7 Jan. 2011 – John Di Gangi’s favorite race on the track is the 800 meters, but since the Interscholastic League indoor track schedule includes the 600-meter run, the Westerly High senior gladly settles for that. “It’s the closest event [to 800 meters],’’ he said recently.
One of the Bulldogs’ top scorers, Di Gangi does get to run the 800 indoors - but only occasionally. At the R.I. Classic Invitational last month at the new PCTA track, Di Gangi finished second in the 800 in 1:50.00. Last year at the State Indoor Championships, he placed second in the 600, clocking 1:25.48. Central’s Craig Amado won the race in 1:25.12. (The R.I. state record for the boys’ 600 is 1:20.81, set in 2001 by Shea High’s Emmanuel Karngor).
DiGangi’s association with the 800 meters dates back to his days as a middle school student; he won the state middle school title in that event. When he got to high school, he tried out at 1500 meters. “I wasn’t that amazing at it,’’ Di Gangi said. Actually, said Di Gangi, he hadn’t thought about track when he got to Westerly High. Instead, football was his priority. The 6-footer played wide receiver and outside linebacker on the Bulldogs’ grid squad.
Returning to the 800, Di Gangi spoke of his approach to the event. “It’s four laps [indoors] and the first 400 I want to do a 56 [seconds], then kick it in. From that point it’s all heart.’’ But Di Gangi is happy to run the shorter distance this winter. “It’s like a spring,’’ he said. “I love the times I’m starting to run,’’ said Di Gangi, who posted a winning 1:23.5 at the recent Coaches Invitational.
The Corbetts of Portsmouth Portsmouth’s indoor program is aided by the talents of twins John and Chris Corbett. The seniors are distance men, in the 1500 to 3000-meter range. John finished fourth in the 3000 (9:18.81) at the R.I. Classic Invitational in late December. At the RITCA Invitational, brother Chris came in third in the 1500 (4:21.6).
Of the two races, John said, he prefers the 1500 meters. “I’ve had more success at that. [In the final two laps] I can feel whether or not I can take a shot at it.’’
As with Westerly’s John Di Gangi, the Corbetts caught the running bug in middle school. “I like it when we’re both close in races,’’ John Corbett said.
The twins also double on Patriot relay teams. John ran third leg on Portsmouth’s winning 4x800 relay at the RITCA meet.
Wheeler School boys senior-rich Cassandra Stambaugh is the first-year coach of the Warriors’ team. Wheeler School - which still boasts a state record-holder in Konique Ballah (400 meters) has four talented seniors in this year’s group. They are: Nick Codola (55m, 600, 4x200); Jonathan Pabis (300); Charlie Horkings (1500, 300); Doug Kaiser (3000).
Oval Notes: Two major meets will be held this weekend: the Dartmouth Invitational in Hanover, N.H. (Friday and Saturday), and the Rhody (URI) Invitational, which will take place at the Mackal Fieldhouse track on Saturday . . . Former Hendricken hammer ace Jake Freeman, who competes for the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), is currently ranked No. 6 nationally in that event. Freeman, who still holds the state prep record for the 12-pound hammer, has thrown the 16-pound (international) ball 76.51 meters (251 feet).
State Indoor Records - Boys •WT - 24.91 meters (81-8.75), Josh McCaughey, Hendricken 2000 •SP - 19.03 (62-5.50), Charlie Ajootian, Classical 1965 •HJ - 2.17 (7-1.50), Tim Walker, Rogers 1975 •LJ - 7.34 (24-1), Innocent Jacob, Chariho 2010 •TJ - 15.21 (49-11), Robert Howard, Shea 1993 •PV - 4.80 (15.9), Brad Holtz, Barrington 2004 •3000 - 8:27.21, Andrew Springer, Westerly 2009 •Mile - 4:08.47, Springer 2009 •1500 - 3:53.32 (Enr. mile) Springer 2009 •1000 - 2:28.97, Andrew Butler, St. Raphael 1989 •800 - 1:54.99, Emmanuel Karngor, Shea 2001 •600 - 1:20.81, Karngor 2001 •300 - 34.77, Matt Washington, Hope 2007 •55m - 6.34, Eric Osei, E. Providence 2006 •55mH - 7.41, “Pete’’ Gbaa, Hope 2004 •4x200 - 1:29.72, Hope 2007 •4x400 - 3:24.81, Hope 2004 •4x800 - 8:04.05, S. Kingstown 2009 •SMR - 3:35.74, La Salle 2010 •DMR - 10:16.79, Westerly 2009 State Indoor Records - Girls •WT - 18.94 meters (62-2), Vicky Flowers, Classical 2008 •SP - 14.11 (46-3.75), Flowers 2008 •HJ - 1.68 (5-6), Laura Berman, N. Kingstown (1998); Kate Rowinski, S. Kingstown 2000); Felicia Terwilliger, W. Warwick (2008). •LJ - 5.87 (19-3.25), Pam Hughes, Hope 1985 •TJ - 11.25 (36-11), Tolu Fayanjuola, Classical (2000); Britt Powers, La Salle (2009); Kim Ezeama, Smithfield (2010). •PV - 3.66 (12-0), Jenna Poggi, Moses Brown 2009 •3000 - 10:02.71, Jean Christensen, La Salle 2007 •Mile - 4:53.02, Samantha Gawrych, Westerly 2004 •1500 - 4:34.78, (Enr. mile), Gawrych 2003 •1000 - 2:47.66, Gawrych 2006 •800 - 2:08.46, Gawrych 2006 •600 - 1:30.87, Gawrych 2006 •300 - 40.23, Allison Fogerty, La Salle 2003 •55m - 7.15, Pam Hughes, Hope 1985 •55mH - 8.21, Mary Serdakowski, Chariho 2002 •4x200 - 1:43.58, La Salle 2008 •4x400 - 3:56.36, La Salle 2008 •4x800 - 9:16.52, Westerly 2006 •SMR - 4:00.84, Westerly 2005 •DMR - 11:52.95, La Salle 2007
