SPRING TRACK & FIELD PREVIEW

“Around the Oval’’

R.I. Track & Field Foundation

Last June’s State Championship highlighted the talents of some notable underclassmen, which bodes well for an exciting 2015 spring track campaign. Behind Maddy Berkson’s 30 individual points last year (Berkson also anchored her team’s winning 4×400 relay), Classical High won its third girls’ team championship. Fueled by wins in the pole vault, the quarter and two relay events (plus senior Ben Stewart’s state-record performance in the intermediate hurdles), North Kingstown captured its third overall boys’ team crown.

Here’s a brief look ahead:

GIRLS: Season of the “Q”, and Ram “Long Rangers’’

     Last year, Hope junior Quashira “Q” Mc Intosh blazed to victory in the 100 (11.96/- 0.6w) and 200 (24.73/-0.4w). “Q” went on to break her own 100-meter record with a win at the New England Championships at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. She’s back this season after an incredible indoor campaign that saw her break three of her own state marks.

Senior Alva Hicks, who won shot and discus titles last year, will joined in the thrower’s circle by teammate Lysah Russell. Toll Gate’s Courtney Jacobsen, Narragansett’s Makena Thomas, Cranston West’s Jenn Iozzi and Portsmouth’s Abby Cousens are additional throwers to watch. The Mariners’ Carly Timpson is defending state high jump titlist. Mary Ernster, a senior from La Salle, will also be in the mix over at the high jump sector.

La Salle’s distance corps of Eliza Rego, Karina Tavares, Sheridan Wilbur and Audrey O’Neill will power the Rams this season. Freshmen Grace Connolly of Barrington, Randi Burr of Westerly will join Cumberland’s Amy Laverty and North Kingstown’s Beth Nunnery as scorers in the distances.

Sprints talent includes Woonsocket’s Quinn Harlan, last year’s state runner-up in the 100-meter dash; the Falcons’ Oceana Williams and the Grammas sisters (Nicole and Elini); Toll Gate’s Erika Pena; Classical’s May Stern; La Salle’s Stephanie Di Traglia; Portsmouth’s Greta Scott; Sanchez’ Darchell Judd and Hope’s Isis Hack and Chevell Burgess.

Speaking of sibling combinations, Coventry has the scoring services of seniors Jessica and Allison Bellows. Back to defend her long jump title is Cumberland junior Meghan Scullin. Competition will come from Smithfield’s Stephanie Mattson and Kayla Ezeama, and Hope Whitney Jackson.

BOYS: “Ram Chargers” on the track; Kelly power in the circle

     The Rams are rich in talent. La Salle’s distance men enter the outdoor track campaign off a spectacular indoor campaign that saw four runners achieve national champion status. All-Americans Jack Salisbury, Matt Bouthillette, Dan Paiva and DJ Principe comprised La Salle’s No. 1-U.S. 4×1-mile relay to close out the winter; all four are ready for the spring.

In the hammer circle, Barrington High has a winning tandem in seniors Adam Kelly and Bobby Colantonio. As with the La Salle men, Kelly finished the indoor season as United States champion with the 25-pound weight. Colantonio placed second in the National Scholastic competition. Principe returns to defend his title in the 3000 meters (8:50.83.)

Salisbury took the 2014 state title in the 1500 meters with a 4:04.49 time. Bouthillette placed third in the state in the 1500; Paiva fourth. Jake Grundy, Jim Placco and Cam Rotsart will also score high for the Rams. East Greenwich senior Tommy Sommer is always exciting in the distances, as are Cumberland’s Sean Laverty and Abdullah Kaba. For Hendricken, Dom Parlato, Avery Ingegneri, Grant Gauthier and Jake Cardello are among the Hawks’ “long rangers’’. For Barrington, junior Mars Bishop has been a consistent scorer. Ian Connors and Nick Musumeci bear watching.

Barrington’s hammer fortunes rest with Kelly and Colantonio; as potent a 1-2 combination as ever entered a throwing circle. Last June, it was Colantonio topping Kelly by two feet in the State Meet. The high jump will feature Hendricken senior Ben Murphy, who finished as state runner-up last year. Trystan Casey, an East Providence senior will help the Townies in the horizontal jumps, as will teammate Paulo Pereira. Central High boasts top-flight dash men, led by sophomore Donatien Djero, Austin Wolo, Demetrius O’Connor and Lemar Mc Fadden. For Classical, it’s juniors Nate Narcisse and Charles Hazzard. Power Kanga and Kwity Pays are talented sprinters.

OVAL NOTE: Dual meets begin on the week of 5 April.

Major meet schedule

     April 4 – Knights of Columbus Relays, Conley Stadium, Providence.

April 18 – Cumberland Distance Classic.

April 17-19 – New York Relays, Randall’s I. New York City.

April 23-25 – Penn Relays, Franklin Field, Philadelphia.

May 2 – Schomp Invitational.

May 7-9 – Loucks Games, White Plains, N.Y.

May 16 – Classical Classic, Conley Stadium.

May 23 – Class Championships (B/G).

May 30 – Hendricken Invitational (boys)/ Mt. Pleasant Invite (girls).

June 6 – State Championships, Brown Stadium.

June 13 – New England Championships, Thornton Academy, Saco, Me.

June 19-21 – New Balance Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, N.C.