Jackson Cronin doesn't quite feel he has reach his peak yet.
Based on his performances of late, that bodes well for the East Greenwich senior with the State Meet a little more than three weeks away.
Cronin navigated his home course with perfection at Thursday's Avenger Invitational, finishing with a winning time and personal best of 15 minutes, 56 seconds. Earlier this week, the EG standout was a mere stride from breaking the 16-minute barrier with a 16:00 clocking.
"I am ready for the state meet and then New England's," Cronin said afterwards. "We'll see what happens."
Cronin and eventual second-place finisher Matt Walker of Westerly blazed through the first mile at 4:45. Cronin would take over the lead for good shortly after, building a comfortable 13-second cushion by the finish. Walker finished at 16:09.38. Toll Gate teammates Nikolas Reygades (16:34.83) and Nicholas Cehelsky (16:35.78) were third and fourth, respectively. Team-wise, the host Avengers defeated second-place Scituate, 43-97.
In the girls' race, one of the state's best, Randi Burr of Westerly, took the all guesswork out of the outcome by the 800-meter mark and won convincingly with a course record of 18:19.84. Burr was nearly a quarter-mile ahead of runner-up Elizabeth Lacroix of Chariho, who clocked 19:34.89. East Greenwich earned the team plaque with a 65-73 decision over second-place Westerly.
Classical's Conor Murphy and the Prout School's Sophia Mayo were the individual winners in the freshmen races, which was on a 4K course. Murphy was timed in a crisp 13:31.82, while Mayo broke the tape at 16:15.71.
North Kingstown edged Bishop Hendrciken, 27-28, for the boys' title. East Greenwich coasted past North Kingstown, 19-54, for the girls' crown.
