“Around the Course’’ Rams’ Keating first to win three straight girls’ titles; Barrington girls’ team triumph is first in 17 years
By BOB LEDDY R.I. Track & Field Foundation Correspondent
6 Nov. - - The 2011 edition of the State Cross Country Championships figured to be a thrilling affair going in, and yesterday the culminating event in a season that began in early September delivered in all phases.
La Salle senior Molly Keating succeeded in nothing her third consecutive individual girls’ title. Keating cruised to a time of 18 minutes, 24.8 seconds. She becomes the first runner in the 40-year history of the girls’ cross country league to achieve the sport’s version of a hat trick. (Coventry’s Nancy Krowlewski won the individual title in ‘80, ‘82, and ‘83 with a one-year gap).
Chariho’s super “long ranger’’ Mike Marsella didn’t disappoint the large gathering of cross country fans watching the boys’ race on the Ponaganset “Covered Bridge’’ course. The Charger senior clocked a red-hot 15 minutes, 50.7 seconds to victory.
Meanwhile, Hendricken had to battle to ice the school’s fourth straight team championship (20th overall), against a talented Charger squad looking for their first-ever team title. On the girls’ side, the La Salle Rams were denied their fifth consecutive crown, falling to a deep Barrington squad, 59-67. The Eagle team win was the first for the school since 1994, when All-State distance ace Cheryl Twomey led the way.
Here’s a brief rundown of today’s races, held in perfect weather conditions (sunny, temperatures in the 50s):
Keating keeps getting faster In winning her first state title in ‘09, sophomore Keating clocked 18:28, then posted a winning time of 18:51 last November. Today, Keating led from the gun, turned in a 5:40 mile split, and finished 35 seconds ahead of South Kingstown’s Paige Ethier (18:59).
“I felt good,’’ said Keating after the race. “I felt good going into the second mile.’’ She said her winning three straight crowns was “exciting. It’s pretty cool. “I went out and tried to be assertive’’ added Keating, whose coaches opted to keep her out of the Class A Championship. “I had a good week [of training],’’ Keating said. “My coach trained me so well, and we’ve got a great team. I kneww [competition] was very good.’’
Barrington deep - and young, too Barrington’s top runner was sophomore Abby Livingston, who placed third in 19:01. The Eagles picked up key points from sophomore Mega Verner-Crist, junior Fiona Paine (six asnd seven, respectively), as well as junior Alive Burgess (15th), and sister Sophie (28th).
Ethier runs her race Paige Ethier, the Rebels’ senior runner - who won the Class B title in the rain and snow last week - had a game plan today, and stuck to it. “I planned on going out with Molly,’’ she said, referring to Keating. “But I just maintained my own pace, and maintained where I was.’’ Ethier and her coach, Sherry Hathaway, were elated with the improved finish over last year, when Ethier finished 33rd in the field. “She’s worked hard,’’ Hathaway said. “She has a passion for running.’’
A good day for Skippers’ Mc Adams The junior turned in a time of 19:07, good for fourth place. “I just wanted to stay healthy,’’ said Mc Adams, who didn’t finish the race here last year. Notables . . . Notables
Prout sophomore Jess Elliott finished a fine season placing 8th (19:52), while Cranston West junior Alexandria Hackett looked good in ninth spot (19:53). Jackie Burr, Westerly’s talented sophomore, placed 11th in 19:56. Jaxine Wolfe (10th) and Isabella Perrin (12th) also scored for the Skippers.
The “Mike Marsella Show’’ comes to Ponaganset The strong-running Charger came into the race as a favorite to win it, and that he did. Breezing along on a 4:47 pace, Marsella (who entered the race raked 18th nationally), clocked 15:50.8; he finished fifth last year in a field dominated by Cranston West senior Bob Allen. “I was going for the win [today], the rangy Marsella said. “But I’m looking ahead to next week (New England Championships). I’ve got lots of work to do this week.’’
Marsella, who was 9:47 at the two-mile split, joined teammates Jake and Dan Kilcoyne in the finish chute. Jake came in second (16:02) and Dan fourth (16:17). The brothers were sandwiched around Cumberland junior Trevor Crawley, who placed third in 16:13.
“Dan, Jake and Bryce (Kelley: sixth in 16:31), trained hard this week,’’ Marsella said. “They knew what they had to do.’’
Charger head coach Bill Habarek also heaped encomiums on his fifth man, senior Mike Gilligan (46th: 17:340.
Hawks run with depth Junior Tyler Henesler was the first from his team to cross the line. Henesler clocked 16:27 for fifth spot. He was followed in the scoring by sophomore Colin Tierney (8th), and seior Mark Vuono (9th place). Connor Doyle (11th), freshman Mike Potter (14th) and sophomore Collin Manning (15th) were backed by junior Greg Baudette (27th).
