By BOB LEDDY R.I. Track & Field Foundation Correspondent
18 June - - The Ocean State produced a trio of track & field All-Americans over the course of the three-day New Balance National Championships, held at North Carolina A&T University’s track in Greensboro. In addition, one Rhode Island state record was bettered. The meet was held in 90-degree temperatures with a rain delay on the final day of the event.
All-Americans included two competitors in the girls’ 4-kilo hammer event, and in the boys’ high jump. (The top six finishers in championship events earn the honor). In the hammer, Barrington senior Robyn Mc Fetters placed third with a throw of 165 feet, 5 inches (50.41 meters). Central Falls senior Aleide Fernandes finished fifth with a distance of 158-8 (48.37).
The Warriors had another All-American in junior Steve Vazquez, who cleared the bar at 6 feet, 8 inches (2.03), good for fourth place. Vazquez also jumped 6-8 to win the State Meet.
In the boys’ 400 intermediate hurdles, Classical senior Jarrel Forbes broke his own R.I. state mark. Forbes finished 15th with a time of 54.05; his previous record mark was 55.35, which he clocked at the Hartford Invitational meet in May.
Hope junior Royal Cheatham was her busy self at the Nationals. In the “Emerging Elite’’ 200 meters, she finished fifth in a preliminary heat with a time of 24.76. Numbers-wise, that time eclipsed the 1997 mark of 24.84, set by Wheeler School‘s Konique Ballah. Cheatham’s performance was wind-aided, however, and therefore did not qualify as a record performance. Cheatham came back in the finals of the event placing fifth in 25.13. The Blue Wave star placed 15th in the long jump, and 14th in the “Emerging Elite’’ 100.
Classical’s super freshman Madeleine Berkson missed All-American by one place in the championship 800 meters. Berkson finished seventh in 2:13.43.
“I was looking for a better time; around a 2:10, or maybe the state record (2:09.72)’’ said Berkson, who won the June 4 State Championship 800 in 2:13.18. “I had a 64 [second] split, but my legs started feeling kind of tight after that.’’
Berkson also ran in the “Emerging Elite’’ mile run, and placed 16th in 5:08.27. “In retrospect, the workouts I was doing were geared to the 800,’’ said Berkson, who will compete next month at an East Coast invitational meet, running for the Providence Cobras Track Club. “It was hot, but the meet was well-organized and the competition was good.’’
In the boys’ open mile, Chariho’s Mike Marsella and Cranston West’s Bob Allen, who battled for supremacy in the State Meet 1500 meters (Allen first; Marsella second), were entered in the New Balance mile run. Marsella, a junior, placed seventh in the New Balance mile with a time of 4:09.09. Allen, a senior, finished 11th in 4:17.60. Hendricken’s Ryan Meehan placed ninth in the 5000 meters (15:17.57). The Hawks’ Mike Maloof was Rhode Island’s top finisher in the boys’ 12-pound hammer, also one place off All-American status. Maloof wound up seventh with a throw of 193-5 (58.95 meters). Chariho senior Innocent Jacob placed eighth in the boys’ long jump; his distance was 23 feet (7.01). Jalen Young, of La Salle, finished seventh in his event: the open 200 meters (22.06). Young finished 18th in the 400. Pilgrim’s Jonathan Stevens was an eighth-place finisher in the boys’ javelin (182 feet/55.47 meters).
R.I. GIRLS’ RESULTS HT - 3, Robyn Mc Fetters, Barrington 165-5 (50.41 meters); 5, Aleide Fernandes, Central Falls 158-8 (48.37); 12, Maggie Dufault, Pilgrim 143-8 (43.78); 13, Becky Cousens, Portsmouth 143-3 (43.66); 20, Grace Janes, Rogers 132-6 (40.40); 24, Jen Cabral, Central Falls 121-10 (37.15); 29, Venetcia Ortiz, Central Falls 115-4 (35.16). LJ - 15, Royal Cheatham, Hope 16-10.50 (5.14). Emerging Elite 100 - 14, Cheatham, Hope 12.35; 29, Shyniece Sanders, Hope 13.01. Emerging Elite 200 - 5, (H1) Cheatham, Hope 24.75 (+ 2.3w); 28, Ebony Marrow, Hope 26.34. Emerging Elite 200 Final - 5, Cheatham, Hope 25.13. 800 - 7, Madeleine Berkson, Classical 2:13.43. Emerging Elite Mile - 16, Berkson, Classical 5:08.27 (= 4:45.2 @ 1500). Emerging Elite 4x100 - 5, Hope 48.92.
R.I. BOYS’ RESULTS HT - 7, Mike Maloof, Hendricken 193-5 (58.95 meters); 9, Joe Velez, Classical 184-11 (56,37); 13, Gustavo Reynoso, Classical 180-1 (54.90); 14, Joel Caballero, Classical 177-3 (54.02); 16, Reuben Horace, Hendricken 167-3 (50.99); 21, John Celona, Hendricken 155-4 (47.34); 23, Robert Palazzo, Classical 139-11 (42.64). Emerging Elite SP - 8, Reynoso, Classical 51-9 (15.77). DT - 19, Joe Velez, Classical 132-9 (40.46). JT - 8, Jon Stevens, Pilgrim 180-0 (55.47). HJ - 4, Steve Vazquez, Central Falls 6-8 (2.03). LJ - 8, Innocent Jacob, Chariho 23-0 (7.01). 200 - 7, Jalen Young, La Salle 22.06; 13, Jarrell James, Hope 22.34. 400 - 18, Young, La Salle 48.59. Mile - 7, Mike Marsella, Chariho 4:09.09 (= 3:51.9 @ 1500m); 11, Bob Allen, Cr. West 4:17.60 (= 3:58.4 @ 1500m). 5000 - 9, Ryan Meehan, Hendricken 15:17.57; 17, Andy Andraka, Hendricken 16:19.50. Emerging Elite 110HH - 17, Jarell Forbes, Classical 14.86. 400IH - 15, Forbes, Classical 54.05 (SR. OR: 55.35, Forbes, Classical 2001).
