By BOB LEDDY
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
For Annabelle Hauck, being a member of the Cranston West girls’ track squad is different from what she’s been used to in her native Germany. But no matter; she’s enjoying every minute.
“At home, every meet is an invitational,’’ the 16 year-old exhange student said. “This is a nice experience; different from home, where it’s all club sports.’’
Hauck is already making her mark on local competition. At Saturday’s R.I. Track Coaches Invitational at the PCTA track, she captured the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 7.75 inches (5.37 meters). Hauck also placed third in the dash (7.70), and ran third leg on the Falcons’ winning 4x200 relay. She and teammates Eleni and Nicole Grammas and Oceana Williams combined for a time of 1:49.85.
Hauck, who came to the United States last August - and will return to Germany once her junior year at Cranston West is completed - counts the long jump as her favorite event. (She also puts the shot). “It’s a combination of running and jumping,’’ said Hauck, whose best mark in Germany was 18-2 (5.54). “I want to get to 18 [feet] again,’’ she said, in explaining her goal over here.
“I have nothing bad to say about her,’’ said Falcon assistant coach Clem Soscia. “She’s incredibly versatile, and is wonderful in the way she interacts with her teammates.’’
Saturday’s meet, a non-scoring affair and the first major meet of the indoor season, saw La Salle sophomore Eliza Rego win two events: the 1000 in 3:03.50, and the 1500 in 4:46.06. Tori Ebert, a senior from Exeter/W. Greenwich High, also mined double gold. Ebert put the shot 39-6.75 (12.05), and won the 20-pound weight event with a throw of 49-8.25 (15.14). Mary Cate Coogan, a Barrington senior, captured the 600 in 1:40.83.
In the boys’ portion of the meet, Hendricken senior Colin Tierney clocked 8:47.74 in a 3000-meter race that featured La Salle runners taking places 2 through 5. Ram sophomore Jack Salisbury was his team’s top finisher, hitting the tape secone in 8:49.37.
Middletown’s Jacob Reilly cleared 6-4 (1.93) to take the high jump, while North Kingstown senior Dallin Smith went 4:18.41 to win the 1500 meters. Skipper senior Zach Emrich clocked 36.13 to take the 300. Both he and Smith ran legs on North Kingstown’s winning 4x400 relay (3:33.23). Joe Craven and Jose Gibayeaux comprised the foursome.