Notables . . . Notables Pat Butler has been Mount St. Charles’s top man all season, and today he was the top Mountie, finishing seventh in 16:35. Prout’s Vic Ricci was Prout’s main man. He placed 13th in 16:43.
Course Notes: The 77th annual New England Cross Country Championsips come to Chieftain Country for the first time since ‘06. The races go off next Saturday (12 November), with the girls’ race set for 11:30, and the boys’ 12:30. Every New England state, except for Massachusetts, will be represented at the meet . . . Former Falcon All-Stater Bob Allen won the National Junior College Division III title at the championships in Holyoke, Mass. over the weekend. Allen, running for CCRI, clocked 25:23 over an 8,000-meter course.
GIRLS Team scores 1, Barrington 59; 2, La Salle 67; 3, N. Kingstown 94; 4, S. Kingstown 104; 5, Smithfield 153; 6, Cr. West 197; 7, Westerly 211; 8, Bay View 248; 9, Burrillville 279; 10, E. Greenwich 294; 11, Cumberland 3-2; 12, Toll Gate 336; 13, Chariho 341; 14, Coventry 366; 15, Mt. St. Charles 367; 16, Prout 385; 17, Ponagsanset 389; 18, Hope 556. Top 30 finishers 1, Molly Keating, LS 18:24; 2, Paige Ethier, SK 18:59; 3, Abbhy Livingston, Barr. 19:01; 4, Aisha Mc Adams, NK 19:07; 5, Evie Jansen, LS 19:21; 6, Megan Verner-Crist, Barr. 19:46; 7, Fiona Paine, Barr. 19:46; 8, Jess Elliott, Prout 19:52; 9, Alex Hackett, CW 19:53; 10, Jaxine Wolfe, NK 19:54; 11, Jackie Burr, West. 19:56; 12, Isabella Perrin, NK 19:58; 13, Stephanie Mattson, Smith. 19:59; 14, Tiana Kibbe, LS 20:00; 15, Alice Burgess, Barr. 20:08; 16, Britt Laraway, SK 20:09; 17, Liz Hansen, Char. 20:10.6; 18, Becca Stamp, CW 20:11.0; 19, Kendall Feaster, SK 20:11.7; 20, Madison Saliba, Smith. 20:12; 21, Margaret Mc Caffrey, EG 20:13; 22, Caroline Falvey, LS 20:15.1; 23, Casey Mc Grath, Pon. 20:15.4; 24, Erica Johnson, BV 20:16; 25, Emily Coughlin, LS 20:19; 26, Rachel Orlando, West. 20:22; 27, Becky Meinertz, Smith. 20:23; 28, Sophie Burgess, Barr. 20:27; 29, Caitlin Marino, LS 20:29; 30, Allison Lomas, NK 20:32. . Dist. - 3.1. BOYS Team scores 1, Hendricken 47; 2, Chariho 55; 3, Barrington 127; 4, N. Kingstown 128; 5, E. Greenwich 140; 6, La Salle 150; 7, Cumberland 185; 8, Prout 199; 9, Mt. St. Charles 241; 10, Toll Gate 287; 11, Coventry 303; 12, Lincoln 306; 13, Smithfield 386; 14, Cr. West 393; 15, Portsmouth 442; 16, Narragansett 446; 17, Ponaganset 452; 18, Cr. East 546. Top 25 finishers 1, Mike Marsella, Char. 15:50; 2, Jake Kilcoyne, Char. 16:02; 3, Trevor Crawley, Cumb. 16:13; 4, Dan Kilcoyne, Char. 16:17; 5, Tyler Henesler, BH 16:27; 6, Bryce Kelley, Char. 16:31; 7, Pat Butler, MSC 16:35; 8, Colin Tierney, BH 16:36; 9, Mark Vuono, BH 16:36; 10, Mike Stephens, LS 16:41; 11, Connor Doyle, BH 16:43.4; 12, Connor Royley, Barr. 16:43.7; 13, Vic Ricci, Prout 16:44.0; 14, Mike Potter, BH 16.44.6; 15, Colin Manning, BH 16:45.0; 16, Austin Gaudreau, NK 16:45.5; 17, Dan Clarkin, Cov. 16:47.2; 18, Ben Fazio, EG 16:47.8; 19, Dylan Verner-Crist, Barr. 16:51; 20, Bob Wilkinson, NK 16:54; 21, Andy Estrella, LS 16:55; 22, Steve Conte, Prout 16:57; 23, Matt Sutcliffe, Cumb. 17:00; 24, Sam Reinhardt, SRA 17:03; 25, Chris Millman, EG 17:05; 26, Will Casazza, Barr. 17:06; 27, Greg Beaudette, BH 17:08; 28, Adam Rego, LS 17:09; 29, Jon Contreras, EG 17:10; 30.1, Mike Wilkinson, NK 17:10.3. Dist. - 3.1.
