25 Sept. 2010 – Running in temperatures reminiscent of mid-July, La Salle senior Zach Fraielli created his own heat, coming from behind to push past race leader Bob Allen, of Cranston West, and hit the tape in a winning time of 15 minutes, 50 seconds. Allen, also a senior, placed second in 16:05. Mirroring in his running strategy the unseasonable heat of the afternoon (temps in the 80s), Fraielli - who ran at a 5:06 pace - on the jets in the final 600 meters to push past the Falcon All-Stater. "I was like one foot [behind Allen]," said Fraielli, who finished fourth at the State Meet last year. (Allen came in second). I knew that was my move. It was hot, but there’s nothing you can do about it." Fraielli placed sixth in this race a year ago. "I went out too hard," said Allen, who experienced cramps toward the end of the race. "I got boxed in [near the start of the race]." Smithfield senior Liam Hillery finished as the third Rhode Islander (fourth overall) in the Championship run (16:28).
The state’s top local finisher in the girls’ top race was Barrington senior Molly Malinowski. She came across the line in 16th place in 20:30. That race was captured by Lindsay Crevoisera, of Glastonbury (CT) High. She was timed in 18:29. It was a banner day for teams from North Kingstown. Led by Becca Sherwood’s win in the girls’ JV II race, the Skippers won that bracket’s team prize. Sherewood clocked 21:54 for the victory. Hannah Lynch, Kayla Mudge, Lauren Smith and Jackie DeChristofaro added team points. The Skippers’ Aisha McAdams clocked 19:47 to win the girls’ Varsity II race. In addition, North took team honors in the girls’ Freshman II event; a 4,000-meter distance that was a relative piece of cake for Westerly freshman Jacie Burr. Burr, who already owns wins this season in two dual meets, clocked 15:43, well ahead of the second-place finisher (Barrington’s Abby Livingston: 16:08). "I was a little surprised," the 14 year-old Burr said after her race. "The heat was a factor. I tried my best." "She’s very poised," said Bulldog coach Maryann Janiszewski.
Course Notes: A total of 2,052 runners participated in the fourth annual New Balance event . . . The next major races are set for next weekend, when the Thetford Invitational is held in Vermont, and the Great American Race is held in New York State.
