“Around the Oval’’/Indoor season in review

IT WAS THE SEASON OF THE RAM

R.I. Track & Field Foundation

   With roughly two weeks to go before the start of the 2016 outdoor track and field season, here’s a brief lookback at the past indoor campaign, culminating with the just-completed New Balance Championships.

     To begin with, La Salle’s forces grabbed both team titles at the Indoor Championships in February. The girls copped an amazing tenth consecutive state crown, while the boys; squad made it title No. 3. Proof of the Rams’ dominance on the track found its way into the state record books. A total of nine Rhode Island state records were set this indoor season; five produced by La Salle ‘long rangers’’.

     Senior Jack Salisbury and junior David “DJ’’ Principe accounted for two records apiece. Salisbury clocked a winning 4:08.33 at a New Balance ‘Grand Prix’’ prep mile event, held in Boston. At the New England Championships on the same Reggie Lewis banked track, Salisbury went 2:28.40. The smooth-running Principe finished his indoor season with two state marks. He did an 8:59.05 two-mile at this month’s New Balance National Championships. At the Jan. 16 Yale Invitational, “DJ’’ clocked 8:26.51 for a new record in the 3000 meters.

     On the girls’ side, Ram senior Eliza Rego set a new state standard in the two-mile run with her time of 10:33.01 at the New Balance Nationals. At that same meet, the Ram 4x1-mile relay team of Rego, Karina Tavares, Grace Connolly and Emily Kane turned in a state-meet time of 20:11.70.

     Two R.I. records were posted this winter by Classical High senior May Stern. She went 38.86 for 300 meters at the Armory Invitational in New York in February. At the Ocean Breeze meet in New York a month earlier, Stern clocked a state 400-meter record 55.41.

     The Central High boys’ relay teams dominated during the season. The Knight foursome of Austin Wolo, Donatein Djero, Demetrius O’Connor and Charles Coli combined for a 3:22.28 4x400 time at the New Balance meet.

     And in the throws, it was Bobby Colantonio, of Barrington, unloading the 35-pound (16 kilogram) weight 64 feet, 3.25 inches (1959 meters) for a new record.

     Lysah Russell, Classical’s No. 1 in the girls’ 20-pound (9-kilo) weight, took the state title this year with a throw of 55-7 (16.94). Russell also earned All-American status by placing third in the event, at 55-9 (16.99). In the boys’ weight circle, Colantonio maintained his No. 1-US ranking all season. He won the state title with a mark of 75-11 (23.13) and the United States championship with a throw of 81-5.75 (24.83).

     Cumberland’s Meaghan Scullin left the State Championships wearing two gold medals. She went 5-2 (1.57) to win the high jump, and 18-4.50 (5.60) to take the long jump. Rego was also a double winner at the State Meet. She clocked 4:41.50 in the 1500, and 2:58.69 to claim the 1000-meter title. Principe won the State Meet 3000 (8:40.39), while teammate Salisbury won gold in the 1500 (3:59.35) and the 1000 (2:.33.40). Lincoln High’s Dariy Esenov cleared he bar at 6-2 e

     North Kingstown senior Beth Nunnery was a top performer in distances over the indoor season. She earned All-New England honors finishing fourth in the two-mile. Teammate Tereza Bolibruch was this year’s state 55-meter hurdles champ, going 8.46. The Skippers’ meghann Maguire posted a state title 1:38.62 in the 600 meters. In the dash, Woonsocket High’s talented Quinn Harlan clocked 7.31 for State Meet gold. Anthony Shepard, of South Kingstown, was this season’s titlist in the boys’ long jump, with a distance of 21-11.50 (6.69). La Salle’s Sam Coleman clocked 6.48 in winning the dash, while the Purple’s Nate Narcisse won the hurdles in 7.65