31 Jan. 2010 – A total of 16 meet records - spread among four divisions - were broken over the weekend at the boys’ divisional championships, held at the Providence Athletic Facility track. In team titles, La Salle won the Metropolitan Division, 116-99, over second place Barrington. Hendricken cruised to the Suburban title (206 points). In the Northern Division, Cumberland came away with the team prize, 111-69 over No. 2 Woonsocket. North Kingstown captured the Southern Division championship, 94-84, ahead of second-place Chariho. A quick rundown:
La Salle senior phenom Kadeem Kushimo won two Metropolitan events, and broke meet marks in both. Kushimo went 36.3 in the 300 meters, and cleared the high jump bar at 1.93 meters (6, feet, 4 inches). In the 55 dash, Barrington senior Mike Read blazed to a 6.2 win. (Kushimo was also timed in 6.2, but was given second on the decision of the finish judges). Zach Fraielli, a Ram junior broke the Metro meet record in winning the 1000 meters (2:39.7), and teammate Matt Mercurio was golden in the 1500, clocking a meet-record 4:12.9. Fraielli and Mercurio also ran legs on La Salle’s winning (and meet-record) 4x800 relay; Mike Stewart and Sean Phayre were the other legs. In the 600, Central’s Craig Amado was victorious with a 1:24.8 time. Eagle senior Wilson Adams took the 25-pount weight event with a toss of 18.78 meters (61-7.50 inches). In the metro shot, Classical’s Gustavo Reynoso got off a winning put of 15.17 (49-5.50).
Hendricken rolled up 206 points (to 68 for second-place West Warwick) in dominating the Suburban Division meet. The Hawks won seven events, including all three relays, and went deep in other events. Senior Jake Sienko clocked a meet-record 8:39.2 to win the 3000 meters. The race evolved into a dogfight between Sienko, Cranston West’s Robert Allen (second in 8:46.1) and Hendricken’s Brian Doyle, who placed third in 8:47.8. The Hawks broke two meet records in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays; they went four deep in the weight throw competition won by Max Milder (19.91 meters/65-4.25), and three deep in the shot, with the gold going to senior Dan Freeman (14.24/46-9). East Greenwich senior Nick Ross went 2:38.0 to win the 1000, and Pilgrim’s Dillin Alexander (1:12.1) beat out Hendricken’s John Ferris (1:27.2) to take the 600. Mike Monti, the Avenger junior sprinter, clocked 6.4 to win the 55 dash. In the 55 hurdles, Falcon senior Lou Rodriguez was victorious in a time of 7.9 seconds.
The Cumberland Clippers accounted for three meet records. In the 300, senior Brandon Aikens clocked 37.0 to handily win his race. The Clippers winning 4x800 relay combined for a meet-record 9:00.6, and its 4x400 won in 3:49.2, another Northern Division meet mark. In the high jump, meanwhile, Central Falls sophomore Steve Vasquez soared to the best mark of the day; he went 1.95 meters (6-5). Mike Martin, a North Smithfield senior, won the 1000 in 2:46.2, while Sylvester Nyeswa, of Tolman High, took the 600 in 1:27.8.
The Skippers got 10 points from junior Zach Seites-Rundlett in the 1500 (4:12.5) and 1000 (2:42.7); Mike Spahr in the hurdles (7.6) and high jump (1.87/6-2); Kenny Cheston in the 600 (a meet-record1:24.2); Troy Crawford in the 300 (36.7) . North Kingstown also won the 4x200 relay in 1:36.5. Rogers junior Mike Mulligan’s 18.31-meter distance (60 feet, 1.25 inches) in the weight was good for gold. Kyle Carr, a Westerly senior put the shot a winning 14.12 meters (46-4). North Providence junior Alex Gallo easily captured the Southern Division 3000 with a time of 9:02.3. The Bulldog 4x800 relay won in a meet-record 8:22.7.
Around the Oval - once more: The boys’ Class Championships will occur next Saturday (6 Feb.) . . . Class A begins at 12:30 (field events), with running at 1 p.m. . . . Class B is scheduled to begin at 3:30, and Class C at 6.
