Around the Course’’
By BOB LEDDY R.I. Track & Field Foundation Correspondent
12 Nov. - - Running the race of his prep cross country career, Chariho High senior “Long Ranger’’ Mike Marsella claimed the individual title today at the 77th annual New England Cross Country Championships on the “Covered Bridge’’ trail at Ponaganset High.
Running in perfect weather - albeit on an occasionally muddy course - Marsella clocked 15 minutes, 25.3 seconds in holding off second-place finisher Connor Rog, of Fairfield Prep High, Connecticut. Rog came through the chute in 15:26. Hendricken’s harriers captured the school’s 11th regional team crown, scoring 116 points, to Fairfield Prep’s 177.
In the girls’ race, three-time R.I. cross country champ Molly Keating, of La Salle, ran a strong second to Ellie Purrier, of Richford (Vermont) High. Keating crossed the line in 18 minutes, 10 seconds, a new course record. Purrier’s time was 18 minutes, flat. As was the case last year the Rams’ team today finished second to Champlain Valley Union High, of Vt. Champlain Valley gathered 112 points to La Salle’s 155.
A vindication of sorts Today’s performances by Marsella and Keating offered a degree of succor to each runner after last year‘s New England outcome. Keating, following her second state title run last November, suffered a stress fracture and was out of the regional race, which was held in Thetford, Vt. For his part, Marsella simply had a bad day on the Vermont course, finishing in 195th place. “This is what I wanted all along,’’ he said of today’s win.
But Marsella’s win was no cakewalk. The Chariho senior was challenged throughout by Rog, the ‘11 Connecticut State Open champ, who was third in New England last fall. “It was back and forth,’’ said Marsella, last week’s R.I. titlist. “I was definitely challenged, and I started to work.’’ He went through the first mile in an unofficial 4:51. “I worked hard for this, and it paid off.’’
Marsella was ably backed by teammates junior Jake Kilcoyne (8th place), Bryce Kelley (26th) and Dan Kilcoyne, who placed 55th (eighth Rhode Islander).
Kudos for Keating La Salle’s Keating, the state’s only three-time consecutive girls’ cross country champion, was satisfied with her showing today. The Ram star got a fast start, and battled Purrier, this year’s Vermont state titlist, pretty much from the outset. “I was close to her at the beginning,’’ said a mud-splattered Keating. “My plan was to be in the top group. My time was faster than [last week’s State Meet run]. Indeed, Keating eclipsed the 18:14 course-record time posted four seasons ago by former La Salle All-Stater Jeanne Mack. “I was happy with my performance,’’ added Keating, who hugged Purrier at the end of the finish chute.
Strength in numbers, talent The Hawks, who finished second last yer in Vermont, last won the regional prize in ‘09, when they nipped Bishop Guertin High, of New Hampshire, by a single point: 105-106. In today’s race, Hendricken’s top scorer was sophomore Colin Tierney, who crossed the line 20th overall (third Rhode Islander) in 16:19. Freshman Mike Potter was the Hawks’ No. 2 man (31st), followed in the scoring by junior Tyler Henesler (45th place). Senior Mark Vuono rounded out the scoring. He placed 48th overall (seventh from R.I.)
La Salle’s girls, powered by Keating’s performance, got solid scoring from Evie Jansen (39th), Caroline Falvey (64th), Tiana Kibbe (73) and Caitlin Marino (83rd).
Noteables, noteables Paige Ethier, South Kingstown’s No. 1 all season, was the second Rhode Islander over the line today; she placed 10th overall in a time of 18:43. Ethier was runner-up to Keating a week ago at the State Meet . . . North Kingstown junior Aisha McAdams (fourth at the State Championships) was the third from the Ocean State today. Mc Adams was clocked in 18:44 for 11th place overall . . . Barrington, the 2011 state team champions, got good performances today from its usual solid core of runners. Sophomore Abigail Livingston finished 21st overall (fourth from R.I.) in 18:57, while Fiona Paine and Megan Verner-Crist added points helping the Eagles secure No. 5 in team scoring . . .Alex Hackett, the Cranston West junior, was the sixth from R.I. to finish; she clocked 19:41 for 57th spot . . . Westerly’s top runner this season, sophomore Jackie Burr, was No. 14 for Rhode Island (20:06) . . . East Greenwich’s Chris Millman and Ben Fazio finished 10th and 11th, respectively, as Rhode Island placers . . . Adam Rego, La Salle’s junior, was No. 12 for the Ocean State, followed in the finish chute by the Skippers’ Mike Coleman (73rd).
Course Notes: The Foot Locker regionals will be held Nov. 26 on Long Island, N.Y. . . . the Nike Cross Country Regionals are scheduled for the same day, in Wappinger’s Falls, N.Y. . . . The Nike cross Nationals will be held in Portland, Ore. On Dec. 3, while Foot Locker’s national event takes place on Dec. 10 at San Diego’s Balboa Park.
