Despite coming from a small state, the La Salle Academy boys of Rhode Island don't view themselves as small and instead see themselves as one of the biggest and best top tier returning cross country teams in the country. Programs like Bishop Hendricksen in their state have proven in the past that Rhode Island squads can compete well on the national level. While they did no qualify for Nike Cross Nationals out of the Northeast Region last year, La Salle Academy is one of the few teams in the nation that was a top 10 team in their region race that returns their entire top 7. Not only do they return their entire top 7, but they return their next 7 as well!
Coached by Kenneth Skelly (entering his 16th year at La Salle), a roughly 40 second spread separates their top 5 returnees ranging from 5K PR's from 15:41 to 16:23 with a rising sophomore in David Principe as their top returnee and on the track their core continued to develop during the indoor and outdoor track season. The La Salle Academy boys nearly put 5 guys under 9 in the 3K with Jack Salisbury and Principe having both run 8:45, while Principe is actually the 5th fastest 1500 meter runner on the team with James Placco (4:03.20 PR) having run a sub 4:20 mile equivalent as the team's fastest.
First place at last year's New England XC Championships, the La Salle Academy boys first need to get past the Bishop Hendricken boys in their state meet after finishing a close state runner-up in 2013 to their state rivals. The Rams of La Salle are a team with great upside having several of their top runners who should have a higher ceiling for improvements and jumps this fall coming off their underclassmen years of running. Finishing 8th in the 2013 NXN Northeast Regional with a young squad including 1 freshmen and 2 sophomores in their top 4, a more maturated La Salle squad is ready to leapfrog the teams which finished ahead of them last year at Bowdoin Park and earn a trip to Portland Meadows.
Boys Top 7 Returnees Times: 5K XC - 3000m - 1500m
Top 7 Boys Returnees from 2013 XC Season (5K Times)
| La Salle Academy (RI) | ||
| 1) David Principe | 15:41.50 | |
| 2) Jack Salisbury | 15:43.90 | |
| 3) Dan Paiva | 16:04.30 | |
| 4) Jake Grundy | 16:11.30 | |
| 5) Chris Notarianni | 16:23.17 | |
| Average Time: 16:00.83 Total Time: 1:20:04.17 1-5 Split: 41.67 | ||
| 6) Matthew Bouthillette | 16:50.60 | |
Top 7 Boys Returning 3000m Times from 2014 Outdoor Season
| La Salle Academy (RI) | ||
| 1) Jack Salisbury | 8:45.30 | |
| 2) David Principe | 8:45.70 | |
| 3) Jake Grundy | 8:48.90 | |
| 4) Matthew Bouthillette | 8:56.00 | |
| 5) Dan Paiva | 9:01.50 | |
| Average Time: 8:51.48 Total Time: 44:17.40 1-5 Split: 16.20 | ||
| 6) Connor Hennesey | 9:13.70 | |
| 7) Alessandro Campagna | 9:49.60 | |
Top 7 Boys Returning 1500m Times from 2014 Outdoor Season
| La Salle Academy (RI) | ||
| 1) James Placco | 4:03.20 | |
| 2) Jack Salisbury | 4:04.49 | |
| 3) Matthew Bouthillette | 4:05.39 | |
| 4) Dan Paiva | 4:06.10 | |
| 5) David Principe | 4:10.00 | |
| Average Time: 4:05.84 Total Time: 20:29.18 1-5 Split: 6.80 | ||
| 6) Jake Grundy | 4:13.20 | |
| 7) Justin Guglimetti | 4:23.50 | |
Q&A with La Salle Academy (RI) XC head coach Kenneth Skelly
How many years have you been coaching high school cross country (and at your current school)?
I have been coaching for 17 years of which I have been the head coach at La Salle Academy for the past 15 years.
What do you attribute as the main reasons for the success of your program?
The one thing I can say about this squad is that want to be in the moment. If it is a training run, a workout, a dual meet, or the biggest stages for high school cross country their goal is to be in that moment and let nothing distract them from the goal of that moment. Overall dedication, from school administrators to parents to the coaching staff to the team. Everyone is dedicated to seeing this team succeed.
What would be the best way to describe your style and philosophy of coaching and working with high school runners?
We have a great coaching staff. Between myself, Coach (William) Myers, and Coach (Mark) Mercurio we bring different and functional styles of coaching but it blends together very well. I know that the coaching philosophy on the staff is to try and meet the needs of all our runners, our different styles make it so we can beetr serve the needs of the whole team. We coach a team not a group of individuals and our athletes understand that you run for the teammate next to you. We use the sport of Cross Country as a tool to enhance the intellectual, emotional, and social bonds of these student athletes.
What are your core beliefs in your training plan and workouts for your cross country squads?
It is about being in the moment by staying focused on the plan for the day. We center our training plan on mileage and pace. Pace on “easy days” is around 6:20 per mile and that creates a core level of fitness, it creates consistency. Workouts are planned on their race pace and recent production in workouts. There are times during the season that we push them physically and other times where we back off so that they can be prepared for the championship push of the season.
How many runners do you return from your top 7 from a year ago?
Our top 14 return from last year so our depth can play a role if need be.
Who is your projected top 7 heading into the cross country season?
Jack Salisbury (JR), David Principe Jr. (SO), Jake Grundy (SR), Dan Paiva (SR), Christopher Notarianni (SR), Matthew Bouthillette (JR), and James Placco (SR).
Who are your team captains or leaders and what stands out about them as examples for the rest of their teammates?
Our captains are not approved as of yet, but we have great senior leadership with Grundy, Paiva, Notarianni, Placco, Connor Hennessey, and Justin Guglielimetti. Our seniors are supportive among themselves since they started out as freshmen and they have a constructive balance of being driven in the sport and have a great sense of humor when relaxed. Their attitude is contagious and permeates through the team. They are a great group of kids who makes every teammate feel valued.
Who have you been most impressed or surprised with their improvement and/or fitness from their summer training?
The 6th through 14th boys on the team. I knew that our top five would be ready to train, but the supporting cast is closing the gap and the competition for the last couple of spots on varsity is going to very close. They all want be part of it.
Any impactful freshmen or transfers to join the team this season?
Bobby Bissit (SO) from Smithfield High School he was one of the top 5 freshmen from last year.
What are the top invitational meets that your team will be attending this season?
SAT’s affected our schedule and it is still up in the air somewhat, but we are looking to compete in the Bodwin Invitational (site of the Nike Northeast Regional), Great American, and Manhattan Invitational. Then in the championship season we have States, New Englands, Nike Regionals, and hopefully Nike Nationals.
What will be the biggest obstacle or challenge facing your team this season?
Staying healthy. Injuries are a part of this sport and they happen on every team. I am confident that our depth is up to the challenge if we ever have that obstacle.
What will be the biggest reason why your team is successful this season?
Focus, that sense of being in the moment at all times. Dedication, they execute all the details in their training.
What is a favorite annual or common pre-season workout or run for your team?
Hills during the summer are a staple of every 10 day cycle of training. The 2 mile time trial is the only time we run against ourselves and it shows who did their work during the summer.
What is a favorite annual or common mid-season workout for your team?
2 x 2 mile with 3 minute rest, teaches pace and a balanced effort between each interval
What is a favorite annual or common championship season or end-of-season workout for your team?
Repeat 1000’s
What are your top 3 goals for this year's squad?
It is great to be a part of this coaching staff and team of runners that are dedicated yet relaxed. La Salle Academy maybe from the smallest state, but we have big goals in mind. We are from a small state but we have big goals. State Champions, New England Champions, and qualify for Nike Nationals and make some noise while we are there.