At the state championship in 2008, former Westerly High great Andrew Springer established the current course record by running “sub-5s” on Ponaganset’s challenging, five-kilometer terrain with a winning time of 15 minutes, 14 seconds. It was a race that featured three other harriers under the 16-minutes mark, the best mass finish in R.I. history.
Five years later, there’s a chance that history will repeat itself when runners await the starter’s gun this Sunday for the RIIL State Meet. Thus far, four athletes have run 15:57 or faster. With the quality of this year’s field and the motivation that’s inspired by the moment, there’s a good chance a few more can be added to that list.
Who will be the fastest among the bunch? Here’s a list that MileSplit RI considers the top contenders this weekend.
Colin Tierney, senior, Bishop Hendricken – If you have to pick a favorite, Tierney is clearly the one for this Sunday’s race. The Hawk standout owns the fastest time in the field with his time of 15:31.0 at the Great American Cross-Country Festival in N.C., on Oct. 5. Tierney was a little more than a second from that clocking with his winning time of 15:32.24 at Saturday’s Class A meet, a race he won by nearly 25 seconds! He also was a victor at the season-opening Injury Fund Carnival where he ran 15:35 and took the elite race at the Manchester Invitational with a 15:38 effort. Notice the trend. Not only has he won most of those races, but he’s also consistent. Tierney is a strength runner, which means he likes to take charge. To beat Tierney, you have to be willing to challenge him from the start and that means a possible 4:45 or faster first mile. He went 4:47 at the class meet and didn’t flinch.
Jack Salisbury, sophomore, La Salle Academy – Salisbury is one of three La Salle runners that have potential to crack the top five. He was second in the Class A race with a time of 15:57.15, just a few strides ahead of outstanding freshman teammate DJ Principe. Salisbury also broke 16 minutes at the Great American where he was timed in 15:58.8. This past spring, Salisbury dipped under nine minutes for the 3K by running 8:51.1 at the Classical Classic.
DJ Principe, freshman, La Salle Academy – Has a ninth-grader ever won a state title in RI? Not sure. While it will certainly be a longshot, Principe has the talent to surprise at the state level. Principe ran a 5K best of 15:41.5 at the Great American and 15:57.74 to place third at the class meet this past weekend. He also ran sub-13 at the Manhattan Invitational in New York with a 12:57 for the treacherous 4K course at Van Cortlandt Park. He may be only a freshman, but these are times that prove he’s got the ability to perform in a big-time race. But here’s the scenario. Principe stated earlier in the season that his team is his top priority. In the class meet, the frosh and Salisbury paced each other for most of the race and it worked perfectly in their 2-3 finish. With a chance to dethrone Hendricken for the team title – the Rams lost by just four points on Saturday - the guess here is the tandem and junior teammate Jake Grundy will help each other by running together with the hopes of producing a deadly trio (and low-point total) by the finish.
Jake Grundy, junior, La Salle – Grundy had an off-day at the class meet, placing eighth overall at 16:33.66. Based on what the junior has done throughout his career, head coach Ken Skelly told MileSplit RI after the race that he’s confident Grundy will bounce back at the states with a strong performance. He was sixth last year at the state meet and owns a best of 16:11, which he did at the Great American in early October.
Michael Potter, junior, Bishop Hendricken – If he brings his ‘A’ game on Sunday, Potter has the ability to challenge with the leaders. He battled with Tierney in the season-opening Injury Fund Carnival, finishing just a stride behind at 15:35.0. He also was the third Rhode Islander at the Great American with a 15:49 clocking. Even though he helped the Hawks with his sixth-place finish, Potter was far off his best this past weekend, coming through the finish at 16:28. He might have to run a time in the high 15-minute, low 16-minute range for the Hawks to hold off the Rams. He can certainly do that.
Garrett Scanlon, senior, East Greenwich – Scanlon won the Class C race this past weekend, coasting to a time of 16:34.45, just a few tenths ahead of senior teammate Graham Chapski. He admitted after the race that he was just using it as a tune-up for far better things this weekend. The Avenger standout has a best of 16-minutes flat, which he did to win his race at the Injury Fund Carnival. Scanlon and his teammates, who finished 11-1 in the Suburban Division behind Hendricken and easily copped the Class C title, believe they have the talent to challenge for the state championship. That motivation alone could provide Scanlon with the mental fuel to place high this weekend.