GIRLS R.I. teams 2, La Salle 112; 5, Barrington 250; 15, N. Kingstown 379; 19, S. Kingstown 416; 24, Smithfield 569; 29, Cr. West 654. Top 20 R.I. finishers (w/overall place) 1 (2), Molly Keating, LS 18:10.4 (Course record. OR: 18:14, Jeanne Mack, LS 2007); 2 (10), Paige Ethier, SK 18:43; 3 (11), Aisha Mc Adams, NK 18:44; 4 (21), Abby Livingston, Barr. 18:57; 5 (39), Evie Jansen, LS 19:28; 6 (57), Alex Hackett, CW 19:41; 7 (63), Fiona Paine, Barr. 19:44.6; 8 (64), Caroline Falvey, LS 19:44.9; 9 (65) Megan Verner-Crist, Barr. 19:45; 10 (73), Tiana Kibbe, LS 19:50; 11 (83), Caitlin Marino, LS 19:58; 12 (85), Britt Laraway, SK 20:00; 13 (91), Jaxine Wolfe, NK 20:04; 14 (96), Jackie Burr, West. 20:06; 15 (105), Stephanie Mattson, Smith. 20:11; 16 (112), Jess Elliott, Prout 20:13; 17 (115), Alice Burgess, Barr. 20:14; 18 (116), Emily Papazian, LS 20:15; 19 (124), Isabella Perrin, NK 20:19; 20 (131), Allison Lomas, NK 20:27. Dist. - 3.1. Other R.I. finishers (overall place): 136, Casey Mc Grath, Pon.; 140, Liz Hansen, Char.; 141, Sophie Burgess, Barr.; 146, Becky Meinertz, Smith.; 151, Courtney Dawless, LS; 157, Kendall Feaster, SK; 160, Sydney Sweck, SK; 167, Julianna Portelli, Barr.; 168, Margaret Mc Caffrey, EG; 180, Sarah Nacci, CW; 183, Erica Johnson, BV; 188, Kelly Reiss, SK; 196, Becky Tellier, Smith.; 199, Michaeal Hackett, CW; 204, Kelsey Spitalnic, NK; 215, Becca Stamp, CW; 219, Liz Sawyer, Barr.; 225, Michaela Lawler, SK; 229, Caitlin Paredes, Smith.; 235, Erin Mc Manus, NK; 245, Morgan Abbenante, CW; 248, Alaina Coffey, SK; 255, Kelsey Maymon, NK; 258, Elena Zanzarov, CW.
BOYS R.I. teams 1, Hendricken 116; 3, Chariho 177; 6, N. Kingstown 267; 12, E. Greenwich 342; 19, La Salle 393; 24, Barrington 546. Top 20 finishers (w/overall place) 1 (1), Mike Marsella, Char. 15:25.2; 2 (8), Jake Kilcoyne, Char. 15:57; 3 (20), Colin Tierney, BH 16:19; 4 (26), Bryce Kelley, Char. 16:24; 5 (31), Mike Potter, BH 16:31; 6 (45), Tyler Henesler, BH 16:42; 7 (48), Mark Vuono, BH 16:43; 8 (55), Dan Kilcoyne, Char. 16:45.1; 9 (57), Trevor Crawley, Cumb. 16:45.9; 10 (58), Chris Millman, EG 16:46; 11 (67), Ben Fazio, EG 16:50; 12 (72), Adam Rego, LS 16:52.5; 13 (73), Mike Coleman, NK 16:52.9; 14 (80), Collin Manning, BH 16:57; 15 (87), Andy Estrada, LS 16:59; 16 (88), Connor Doyle, BH 17:01; 17 (89), Austin Gaudreau, NK 17:02; 18 (99), Pat Butler, MSC 17:08; 19 (105), Bob Wilkinson, NK 17:10; 20 (107), Joe Craven, NK 17:11. Dist. - 3.1. Other R.I. finishers (overall place): 114, Mike Wilkinson, NK; 119, John Connolly, Barr.; 123, Mike Stephens, LS; 128, Dan Clarkin, Cov.; 131, Garrett Scanlon, EG; 139, Greg Beaudette, BH; 142, Scott Kulm, EG; 148, Tom Barry, Barr.; 149, Matt Sutcliffe, Cumb.; 167, Ryan Saeger, Barr.; 170, Ryan Lowery, LS; 172, Dallin Smith, NK; 173, Vic Ricci, Prout; 185, Jon Contreras, EG; 189, Steve Conte, Prout; 192, Sam Reinhardt, SRA; 196, Mike Gilligan, Char.; 199, Will Casazza, Barr.; 202, Jake Grundy, LS; 210, Ryan Tracy, LS; 217, Bob Craven, NK; 219, Connor Royley, Barr.; 226, Dan Paiva, LS; 238, Scott Marcus, EG; 240, Andy Hemingway, Barr.; 241, Anteneh Kutenplon, Barr.; 263, Ben Contreras, EG; 265, Matt Drummond, Char.
