Class A
Just like in most years, this race best represents what could happen at the state meet. Two teams that will likely battle for the state crown - Bishop Hendricken and La Salle Academy - will go head-to-head against each other for the first time.The race will also feature two other squads capable of cracking the top six - Cumberland and North Kingstown. Right now the nod goes to Hendricken to win its 30th class title since 1978. The Hawks have demonstrated all season long they have the talent and depth to make it happen. Led by senior teammates Dominic Parlato and Avery Ingegneri, Hendricken has looked very impressive this fall with key wins at the Manchester Invitational and its varsity race at the Manhattan Invitational. The meet will also mark the return of La Salle senior Jack Salisbury, who has missed most of the fall campaign with an injury.
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Guess who's coming back?
Salisbury, a 4:06 miler, can be a difference-maker for the Rams, who already boast the two fastest runners in the state with DJ Principe and Matt Bouthillette. Even if Salisbury is not 100 percent, he can be highly effective. He proved that last year where he helped the Rams win the state title by finishing a courageous ninth at the state meet after coming off another near, season-long injury. You have to keep an eye on Cumberland, too. The Clippers have a formidable duo in junior Ben Drezek and Sean Laverty. Drezek, a cross-country newcomer, has had an outstanding season, twice breaking 16 minutes this season for five kilometers, including a best of 15:40.16 at the Brown Invitational two weeks ago. Laverty, who was sixth at the 2014 state meet, had been dealing with asthma problems the last month. He demonstrated the last few weeks that he's got that under control, finishing 31st in the Championship Race at the Brown Invitational (16:15.81) and then taking second to Drezek at the Bronco Invite at 15:59.63. There's also North Kingstown and freshman phenom Sam Toolin. Toolin will be toeing the line with the top Rhode islanders for the first time this season. It will be interesting to see how well he fares. The Skipper standout won the Frosh States on Monday with a 12:36 clocking for 4K and was second in the Championship Race at the Wickham Park Invitational in Connecticut where he ran his current best of 16:14.0 for the 5K distance.