Nov. 14, 2009 – It was not the ideal day for a cross country championship, but Rhode Island harriers braved the elements at Wickham Park in Manchester, Conn. for the 75th running of the New England Championships. Indeed, Hendricken, and the La Salle girls, cut through a steady rain (in the case of the girls’ race, a heavy precipitation) to win team titles. Each squad claimed team supremacy at the State Championships a week earlier - and in much better weather conditions.
The Rams, led by sophomore Molly Keating, posted 138 team points today, to 184 for the second-place Eagles. Hendricken, with senior Jake Sienko as its lead man, collected 105 team points, to 244 for second-place La Salle. The top Rhode Islander girl over the line was Barrington’s Abigail Jones, who placed 15th overall in 19 minutes, 17 seconds. Cranston West junior Robert Allen was Rhode Island’s No. 1 male finisher (seventh overall). Allen’s time was 16:30. Allen placed second at the State Championships a week ago.
“We ran as a team today,’’ said Hendricken coach Jim Doyle, who notched his fourth New England cross country championship (including one while he coached at St. Raphael). Hendricken last won the regional crown in 2002. “It was pretty wet out there, but [Sienko] stuck in the race.
La Salle’s Keating, who won the R.I. individual title last week, finished second (19th overall) at Wickham. Keating’s time was 19:34.
Among first-team All-State girls from last week: Cranston West senior Arianna Colella (third at States) was the seventh Rhode Islander today (50th overall). Colella was timed in 20:15. Barrington junior Molly Malinowski (fourth last week) was the third Rhode Island finisher at Wickham (26th overall) in 19:50. Sarah Barry, of Barrington was No. 6 for Rhode Island today (48th overall) in 20:13. Barry finished fifth at Ponaganset. Ram freshman Evie Jansen, who was sixth last week, was the fourth from her state to finish today (33rd overall). Jansen’s time was 20:01.
Besides Sienko and Allen, who went 1-2 last week, North Providence junior Alex Gallo (third at States) was No. 4 for R.I. (34th overall); his time was 17:03. Zach Fraielli, of La Salle (No. 4 last week) placed third for R.I. today (22nd overall) in 16:46. Dan Appenfeller, Mt. St. Charles’ first-ever All-State harrier (fifth last week), was No. 11 (75th overall) in 17:37. Hawk Mike Mac Kenzie was the sixth finisher last week, and fifth for the state today (35th). Mac Kenzie’s time was 17:03. Rounding out the boys’ first All-State squad last week was Ram junior Ryan Walsh. He was the seventh Rhode Islander today (48th overall) in 17:21.
Around the Course Again: The winner of the boys’ race was John Raneri, a senior from Fairfield, Conn. with a time of 15:57 . . . The girls’ division was won by sophomore Emily Durgan, of Cheverus, Maine in 118:35 . . . Other local finishers today included: Smithfield’s Kate Meinertz was 146th in 21:33; Coventry’s Vera Fedorenko (165 in 21:48); Westerly’s Rachel Orlando (175/ 22:00); Cumberland’s Nastasja Rattling (184/22:09); Bridget Murphy, of Westerly (201/22:19) and Erica Johnson, of Bay View (203/22:27).
Team Scores: 1, La Salle 138; 2, Barrington 184; 15, N. Kingstown 372; 20, Cr. West 446; 26, S. Kingstown 698. Top 20 finishers (w/overall place): 1 (15), Abigail Jones, Barr. 19:17; 2 (19), Molly Keating, LS 19:34; 3 (26), Molly Malinowski, Barr. 19:50; 4 (33), Evie Jansen, LS 20:01; 5 (38), Aisha McAdams, NK 20:04; 6 (48), Sarah Barry, Barr. 20:13; 7 (50), Arianna Colella, CW 20:15; 8 (53), Emily Papazian, LS 20:21; 9 (68), Tiana Kibbe, LS 20:40; 10 (75), Victoria Beardwood, LS 20:44; 11 (80), Kendall Feaster, SK 20:47; 12 (86), Danielle Renzi, LS 20:51; 13, (89), Samantha Chace, TG 20:52; 14 (93), Allison Lomas, NK 20:55; 15 (95), Michaela Hackett, CW 20:56; 16 (105), Fiona Paine, Barr. 21:02; 17 (109), Emily Siskind, Barr. 21:04; 18 (120), Caitlin Marino, LS 21:15; 19 (127), Emily Caesar, Barr. 21:23; 20 (134), Kate DelGreco, NK 21:17. 5,000 meters.
Team Scores: 1, Hendricken 105; 5, La Salle 244; 16, Barrington 401; 17, N. Kingstown 452; 23, Coventry 518; 26, E. Greenwich 577. Top 20 finishers (w/overall place): 1 (7), Robert Allen, CW 16:30; 2 (17), Jake Sienko, BH 16:43; 3 (22), Zach Fraielli, LS 16:46; 4 (34), Alex Gallo, NP 17:03; 5 (35), Mike MacKenzie, BH 17:03; 6 (45), Brian Doyle, BH 17:18; 7 (48), Ryan Walsh, LS 17:21; 8 (53), Ryan Meehan, BH 17:26; 9 (63), Matt Mercurio, LS 17:31; 10 (68), Andrew Andraka, BH 17:33; 11(75), Dan Appenfeller, MSC 17:37; 12 (82), Brian McLoughlin, Barr. 17:41; 13 (90), Zach Seits-Rundlet, NK 17:48; 14 (99), Adam Coogan, NP 17:53; 15 (102), Austin Schaefer, EG 17:54; 16 (106), Tim Kazanjian, Barr. 17:56; 17 (115), Brian Musard, Smith. 18:01; 18 (118), Ian La Plume, Char. 18:02; 19 (119), Mike Martin, N. Smithfield 18:02; 20 (123), Cyrus Cousins, Barr. 18:04. 5,000 meters.
