With so much great talent in R.I., to come up with a list that includes all the top athletes at Saturday’s state championship meet would be a monumental task that has a time limit this scribe can't match. So breaking it down, here’s what MileSplit RI considers the "Lucky 8" or eight athletes to watch this weekend at Brown Stadium. This is, by no means, a list of all the high-profile athletes in the state as there are many other worthy candidates for that category. It's just a list of athletes that MileSplit RI feels has potential to do something special on Saturday.
Zach Emrich, senior, North Kingstown
Have to admit, MileSplit RI had its doubts when Zach was entered in the 400m and 800m last year. Even though the North Kingstown standout always rises to the occasion, the thought of him winning back-to-back races against the level of competition with limited rest didn’t seem possible. He proved us wrong, not only winning both races but doing so with outstanding times of 48.55 and 1:57.05, respectively. Guess what? Zach will be back looking for an encore performance. It will be a little tougher this year in both events. The Brown University-bound runner has a season best of 48.7 in the 400m, a little more than a second faster than Mount Pleasant’s Trevaine Clark. In the 800, he has a season best of 1:54.80, a time that will more than likely be hard to achieve with a fast 400m already in the books. The field is loaded, too. Eleven runners have cracked two minutes this spring. But don’t count Zach out for the tough double. He knows every point he gets will be important for the Skippers to win the state title. That added motivation might be all he needs to score 20 points by himself.
(Photo courtesy of Ed Ionata)
Adam Kelly, junior, Barrington
Adam won his first state title during the indoor season with a win in the 25-pound weight. He then went on to capture the crown at the New Balance Nationals. Adam appears ready to continue his excellence in the weight events this Saturday by winning the hammer. He copped the Class B title a few weeks ago with his personal best of 223-04 and won the Hendricken Invitational this past weekend at 222-04. Adam will be looking to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Charlie Ionata, who won the indoor weight and hammer last year. Right now, Adam’s biggest competition should come from his teammate, sophomore Bobby Colantonio, who actually has thrown further than Adam with his best of 228-0 at the Rick Schomp Invitational back in early May. Bobby also won the Classical Classic on May 17 with a 225-2 best.
Jack Salisbury, sophomore, La Salle Academy
He’s only a tenth-grader, but Jack demonstrates the ability of a runner far more experienced. He knows how to race and he is not afraid to take charge from the opening gun. If the race is close during the last stages, it hard to match the kick of the Ram runner. During the indoor season, he won the 1,500m and the 1,000m. He could be a double-winner again this weekend in the 1,500m and 800m. But even if he’s not, Jack should place high in both events as well as anchor a solid 4x800m squad.
Ben Stewart, senior, North Kingstown
The Skippers are the pre-meet favorites to win the team title this weekend and Ben could be the difference-maker. He’s ranked No. 1 in the 300m hurdles and is one of only five hurdlers to crack 15 seconds in the 110m race. Ben has been a model of consistency this season. He was undefeated in the 300m hurdles with a best of 38.3. In the 110m hurdles he has either been first or second and owns a best of 14.9, which he has done twice. Ben also has versatility, lending his foot speed to the Skippers’ top-ranked 4x400m relay squad.
Colin Tierney, senior, Bishop Hendricken
Colin always comes to race and when the chips are at their highest that’s usually when he’s at his best. The Hawk runner has the fastest time in the 3K this spring with an 8:37.46 at the Penn Relays in April. He also has the ability to run a low four-minute time in the 1,500m. Colin likes to lead and that’s more than likely the route he’ll take in the 3K. In the Class A meet which he won with an 8:42.80 clocking, Colin took the guesswork out of the outcome quickly, opening up with a 64-second first 400m.
Lee Moses, junior, Bishop Hendricken
The Hawks’ speedster has the ability to score multiple points for his teammates. Lee blazed to the state-leading 10.7 time in the 100m at the class meet and won the crown at the Hendricken Invitational in 11-seconds flat. Lee is also the top-ranked long jumper with his 22-1 season best at the Penn Relays in April. The versatile junior also runs the anchor on the Hawks’ 4x100m relay, a squad that ranks No. 1 in the state. A big day for Lee could equate to a big day for the Hawks.
Ethan Wright, senior, Narragansett
Last year, Ethan finished third at the state meet. This season his personal best of 199-2, achieved at the Class C meet, is more than 30 feet further than the No. 2 thrower, Barrington junior Jamie Heinl. Ethan has broken 190 feet two other times with a 198-11 effort at the Classical Classic and a heave of 190-0 at the Southern Division Championships.
Trevane Clarke, junior, Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant is not among the contenders for the state title, but Trevane could make things interesting for the teams that are. He’s got the potential to win the 100m, 200m and/or the 400m. He’s done 11.0 for the dash, owns the No. 1 time in the 200m at 21.80 and did 49.9 at Hendricken this past Saturday.