By BOB LEDDY
South Kingstown sophomore Ellie Lawler on Saturday became the third R.I. female in the event's 36-year history to qualify for the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships. Competing in the annual Northeast Regional race at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City, Lawler finished eighth in17:57. The top ten finishers in the boys' and girls' regional runs nationwide earn a trip to San Diego, California next month for the United States championship. Winning the girls'event at Van Cortlandt was Maddie Davison, of Pennsylvania, in 17:39.
Sixth runner ices it for La Sale girls
In Wappinger Falls, N.Y. on Saturday, the La Salle Academy girls, competing as the "La Salle Running Club'', qualified for the Nike Cross Country Team Nationals in Portland, Ore. by finishing second. The Rams deadlocked with equally powerful Coe-Brown, of New Hampshire, for second place, but were awarded sole possession of the second spot on the strength of the No. 6 finisher; in this case Ram junior Alyson Walsh. "Allie saved the day for us,'' said coach Kelly Martin. Walsh finished 52nd overall in 19:59.1. She was La Salle's fifth runner over the line at the Nov. 8 State Championship.
The boys' team from La Salle finished sixth in team scoring, and were led by R.I. and New England champ DJ Principe's 15:52 clocking. The Rams' Matt Bouthillette was next over the line, fifth overall in15:55. (Principe and Bouthillette received individual bids to the Nike Nationals.). North Kingstown freshman Sam Toolin was the ninth runner overall (16:07). Dom Parlato was the Hawk Track Club's top man; 25th overall.
Lawler conquers Van Cortlandt
Lawler, this year's R.I. individual champion, and New England runner-up, hit the first mile on the Van Cortlandt 3.1-mile course on Saturday in 5:22. "I think I went out too fast,'' the Rebel runner said. "I held onto a good position throughout the race. The second [hilly] mile was tough on me. I was hoping to make the nationals, and I'm really excited to be going.''
"She was ready. She trained hard for this,'' said SK coach Sherry Hathaway.
Last year as a freshman, Lawler qualified as an individual at the Nike North Regionals. She placed fourth overall at Wappinger Falls 18:44, the first Rhode Island finisher. At the Nike Nationals last Dec. 6, Lawler finished in 33rd place.
Course Notes: The Foot Locker Nationals will be held on Dec. 12 at Balboa Park in San Diego . . . Nike's U.S. meet is slated for Dec. 5 . . . Last year at the Foot Locker Northeast qualifier, Barrington High's Emma McMillan placed third, en route to an appearance in San Diego, where she came in 23rd.The only R.I. female to earn Foot Locker All-American honors (that is, placing among the top 15 finishers) was Laura Turner, of Portsmouth High, in 1997. Turner placed 13th in what was her second appearance at the Foot Locker Nationals; it came three years before Lawler was born . . . At Wappinger Falls, Excelerate North, of North Kingstown, won the girls' Open division team title, led by Beth Nunnery.
FOOT LOCKER NORTHEAST REGION QUALIFIER
At Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, N.Y.
R.I. result
8, Ellie Lawler, S. Kingstown 17:57.
NIKE NORTHEAST TEAM QUALIFIER
At Wappinger Falls, N.Y.
R.I. girls' Championship team results
2, La Salle Running Club 125.
Top R.I. finishers
16, Eliza Rego, LS 19:06; 20, Grace Connolly, LS 19:20; 34, Karina Tavares, LS 19:40.6; 35, Emily Kane, LS 19:40.9; 50, Audrey O'Neill, LS 19:59; 52, Alyson Walsh, LS 19:59.1; 76, Tea Bishop, Barrington TC 20:26; 91, Elise Papazian, LS 20:35.
R.I. girls' Open Division team results
1, Excelerate North 40; 9, Charger XC 206.
R.I. boys' Championship team results
6, La Salle Running Club 228; 20, Barrington TC 549; 24, Excelerate North 591.
Top R.I. finishers
3, DJ Principe, LS 15:52; 5, Matt Bouthillette, LS 15:55; 9, Sam Toolin, NK 16:07; 14, Jack Salisbury, LS 16:17; 25, Dom Parlato, Hawk TC 16:38; 45, Avery Ingegneri, Hawk TC 16:53; 46, Mike Kiernan, Hawk TC 16:56; 48, Mars Bishop, Barrington TC 16:59.
R.I. boys' Open Division team results
9, Hawk TC 362; 10, La Salle Running Club 371; 25, Charger XC 607.