Rhode Island Cross-Country Runners To Watch: Elijah Akindolie, Hope High


 Elijah Akindolie, Hope High 

Hope is primarily known for the number of quality sprinters it has produced over the years. But along the way, the school has also produced a few that have excelled in the middle- and long-distance events and this Blue Wave senior is among that list.

Akindolie has both speed and endurance and should be among the upper-tier of harriers this fall. At last year's State Meet, Akindolie finished 12th overall with a quality 16:32 clocking. He ran his 5K best of 16:06 on the generous terrain of the Skee Carter Invitational and was sixth at the Class A Championships.

During the indoor and outdoor track seasons, Akindolie posted times like 1:28 for 600m, 1:58 for 800m, 4:12 for 1,500m and 9:22 for 3K. With his range, he's certainly proven he has the ability to crack the top seven this season and land a spot on the first-team, all-state team.