By BOB LEDDY
RI Track & Field Foundation
In a close finish, La Salle senior distance man Jack Salisbury on Saturday won the mile run at the annual New York Relays at Icahn Stadium, New York. Salisbury clocked 4 minutes, 10.11 seconds (= 3:51.5 @ 1500 meters). The second-place runner - Maryland's Dalton Hengst - came in at 4:10.43 in a 13-man field.
Salisbury is defending Rhode Island champion in both the 800 and 1500 meters. He closed out his 2015 outdoor season with All-American honors (fourth place) in the two-mile at the New Balance National Championships.
The Rams' Eliza Rego was the top local finisher in the girls' mile. The senior "long ranger'' went 4:55.08 (= 4:33.6 @ 1500 meters), good for fourth place. The race - also featuring 13 competitors - was won by Rush-Henrietta High's (Rochester, N.Y.) Sammy Watson in 4:51.54.
Bobby Colantonio, the Barrington High senior, made his first major competition of the spring season a smashing success by winning the hammer event with a mark of 237 feet, 11 inches (72.52 meters). Colantonio's throw was 38 feet, 2 inches (11.63 meters) ahead of the runner-up, New York's Matt Slagus (199-9/60.88). Colantonio is defending state hammer titlist.
In the girls' 4-kilo hammer, Toll Gate senior Courtney Jacobsen placed second with a mark of 175 feet (53.34). Jacobsen's mark was bettered by Jill Shippee, of New York, who had a winning throw of 176-2 (53.70). Also finishing second in her field event was Smithfield's Alyssa Colbert. Colbert threw the discus for 121 feet (36.88).
In the boys' mile on Saturday, Salisbury teammate D.J. Principe clocked 4:12.5 for the No. 3 spot. Ram senior Matt Bouthillette placed fourth in 4:14.14.
R.I. GIRLS' RESULTS
HT (9-lb./4-kilo) - 2, Courtney Jacobsen, TG 175-0 (53.34 meters); 3, Lysah Russell, Class. 169-1 (51.54); 4, Megan Malloy, Smith. 152-8 (46.53); 6, Faith Polando, Barr. 146-3 (44.58) 7, Annika Kelly, Barr. 145-6 (44.34); 11, Samantha Andrews, Linc. 134-6 (41.00).
DT - 2, Alyssa Colbert, Smith. 121-0 (36.88); 5, Andrews 110-8 (33.73);8, Russell 101-4 (30.88).
Mile - 4, Eliza Rego, LS 4:55.08 (= 4:33.6 @ 1500m); 8, Emily Kane, LS 5:01.14 (= 4:39.2 @ 1500m).
110HH - 1, (H1), Nate Narcisse, Class. 15.04.
400IH - 8, Narcisse 58.21.
SMR (@ 1600m) - 3, Hope (Lisbeth and Leinni Valdez, Isis Hack, Chevell Burgess) 4:16.42.
4x400m - 3. Hope, 4:02.26.
R.I. BOYS' RESULTS
HT (12-lb./5.44-kilo) - 1, Bobby Colantonio, Barr. 237-11 (72.52 meters); 3, Jacob Briere, Woons.199-4 (60.76); 4, Dilyn Cote, Woons. 180-11 (55.14); 5, Joe Palazzo, Class. 176-1 (53.67); 6, Jacob Greenless, Woons. 164-8 (50.19).
DT - 11, Greenless 101-1 (30.81); 12, Jon Buchanan, Class. 98-10 (30.12); 14, Ben Badejo, Class. 78-1 (23.79).
Mile - 1, Jack Salisbury, LS 4:10.11 (= 3:51.5 @ 1500m); 3, DJ Principe, LS 4:12.54 (= 3:53.8 @ 1500m); 4, Matt Bouthillette, LS 4:14.14 (= 3:55.2 ( 1500m).