Nike Cross Nationals go off Saturday; La Salle harriers on return visit
By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
1 Dec. – – The nationally-ranked La Salle Academy girls’ cross country team – and two members from the boys’ squad – will fly out on Wednesday en route to Portland, Ore., and this Saturday’s Nike Team National Championships. Clearly, excitement is the byword in Ram Country.
“It’s a great opportunity to get back to the national spotlight,’’ said Ken Skelly, the boys’ coach. “The Nike nationals is the most unbelievable experience an athlete could have,’’ Kelly Martin, the girls’ coach, added. “The event is so fantastic. The absolute best teams in the United States will be there.’’
Last year in Portland, the girls placed ninth in team standings, while the boys’ squad finished 18th overall. Eliza Rego, then a junior, was the first Ram over the line at the Glendoveer Golf Course, 3.1-mile route; ninth for the team, 41st overall. Then-sophomore DJ Principe was first for La Salle last December. He was 40th, 75th position overall.
La Salle’s girls earned a team berth, having finished second last Saturday at the Nike Northeast Regional qualifier in upstate New York. The boys did not make the top-two-team cut, finishing sixth. But Principe and senior Matt Bouthillette came in third and fifth respectively, thus gaining a bid to compete in Oregon individually. “Obviously, our man goal was to have the team make it,’’ Principe said. “We’re disappointed, but Matt and I have to put that in the rear-view mirror.’’
“[Team not qualifying] was very bittersweet,’’ Bouthillette added. “We going to be different going out [on Saturday] without those guys.’’
This year, the Rams return to Portland stronger and look for good performances on a challenging course. Principe is off a dynamite season, having copped both Rhode Island and New England championships. As was the case last year, La Salle boys and girls entered the Northeast qualifier as R.I. and New England team titlists.
“I’m very excited to be going back to Portland, and compete with the best,’’ said Bouthillette, a Coaches Association all-stater on a third-place finish at the State Meet. He was eighth at the New Englands in Vermont the following week.
The La Salle girls made the Nike cut last week on the work not only of frontliners Eliza Rego and Karina Tavares, but the No. 6 runner, junior Alyson Walsh. Walsh’s finish iced it for the Rams.
“This team has a lot of potential,’’ said Martin, :and I believe they can repeat as one of the ten best teams in the country. In order to achieve this goal the girls need to be fearless, and Eliza and Karina need to lead this team. The team, from our No. 1 to our No. 7 runner are committed to this goal.’’
Rego placed second in the state, behind South Kingstown’s Ellie Lawler, and made the All-New England team on the strength of her fourth-place showing. Making up the rest of the Ram squad are Grace Connolly, Emily Kane, Emily Papazian and Audrey O’Neill. “I am so proud of these girls,’’ Martin said., “and what they have accomplished. Returning this year, they are much more prepared, and know what to expect at the national championship.’’
Facing a tough course
Rain is forecast for the Portland area this Saturday, which would replicate the conditions on the Glendoveer course. And the Rams know of the course’s layout. “There’s a lot of turns,’’ Principe said. “There’s a long first straightaway. We need to get out in a good position.’’
“It’s very fast,’’ Bouthillette said. “The toughest part is the tight turns.’’
“They’re fully aware of what they want to accomplish,’’ Coach Skelly said. “Their number one goal was to get to the team championships. DJ is a team-first kind of guy, and Matt’s been putting out tremendous effort this season. [Going to Portland] has been a real confidence-booster for him. For these two guys, it’s representing their team.’’
Course Notes: The girls’ race goes off at 1:05 p.m. (EST). The boys’ will answer the gun at 2:35 p.m. (EST) . . . There will be 10 Rhode Island athletes competing at the two postseason national cross country races; including the Rebels’ Lawler at the Dec. 12 Foot Locker Championships in California. There are only seven combined competing from the other five New England states . . .