 39, Connor D’Albora, TG 21:03; 40, Danielle Dumias, Burr. 21:17; 41, Hannah Lynch, NK 21:23; 42, Healy Bacon, EG 21:25; 43, Liz Congdon, SK 21:31; 44, Alicia Holloway, Class. 21:33; 45, Vera Fedorenko, Cov. 21:34; 46, Britt Sarza, MSC 21:35; 47, Sarah Nacci, CW 21:36; 48, Kelsey Devlin, WV 21:37; 49, Fiona Beltram, Pon. 21:38; 50, Alexi Mangili, Scit. Dist. 3.1 miles. Boys State Championship At Ponaganset High Team scores 1, Hendricken 77; 2, La Salle 79; 3, Chariho 96; 4, N. Kingstown 100; 5, Barrington 182; 6, Smithfield 200; 7, Coventry 211; 8, E. Greenwich 213; 9, Portsmouth 252; 10, Cumberland 252; 11, Mt. St. Charles 277; 12, Prout 306; 13, N. Providence 337; 14, Lincoln 375; 15, S. Kingstown 379; 16, Cr. West 448; 17, Ponaganset 462; 18, Tolman 491. Individual results 1, Robert Allen, CW 15:30; 2, Ryan Meehan, BH 15:37; 3, Zach Fraielli, LS 15:48; 4, Alex Gallo, NP 16:08; 5, Mike Marsella, Char. 16:12; 6, Andy Andraka, BH 16:17; 7, Ryan Walsh, LS 16:18; 8, Matt Mercurio, LS 16:19.3; 9, Zach Seites-Rundlett,, NK 16:20; 10, Dan Kilcoyne, Char. 16:23; 11, Jake Kilcoyne, 16:30; 12, Liam Hillery, Smith. 16:32.0; 13, Brian Pughe, NK 16:32.8; 14, Cyrus Cousing, Barr. 16:33; 15, Brian Deer, MSC 16:34; 16, Nick Chrones, BH 16:38.1; 17, Ian LaPlume, Char. 16:38.6; 18, Nick Paiva, Cov. 16:39.0; 19, Dylan Verner, Barr. 16:39.7; 20, Brian Musard, Smith. 16:40.2; 21, Pat Butler, MSC 16:40.6; 22, Trevor Crawley, Cumb. 16:49; 23, Mike Coleman, NK 16:51; 24, Rob Wilkinson, NK 16:53; 25, Drew Manning, BH 16:54.1; 26, John Corbett, Ports. 16:54.5; 27, Bob Parker, SRA 16:55.1; 28, Sean Phayre, LS 16:55.5; 29, Mark Vuono, BH 16:57.2; 30, Tyler Henesler, BH 16:57.6; 31, 31, Den Ryan, Cov. 17:04; 32, Matt Brunelle, NK 17:05.0; 33, Chris Millman, EG 17:05.8; 34, Matt Sutcliffe, Cumb. 17:06; 35, Adam Rego, LS 17:11; 36, Caleb Gladstone, EG 17:14; 37, Nick Tyler, Ports. 17:16; 38, Ben Fazio, EG 17:18; 39, Tim O’Neill, LS 17:20; 40, Adam Coogan, NP 17:21; 41, Scott Kulm, EG 17:24; 42, Connor Doyle, BH 17:28; 43, Vick Ricci, Prout 17:29; 44, Luke Rein, Barr. 17:31; 45, Ryan Pagliaro, Smith. 17:33.0; 46, Dan Clarkin, Cov. 17:33.5; 47, Matt Olean, Linc. 17:34.3; 48, Chris Corbett, Ports. 17:34.9; 49, Evan Bolton, NK 17:35.3; 50, Ethan Beinstock, Tol. 17:35.9. Dist. - 3.1 miles.
