“Around the Oval’’/Spring track preview

LA SALLE RAMS BACK IN FORCE;

SENTINELS ARE TITLE DEFENDERS

R.I. Track & Field Foundation

     DATELINE - - With memories of last June’s State Championship lingering, the upcoming spring campaign promises to be just as exciting. The Smithfield High girls’ program reached back into history to capture its first state team crown since 1972, a year that marked the debut of girls’ track in Rhode Island. The Sentinels topped second-place Hope, 83-78, with La Salle coming in third (64), five points ahead of North Kingstown.

     In the boys’ portion of the championship last year, La Salle’s boys made history of their own, albeit not as dramatically as the Sentinels. The Rams copped their first team crown in 37 years, 80-69, over Barrington.

     With a super-talented cast of track and field athletes coming off a phenomenal indoor campaign, this season promises to be one the most notable in recent years. A brief outlook:

GIRLS: Rams, Skippers, Cumberland will be formidable

     La Salle brings its super crop of distance runners to the table this spring. That group includes seniors Eliza Rego and Karina Tavares, and sophomores Grace Connolly and Emily Kane. Rego is defending champ in the 3000 meters (4:32.42).  Tavares returns as a Coaches Association all-stater on the strength of her third-place finish in the 3000 and No. 4 spot in the finish of the State Meet 1500. Rego placed third in New England in the 1600 meters.

     Hope High’s track forces are missing the formidable presence of Qushira “Q” Mc Intosh, who graduated last June. “Q” accounted for 40 total points at the ’15 championships, winning all three dashes and anchoring the Blue Wave’s winning 4x100 relay. The dash events will be well represented by Classical senior May Stern, a second-team coaches all-stater in the 400 meters.

     The girls’ 9-pound (4k) hammer will find Smithfield’s Meagan Malloy as defending state titlist. Classical’s Lysah Russell and Toll Gate’s Courtney Jacobsen will also display their talents. From Cranston West, senior Jenn Iozzi returns as state runner-up in the shot. The Titans’ Ani Armenakyan is another top shot put specialist.

     Returning talented “long rangers’’ include Westerly’s Randi Burr, North Kingstown’s Beth Nunnery, Cumberland’s Amy Laverty, Marissa McPhillps, of Narragansett High (defending champ in the 800 meters), and South Kingstown’s Ellie Lawler.

BOYS: Rams’ “Big Three’’ on the track; Eagles’ Colantonio in the circle

     Jack Salisbury, Matt Bouthillette, David Principe.

     These three phenomenal distance men from La Salle gave track fans plenty about which to cheer over the indoor season. Salisbury, now a senior, mine State Meet gold last year in the 800 (1:55.25) and 1500 (3:58.24.) Teammate Matt Bouthillette was state runner -up in the 1500, while teammate Principe finished second in to Bouthillette in the 3000. Cumberland’s Sean Laverty will return for his final prep outdoor campaign. Mars Bishop, of Barrington, will also be a factor in the middle distances.

     Centra High boasts a fine cast of dash men, powered by Austin Wolo , Don Djero and Demetrius O’Connor. Wolo was last year’s state champ in the quarter (49.33). Classical’s Nate Narcisse is defending state champ in both the 110 highs (14.62) and 300 intermediates (40.22). From East Providence are Paulo Pereira, Charles Hazzard in the long jump and dash respectively.

     Last year’s hammer champ Bobby Colantonio, now a senior, will make his high school finale a memorable one. Colantonio captured the ‘15 State Meet event with a mark, throwing the implement 234 feet, 7 inches (71.50 meters). Jared Briere and Dilyn Cote, of Woonsocket, are also back with the hammer.

Partial schedule:

     April 9 - Knights of Columbus Relays. (City Stadium).

     April 15-16 - New York Re;ays.

     April 28-30 - Penn Relays, Franklin Field, Phladelphia, PA.

     May 7 – Schomp Invitational (Chariho High).

     May 9-11 – Divisional Championships.

     May 12-14 - Loucks Games, White Plains, N.Y.

     May 14 – Classical Classic (boys); Cumberland Invitational (girls).

     May 21 – Class Championships (boys, girls at same site):

      (Class A – Coventry High; Class B – Portsmouth High; Class C – Ponaganset High.)                     

     May 24 – Freshman States.

     May 28 – Hendricken Invitational (boys); Mt. Pleasant Invitational (girls).

     May 31 – JV States.

     June 4 – State Championships (Brown Stadium).

     June 11 – New England Championships, Veterans’ Stadium, New Britain, CT.

     June 17-19 – New Balance Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, N.C.

     June 24-26 – USATF Junior Nationals, Covis, CA.