(Photo by RAPHAEL BIEBER)
Save for a mild headwind on the backstretch, it was a perfect day for running at the Cumberland Distance Classic this past Saturday. Nearly 120 athletes from 12 different schools competed on Tucker Field's newly-resurfaced track.
Here’s a summary of the day’s events:
(Photo by RAPHAEL BIEBER)
800-meter run
One of the most exciting races occurred in the boys’ event with East Greenwich senior Angelo Acker holding off talented freshman Cris Argys of Moses Brown to win with a time of 2 minutes, 2.1 seconds. Argys crossed the line at 2:02.7.
Cumberland junior David Agudelo, a third-place finisher at 2:03.2, led the pack through an opening 400 of 60 seconds. Acker was nestled between fourth and fifth at that point. The E.G. runner didn't take the lead until unleashing his kick on the homestretch, about 60 meters from the finish.
His patient approach proved to be the perfect strategy.
“After the first lap I was in fourth or fifth. When I was coming around (for the first lap) I wanted to make sure that I was close enough to the lead pack that I could catch up to them, if need be,” he said. “I didn’t want to be in first (on the backstretch) because I know I would have to be pushing into the wind. I tried to ride off those guys and it would help me in the end when I could finally kick.”
Acker’s was more than happy with his finishing time.
“This is a four-second PR! The last time was a 2:06 in indoor,” he said. “We are trying to get a national team for the 4x800, so this will help.”
In another close race, La Salle senior Alicia DeCastro was the first to break the tape in the girls’ event. With a strong kick the final 200 meters, DeCastro broke away from Cumberland’s Nichole Barger en route to a winning time of 2:20.5. Barger, a junior, was second at 2:21.5. Sophomore teammate Meaghan Scullin placed third in 2:24.7.
For the most part, DeCastro and Barger ran side-by-side for the two-lapper. The Cumberland runner held a slight edge at the 400 split, passed in 70 seconds.
“Right before the race started I saw her and thought, ‘Okay, I’ll have her as my rabbit, someone to stay with.’ It kind of worked out that way,” said DeCastro, about Barger. “We stayed with each other the whole time and on the last 200, I was like okay I am going to win this thing.”
The La Salle runner was less than a second from her PB of 2:19.76 at the indoor state meet this past winter. She also ran a 2:18 as part of the Rams’ 4x800m squad at the New Balance National Indoor Championships.
In the back of her mind, DeCastro was hoping to dip under 2:20.
“When I went through in 70 (seconds) I didn’t know if I could go sub 2:20," she said. "I wanted to break it by a little bit but I am happy that I (had even splits of) 70, 70.”
(Photo by RAPHAEL BIEBER)
1,500-meter run
East Greenwich senior Garrett Scanlon coasted to an easy victory in the boys’ race. He was more than six-seconds ahead of his closest competitor by the finish with his winning time of 4:13.0. Scituate’s Kenny Vinacco was second at 4:19.4.
Scanlon took control from the start and already had a sizable lead over the chase pack by the 400.
“I kind of just went out and didn’t really get caught up in things,” he said. “I felt confident I could probably keep it. It’s a gorgeous day. It’s the best I could ask for. The wind (on the backstretch) kind of just made me work on my form and keep my form. I just carried that on to the downwind and it helped my time a lot.”
Scanlon has been one of the state’s best in the middle-distance events. He’s looking to end his high school career with a bang.
“Based on some of my indoor times I am looking for sub four (minutes) in the 1,500,” he said. “I feel confident I can get that and sub two (minutes) in the 800. I think we are going to have a good 4x800 team. That’s going to be as important as well.”
The girls’ 1,500 was captured by La Salle sophomore Eliza Rego in 4:50.0. The top four finishers cracked five minutes with La Salle’s Karina Tavares placing second at 4:55.4, Pilgrim’s Danika Wayss placing third in 4:56.5 and East Greenwich’s Margaret McCaffrey settling for fourth at 4:58.9.
Rego, who never relinquished the front-runner position from the start, ran a controlled race. She passed the opening 400 around 76 seconds.
“The plan was not to go too fast, run easy and get prepared for Penn,” said Rego, making reference to the Penn Relays this weekend where she’ll be on the Rams’ distance medley squad. “I haven’t really raced yet.”
The La Salle standout is looking forward to the upcoming season, especially with her primary training partner Sheridan Wilbur back on the track. Wilbur, a multiple all-stater, was sidelined for the entire indoor season with a hip injury.
“I feel great. I feel strong. I have Sheridan back so she pushes me. I am really excited,” Rego said. “I miss her. She pushes me and I am excited to have her with me now.
(Photo by RAPHAEL BIEBER)
Freshmen, Sophomore 1,500-meter run
East Greenwich has consistently produced some top middle and long distance runners the last few years and that trend appears to be continuing.
Avenger ninth-grader Hank Perretta earned gold in the boys’ event, timed in a solid 4:28.7. Scituate’s Matt Vinacco was second at 4:30.2, while E.G.’s Jackson Cronin took the bronze in 4:35.6.
In the girls’ race, Pilgrim’s Bryanna Mullin won by nearly three seconds with her time of 5:26.5. Cumberland’s Julia Dempsey was second at 5:29.4.
In the sophomore races, Cumberland’s Will Mardo won convincingly at 4:26.7. Barrington’s Grant Auber was the runner-up in 4:31.7. The Clippers’ Rebecca Khimation out-leaned teammate Ashley Foster to take the girls’ event with both timed in 6:03.4.
(Photo by RAPHAEL BIEBER)
2,000-meter steeplechase
This is not an official steeplechase with regular hurdles used and no water jump. But just like the standard event, it’s still a difficult one with “barriers” interrupting the normal pacing of a race.
In the boys’ race, North Providence’s Noah Coogan stayed with the lead pack in the early stages and took over towards the final few laps to win at 6:45.7. He was about 5:25 at the mile mark.
Fiona Beltram, a senior from Ponaganset, was far ahead of the field in the girls’ competition, finishing with a 7:43.2 clocking. Katarina Heyden of Mount Hope was second at 8:13.1.
“I really enjoyed it,” said Beltram, about her initial time competing in the event. “At first, I was a little scared. I was working at it in practice the last few days. I was little scared to go over the hurdles, but once I got out there it felt really natural. It was really great.”
3,000, 5,000-meter run
Moses Brown’s George Adamy was the lone participant in the boys’ 3K. He was timed in 11:08.3. The girls’ winner was Bay View’s Claire Hanlon at 12:34.5.
Cumberland junior Abdullah Kaba beat a field of 10 runners to take the 5K with a PB of 17:03.9. Teammate Matt Fownes was second at 17:26.0. The only girl in the event was Megan Horn of Ponaganset, who ran a respectable time of 20:48.2.
For results, click here.