“Around the Course’’
By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
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Photo by Roberta O’Neil
30 Nov. – – It’s official.
The La Salle Academy girls’ cross country team will be making the trip West after all. The Rams, who finished third at Saturday’s Nike Team Cross Country Northeast qualifier, were chosen Saturday night as an at-large entry by the Nike Selection Committee in Portland, Oregon. The committee picks eight at-large teams (between boys’ and girls’) from nine regions in the United States. Along with the Rams, the team from Shenendehowa (N.Y.) also received an at-large berth out of the Northeast region. Both girls’ teams were ranked nationally all season,
The 11th annual Nike Nationals will be held next Saturday at the Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland. The Ram contingent will consist of Eliza Rego, Sheridan Wilbur, Audrey O’Neill, Karina Tavares, Cianna Lynch, Michele Renzi and Elise Papazian.
“It was a nice feeling to get that call last night,’’ said La Salle coach Kelly Martin. “These girls worked extremely hard all season, and it’s nice to see that one race doesn’t define a season. I’m really excited.’’
Martin also spoke of All-Stater Karina Tavares, who fell during Saturday’s race, resulting in the junior runner finishing in 107th position.
“About a half-mile or so into the race, there’s an uphill, then a downhill, and by the time we ran that was all mud. She slipped and went down hard; twisted her ankle and hit her head. Fortunately, there was no concussion, and no swelling in her ankle. We’re going to let her rest and be ready [for next Saturday’s race.]’’
In the Nike framework, the top two squads from each gender automatically qualify for the national meet. The R.I. and New England-champion Ram boys won the Northeast team title yesterday at Wappingers Falls, N.Y. They are: D.J. Principe; Matt Bouthillette; Jack Salisbury; Jake Grundy; Dan Paiva; Chris Notarianni; James Placco.
Competing as an individual in Oregon will be South Kingstown All-State freshman Ellie Lawler, who placed fourth overall in Saturday’s Northeast qualifier.
Course Notes: La Salle girls qualified for the 2009 Nike Nationals with a lineup that included a Papazian and a Renzi; Emily Papazian and Danielle Renzi . . . Northeast region teams competing next Saturday: La Salle; Christian Brothers; Unionvlle (Pa.); Coe-Brown (N.H.). From the New York State region: Fayetteville-Manlius; St. Anthony’s; Liverpool; Saratoga Springs; Shenendehowa.