Class Meets: Hawks escape The Reservation with narrow win in Class A race

Rhode Island Class Championships

(East Greenwich runners Graham Chapski, Garrett Scanlon and Tommy Sommers leading the pack in the Class C race)

Lately there’s not much that separates Bishop Hendricken from La Salle Academy. That was made clear at the state championship last year where a mere 20 points made the difference in the Hawks winning state title No. 21.

Based on a few of his key athletes gone to graduation and with the Rams returning all of their cast and an outstanding addition in freshman sensation DJ Principe, Hendricken coach Jim Doyle didn’t hesitate to predict at the beginning of the season that La Salle might be the team to chase for the state crown.

After the Class A Championship on Saturday, Hendricken proved it still may be king.  But it sure knows it won’t be easy to retain its throne at the states next Sunday. The Rams came just four points from ending their heated rival’s five-year streak of championship plaques as Hendricken left the trails of Ponaganset with a narrow 30-34 victory.

The Hawks’ Colin Tierney earned individual honors by covering the five-kilometer course in a fast clocking of 15 minutes, 32.24 seconds. Behind the talented senior, Hendricken and La Salle had all but three of the next 12 finishers in the down-to-the-wire affair.

Doyle was not surprised with what transpired on a cool and windy afternoon at The Reservation.

“I knew either way, because La Salle is a great team, that they could possibly win it,” he said. “I thought of it as a dual meet and knew they were certainly capable of winning it. I told the boys beforehand, win or lose you are still a bunch of good guys and good runners. I expected it to be this type.”

Both teams had four of their runners among the first eight placements. Following Tierney across the line was La Salle sophomore Jake Salisbury at 15:57.15. He was just a few strides ahead of Principe, who finished third at 15:57.4. Hendricken sophomore Tom Grizzetti (fourth, 16:16.67), La Salle junior Christopher Notarianni (fifth, 16:23.17), the Hawk tandem of junior Michael Potter (sixth, 16:28.88) and senior Collin Manning (seventh, 16:31.58) and La Salle junior Jake Grundy (eighth, 16:33.66) occupied the remaining five slots.

With about 500 meters left, the Hawks were trailing the Rams.

“Our second and third runners were off and our team just stepped up,” Doyle said. “Tom Grizzetti was certainly a difference-maker. He became our second man and ran in the low 16s. He has been a kid that has been hurt and stepped up. He’s an outstanding runner. Collin Manning, we call him Mr. October, stepped up and did a great job. Dominic Parlato was unbelievable. Michael Potter hung on. He was battling out there with (Notarianni). (Notarianni) won that battle, but he came in right behind him. He kind of held the team together.”

Just like he has done all season, Tierney took control of the race from the start. Leading a strong pack, the senior looked comfortable and relaxed as he opened up with a 4:47 first mile.

“I had to take the lead almost from the gun,” he said. “Around the first turn, that was the race plan; go out and leave it all out there. We had to get out there and fight. La Salle is a good team.”

“I did what I had to do for the team and went out there to get the one point,” he added. “That’s it.”

Although the outcome was not the one he was hoping for, La Salle coach Ken Skelly was confident his team will be up for the task again at next Sunday’s state meet.

“The goal was to come in here today and win,” he said. “It didn’t work out as planned, but we are going to go ahead with the same plan that we got for next week, which is to try and go there at the state championship and win. It was a little tough today on a couple of our guys, but it’s nothing that they can’t shake off. It’s a matter of them putting this race behind them and moving forward. That’s exactly what the approach is with us. We will take a look and see what we can do.”

One team that could be a darkhorse at next weekend’s championship meet is East Greenwich, last year’s third-place finisher at the state level. The Avengers looked very impressive in the Class C race, winning the title by a whopping 46 points with its 24-70 triumph over runner-up Scituate.

East Greenwich had the first two finishers with senior Garrett Scanlon holding off fellow classmate Graham Chapski the final stretch. Scanlon crossed the line at 16:34.45, while Chapski was timed in 16:34.81.

Just before two miles, the two Avenger teammates broke away for good from a small pack that also included Prout senior Luke Emby (third, 16:53.74), Exeter/West Greenwich senior Michael Dampier (fourth, 16:57.65) and E.G. junior Tommy Sommer (fifth, 16:59.17).

“This was kind of a day that we are tuning up for next week,” Scanlon said. “That’s the big one. That’s what we had our eye set on the whole year, performing well at the states. This is kind of like a nice tune-up.”

Collectively, Hendricken (16:19.07), La Salle (16:22.80) and East Greenwich (16:55.40) were the only teams to average under 17 minutes for their seven varsity runners. Even though they are a longshot, Scanlon and Chapski believe the Avengers have potential to surprise a few some people next week.

 “I think Hendricken and La Salle should be looking out for us,” Chapski said.

In the Class B meet, Barrington coasted to a 30-70 win over second-place Toll Gate. Eagle freshman Mars Bishop took the individual title with a time of 17:11.17. Placing second was North Providence senior Bradley Haggerty at 17:23.41. Barrington junior Sam Somers finished third in 17:24.64.

Bishop’s early competition was the family dog, which got loose during the beginning of the race and started to chase the lead pack.

“That was a little weird at the beginning,” he said. “I had to make sure he didn’t hurt any of the runners.”

Bishop dictated the pace of his race, holding the lead for much of the 3.1-mile distance.

“(Haggerty) stayed on my tail the whole time,” Bishop said. “He made me work so it was a good race. It was a hilly race. I wanted to break 17 (minutes), but I ran (17:11) so I’m happy.”

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