RITCA Invitational (boys): Fast times, strong distances at first major invite

Standing at the starting line and taking a glance at his competitors, Colin Tierney knew there was one simple solution to increase his chances of a victory in the 3,000-meter run at Saturday’s RITCA Invitational.

Stick to the same formula he has often done when the competition is at its best.

Taking the pace out hard from the opening gun, the Bishop Hendricken senior gave himself a comfortable enough cushion in the late stages of the race to hold off a fury of La Salle Academy runners and break the tape a victor in a personal-best time of 8 minutes, 47.74 seconds, currently the nation’s No. 2 clocking.

“There was a lot of great competition, a lot of great competitors,” Tierney said. “I just wanted to go out and try and run a fast qualifying time (for the state meet)and see what happens. I just wanted to take it out at the pace that I wanted; a pace I thought I could control. If they were there in the end, it would be a good race. If not, I would just cruise it in.”

Tierney wasn’t able to cruise to the finish in this race, held at the Providence Career and Technical Academy field house. The Hawk standout had to run a final 400 in the mid 60-second range to secure his win. Finishing less than two-seconds behind in second place was La Salle sophomore Jack Salisbury with a time of 8:49.37, a time matched by fellow classmate Matt Bouthliette, who took third. The Rams also had the next two finishers – freshman D.J. Principe (fourth, 8:56.48) and senior Dan Paiva (fifth, 8:58.31). Currently, all five of the runners’ times rank among the top seven nationally.

Tierney, who led by as much as a quarter of a lap on the 200-meter oval, hit his opening mile at 4:39. Time-wise, his goal was to eclipse his personal record of 8:50.49, a time he ran to finish as the runner-up to recent Cumberland High grad Trevor Crawley at last year’s indoor states.

“I was looking to hit 4:40 (at the mile), about 70-second pace. That would put me at 8:45 or so,” he said. “I thought that would be a good pace for the first race of the season. My PR was last year at the states, 8:50 against Trevor Crowley. Going out and running a PR today, I can’t be too upset.”

The non-scoring meet, the first major invitational of the season, had several other outstanding performances.

Barrington junior Adam Kelly captured the 25-pound weight throw with a distance of 73 feet, 4.5 inches. Kelly, who is the only athlete in the country to break 70 feet, was just a few feet shy of his No. 1 effort of 75-5, set at a season-opening dual meet against Mount Pleasant a few weeks ago.

In Saturday’s meet, the Eagle star had four of his throws exceed 71 feet.

“He’s on track for an excellent season,” stated Barrington weight coach Bob Gourley.

Based on his consistency so far this winter, Gourley believes the current R.I. record of 81.8.75 by former Hendricken all-stater Josh McCaughey in 2000, could be in jeopardy. In addition to his in-state meets, Kelly will have the chance to face some of the nation’s best at a handful of elite competitions this season such as the Dartmouth Relays, the Yale Track Classic and the New Balance Nationals.

“He’s within reach of the record,” Gourley said. “It’s certainly feasible.”

In the 55 dash, Classical senior Ilan Rich sizzled to a fast time of 6.63. The 55 hurdles featured a close race won by Mount Pleasant’s John Brapoh in 8.25. Brapoh edged Narragansett’s Vince Santos and Chariho’s Max Leatham, who were second and third, respectively, with times of 8.29 and 8.30.

North Kingstown’s versatile senior Zach Emrich nearly broke 36 seconds in the 300, winning with a PB time of 36.16. Emrich, one the nation’s best in the 600, was able to post his fast time despite being bumped shortly after the cut-off point.

“I pretty happy with the time,” he said. “I definitely should have gone out faster and get to the break-in quicker. That would have helped me not get jostled around. I picked it up a lot after I broke in because I got pushed around and knew I had to go.”

Emrich, who committed to Brown University last week, has been focused on improving from a great junior campaign where he won three individual state titles (400, 600, 800) on the indoor and outdoor surfaces.

“Last year was my first time I actually went in the weight room so I am really starting to go pretty heavily into that,” he said. “It’s definitely helping me a lot. I am more explosive, better sprinting, things like that. I am not changing too much. I am bigger and older so hopefully that will help me do my best, too.”

Hendricken’s Alex Cerbo saved his best for last in the shot put, winning the event on his final throw with a PR of 51-3.25. Woonsocket senior Connor Fugere was second at 50-10.5.

In a tight race, La Salle junior James Placco held off Hendricken tenth-grader Jared Boulanger in the 1,000. Placco won with a time of 2:38.55 to Boulanger’s 2:39.7. North Kingstown's Dallin Smith was a winner in the 1,500 with a time of 4:18.41. He was also on the Skippers' 4x400 relay squad of Emrich, Joe Craven and Joe Craven and Jose Gibayeaux that combined for a time of 3:33.23.

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RITCA Invitational