Local athletes shine at Rhody Invite

 

(PHOTOS by RAPHAEL BIEBER)

Winning state and New England titles are up there on the list, but for national-caliber runners like Zach Emrich and Maddy Berkson there is also the bigger picture.

For them, the bigger picture occurs in mid-March at the New Balance Nationals in New York City. The training process is all geared towards peaking just in time for an optimum performance on the famed Armory oval.

In a kickoff to what she classified as her shorter-distance training, Classical’s Berkson dominated the field in the 600-meter run at Saturday’s Rhody Track & Field Classic, crossing the finish line inside the Mackal Fieldhouse with a season-best clocking of 1 minutes, 35.52 seconds.

“It feels good,” said the Stanford-bound Berkson, shortly after her win. “I am pleased with the time, but it’s not where I want to be by the end of the season. It’s still a good starting point.”

Situated on the inside first lane with a California start, Berkson didn’t assume control of the lead until about a half a lap on the 200-meter oval. Once in the front, the Classical star never let up. She hit the 400 mark at slightly over 62 seconds and was nearly eight seconds ahead of runner-up Anna Barnes of E.O. Smith (Conn.) by the finish.

Berkson admitted she was entertaining the thought of trying to break the state mark of 1:30.87 by former Westerly great Samantha Gawrych in 2008.

“That’s a pretty good state record,” Berkson stated. “In the back of my mind I was thinking of that. I thought it was a longshot, especially right now. I am just trying to get close to there.”

Emrich, the multiple state champion from North Kingstown, claimed the boys’ 600 title in similar fashion. He was on cruise control from the start and was just a few strides from breaking his own state mark with a fast 1:21.0 clocking, a time that ranks No. 4 nationally.

“I was going for 1:21, around there,” said Emrich, who set the current state record of 1:20.58 at last year’s New England Championship. “I looked at the national rankings the other day and I was like 15th, something like that. I want to get it down because a bunch of the New York boys run like 1:20s right now. I am happy with it.”

The Skippers also had a winner on the girls’ side with senior Maria Bolibruch taking the 55 hurdles with a time of 8.61.  Bolibruch, undefeated so far this winter, was timed in 8.64 in her preliminary heat, the second fastest time of the afternoon.

Woonsocket senior Connor Fugere was the meet’s lone double-winner. He placed first in the shot put with a season-best heave of 51-8. He also had a best in the 25-pound weight with his triumphant distance of 61-9.5.

In the weight, Fugere got his winning effort on his first throw of the finals. In general, he was consistent with his throws.

“I had two fouls out of my three in the finals, but that’s just because I took the lead after the first throw and I was really trying to secure it,” he said. “Luckily my PR held up at the end of the meet and I was able to win.”

Fugere felt a little adjustment in his delivery made the difference in his PR throw.

“I focused more on going to the left instead of crashing on my right shoulder,” he said. “I tried going a little quicker and couldn’t keep it in. My speed and position was the big thing.”

The Woonsocket standout is currently ranked sixth in the state in the weight. He’s second on the list in the shot put, an event he finished second at the indoor championships in 2013.

“I am looking for a little farther in the weight,” he said. “I have seen some big fouls.  But I can’t really complain. I know it’s there. It all about making it happen.  Hopefully soon I will see a bigger PR. As far as the shot goes, I am finally getting back into the swing of things and consistently throwing over 50. I am looking for some big things in the shot put.”

Classical’s Alva Hicks had a strong afternoon in the weight events, too. The junior captured the 20-pound weight with a 50-9 effort and was third in the shot at 36-9.

In the weight, Hicks had a season best.

“I had a little anger rush today, just sweating the small stuff,” she said. “I came out and said I am going to get a season best and boost me up on the national list.”

Hick’s effort moves her to No. 5 in the country. She had a career best in the shot.

“It’s going really well considering I just came from out of town and just now getting into the swing of things,” said Hicks, a third-place finisher in the weight at last year’s state meet. “I am looking at maybe 56 (feet) for weight and 40 (feet) for shot put.”

Narragansett junior Carly Timpson, the state’s top leaper, earned gold in the high jump with a PB of 5-4.

Classical’s Bianca Donadio went home with three runner-up efforts in the meet. The senior was second in the weight (48-6), shot put (38-7) and the triple jump (36-10.75).                                                                                

Moses Brown’s Nick Snow, currently the No. 2 runner in the state in the 300, placed second in his specialty at the Rhody meet with a school record of 36.94.

East Greenwich won the boys’ 4x800 relay with a time of 8:26.65.

(PHOTO by DEAN WILLIAMS)

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights