The Eagles’ rangy junior had been bothered by a quad muscle injury during the season, and as such eschewed the Oct. 18 Class Championships. The rest evidently did the trick, as Mc Millan toed the line on Sunday looking strong and feeling better. She had keen competition, with a pack of talented La Salle runners in close during the early stages of the race. “I wanted to be a hundred percent [for the States],’’Mc Millan said. “Winning [for third time] is exciting. I felt good right after the first mile.’’ Mc Millan is only the second runner to gain the state crown in three successive years. La Salle’s Molly Keating (now at PC) win titles in 2009, ’10 and ’11. (Coventry’s Nancy Krolewski also captured the championship three times, sandwiched around Karen St. Pierre’s victory in 1981.
On Sunday, Mc Millan fought off challenges from Ram juniors Karina Tavares and Eliza Rego, and South Kigstown freshman Ellie Lawler early one, finally pulling ahead near the second mile. Tavares finished second in 17:59, while Lawler crossed the line in 18:03 for third spot. Rounding out the top seven finishers were Rego (4th in 18:30), followed by two more impressive freshmen. Barrington’s Grace Connolly was fifth in 18:40, and Westerly frosh Randi Burr clocked 18:55 for seventh place.
“I’m very glad,’’said Lawler, this year’s Freshman State champ. “I came into this expecting to be in the top 30. This is a wonderful surprise.’’ Lawler swims during the winter season, but will join the Rebel outdoor track program next spring.
Top 50 finishers
1, Emma Mc Millan, Barr. 17:47.8; 2, Karina Tavares, LS 17:59; 3, Ellie Lawler, SK 18:03; 4, Eliza Rego, LS 18:30; 5, Grace Connolly, Barr. 18:40; 6, Beth Nunnery, NK 18:47; 7, Randi Burr, West. 18:55; 8, Sheridan Wilbur, LS 19:00; 9, Nichole Barger, Cumb. 19:08; 10, Marissa Mc Phillips, Narr. 19:12; 11, Amy Laverty, Cumb. 19:22; 12, Jess Bellows, Cov. 19:26; 13, Elise Papazian, LS 19:27.1; 14, Audrey O’Neill, LS 19:27.4; 15, Katy Brayman, NK 19:29; 16, Margaret Mc Caffrey, EG 19:32; 17, Isabel Baker, Char. 19:36; 18, Meaghan Scullin, Cumb. 19:38; 19, Una Treanor, SK 19:39; 20, Cianna Lynch, LS 19:42; 21, Claire Hanlon, BV 1943; 22, Michele Renzi, LS 19:46; 23, Erika Pena, TG 19:57; 24, Kate Zitzmann, Barr. 20:01; 25, Betsy Dumais, Burr. 20:07; 26, Sydney Bagus, Smith. 20:17; 27, Julia Zitzmann, Barr. 20:23.2; 28, Thedita Pederson, EG 20:23.7; 29, Julia Dempsey, Cumb. 20:25; 30, Alanah Gaudreau, NK 20:27; 31, Allie Reilly, NK 20:28; 32, Courtney Moffitt, Prout 20:30; 33, Naomi Fastovsky, SK 20:35; 34, Rachel Berman, EG 20:36; 35, Kaidy Cornell, Burr. 20:37; 36, Alizee Ballarin, MB 20:38; 37, Byrana Mullin, Pil. 20:44; 38, Alexis Charpentier, SK 20:45; 39, Stephanie Mattson, Smith. 20:48; 40, Rebecca Meinertz, Smith. 20:52; 41, Abby Cobb, SK 20:55; 42, Hannah Niebel, NK 20:56; 43, Danika Wayss, Pil. 20:59; 44, Caroline Rocchio, NK 21:00; 45, Emma Sammartino, NK 21:01; 46, Hnanah Southwick, SK 21:03; 47, Lusine Gazeryan, Barr. 21:05; 48, Cassie Bissitt, Smith. 21;09; 49, Amanda L’Esperance, Linc. 21:15; 50, Sophie Cooke, EG 21:17. Dist. – 3.1.