“Around the Course’’
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
The 77th annual New England Cross Country Championships return to the “Covered Bridge Trail on the grounds of Ponaganset High School after a six-year hiatus. The meet is set for this Saturday, with the girls going off at 11:30, and the boys an hour later.
The 2006 regional meet, held on 11 November, saw the North Kingstown girls finish second among 30 scoring teams. On the boys’ side, the Skippers were the top Rhode Island team (eighth place), also among 30 teams.
The first Rhode Island female over the line that day was La Salle’s Jeanne Mack, who placed fourth in 18 minutes, 42 seconds. Barrington’s Sid Griffin was the first from the Ocean State to finish; he clocked 16:22 for 24th place.
Last year’s New Englands were held in Thetford, Vt. On 13 November. Bob Allen, of Cranston West, won the boys’ race in 16:28. (The last R.I. girl to claim the regional title was South Kingstown’s Rosie Woodford, in 1995).
The top Rhode Islander in the 2010 girls’ run was La Salle’s Evie Jansen (26th in 20:36). Hendricken finished second in team scoring, as did the Rams in girls’ scoring. New England team and individual qualifiers:
GIRLS Teams - Barrington; Cranston West; La Salle; No. Kingstown; Smithfield; So. Kingstown. Individuals - Liz Hansen, Chariho; Margaret Mc Caffrey, E. Greenwich; Casey Mc Grath, Ponaganset; Erica Johnson, Bay View; Jess Elliott, Prout; Jackie Burr, Westerly.
BOYS Teams - Barrington; Hendricken; Chariho; E. Greenwich; La Salle; No. Kingstown. Individuals - Dan Clarkin, Coventry; Trevor Crawley and Matt Sutcliffe, Cumberland; Pat Butler, Mt. St. Charles; Sam Reinhardt, St. Raphael; Vic Ricci and Steve Conte, Prout.
