Class A
No doubt the pressure is solely on La Salle to win its third straight title. The Rams boast three of the top five runners in the field with senior teammates Eliza Rego and Karina Tavares and sophomore Grace Connolly.La Salle's seven varsity members have run 19:35 or faster for 5K. That's tough to beat. Right now, South Kingstown sophomore Ellie Lawler has the fastest time in the field with her 17:34 win at the Skee Carter (Bronco) Invitational, a meet the Rams did not attend. In fact, La Salle has not competed since placing fourth in the Eastern States' race at the Manhattan Invitational. Earlier in the month, the Rams dominated the field at the Maine Festival of Champions. La Salle will be well-rested to do so damage at The Reservation. Rego, Tavares and Lawler will more than likely be the pace-setters with any of the trio capable of breaking the tape at the end. If the weather cooperates and everyone is on their game, it could be a fast one with a time in the low 17:30 range not too far-fetched. The race will be minus three-time defending state champion Emma McMillan of Barrington, who is battling a stress fracture and may have to sit out next week's state meet, too. Cumberland is a team that could certainly surprise this season. Based on top times from each athlete, the Clippers are ranked No. 2 in the field. Cumberland coach Nessa Malloy has not raced her girls too much this season, skipping the Brown and the Skee Carter meet the past two weeks. Like the Rams, they'll be ready to go this weekend. The Clippers have a solid three with senior all-stater Amy Laverty (18:30.45), sophomore Ana O'Callaghan (19:15.78) and junior Julia Dempsey (19:19.09). Bethany Nunnery leads a very-strong North Kingstown squad and Katie and Julia Zitzmann pace a formidable contender in Barrington.