Rhode Island athletes will be competing in two major invitational meets this weekend.
Down in South County on Saturday, more than 1,100 athletes from five different states (R.I., Mass., N.J., N.Y., Conn.) will be at URI’s Mackal Fieldhouse for the fifth annual Rhody Track & Field Classic in Kingston. A few hundred miles north, some of the northeast region’s best will be in New Hampshire for the 45th annual Dartmouth Relays, which takes place Friday to Sunday.
If you’re a track enthusiasts and plan to stay in the Ocean State, there will be plenty of opportunities to witness some stellar performances at the Rhody Classic.
North Kingstown senior Zachery Emrich has potential to break his own state record and possibly the 1:20 barrier in the 600-meter run. Emrich is the top seed by more than four seconds over Moses Brown’s Amos Cariati. The NK star's current best is 1:20.58, which he did in winning the event at last year’s New England Championship. He already has the top time in the 300 with a blazing 36.13 clocking at the RITCA Invitational last month. This will be the first time running his specialty.
Classical’s Ilan Rich and Hope’s Akiel Legall are tied for the No. 1 seed in the 55 dash with both sprinters running 6.6 this season. In the mile run, North Kingstown’s Dallin Smith is the second seed with a 4:25 and Classical’s Joe Murphy is at No. 3 with a 4:25.6.
Classical’s Tom Vadis, who ranks second nationwide in the 25-pound weight with a best of 66-0, heads the list in his event. Connor Fugere of Woonsocket is the only shot-putter to exceed 50 feet with his PB of 50-10.5. Westerly’s Mike Johns, at 21-9, is among four long jumpers that have leaped further than 21 feet.
The girls’ competition will feature a pair of multiple all-staters and record-holders in Hope’s Quashira McIntosh and Classical’s Maddy Berkson. McIntosh is entered in the 55 dash and the 300 where she has the R.I. records of 7.11 and 39.38, respectively. Berkson is entered in three events – the 3,200, the 1,000 and the 600. She owns state marks in the 800, mile and 3,000.
The 55 hurdles has great potential to have a Rhode Islander the first to cross the line. Two-time state champion Marie Bolibruch of North Kingstown and Classical’s Alicia Holloway are the top two seeds with identical times of 8.6.
At the Dartmouth Relays, R.I. athletes are among the top runners in the seeded two-mile run with Bishop Hendricken’s Colin Tierney and Michael Potter and La Salle freshman D.J. Principe the second through fourth seeds.
Jacob Reilly, who last week leaped a R.I. best of 6-5, is a contender in the high jump. Hendricken’s Lee Moses, last year’s state champion, is the No. 1 seed in the long jump.
Barrington’s Adam Kelly will be continuing his quest for the R.I. record of 81 feet in the 25-pound weight. Kelly is the only weight-thrower in the country to exceed 70 feet, a mark he has surpassed consistently all season.
In an always-competitive seeded mile, La Salle’s Jack Sailsbury and Dan Paiva rank among the top eight. The girls’ mile field is led by La Salle sophomore Eliza Rego. The winners in the respective races get an added bonus of a ticket to next month's Junior Mile at the New Balance Grand Prix at the Reggie Lewis Center.