(Photos by RAPHAEL BIEBER)
Heavy-favorite La Salle Academy was a perfect two-for-two at the R.I. State Cross-Country Championships Sunday afternoon at Ponaganset.
Under less-than-favorable conditions, La Salle sophomore D.J. Principe captured individual honors in the boys' race with winning time of 15 minutes, 37.17 seconds. The Rams had their remaining six runners among the top 11 finishers to beat second-place and defending state titlists Bishop Hendricken, 25-47. The Hawks' Tom Grizzetti was second with a time of 15:51.21 and placing third was the Rams' Dan Paiva at 15:55.44. Finishing fourth overall was La Salle junior Matt Bouthillette at 16:00.28 and taking fifth was Hendricken junior Dominic Parlato in 16:02.34.
For the third straight year, Barrington High junior Emma McMillan copped the girls' crown. The Eagle standout was timed in 17:47.87. Led by a runner-up effort from junior Karina Tavares (17:59.09), the La Salle girls earned their second consecutive team crown with a convincing 39-95 decision over second-place Barrington. Rounding out the top five finishers was South Kingstown freshman Ellie Lawler (18:03.25), La Salle junior Eliza Rego (18:30.38) and Barrington freshmen Grace Connolly (18:40.90).
Girls Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Emma Mcmillan (Barrington High School) 17:47.87; Karina Tavares (La Salle Academy) 17:59.09; Ellie Lawler (South Kingstown High School) 18:03.25; Eliza Rego (La Salle Academy) 18:30.38; Grace Connolly (Barrington High School) 18:40.90; Bethany Nunnery (North Kingstown High School) 18:47.75; Randi Burr (Westerly High School) 18:55.22;Sheridan Wilbur (La Salle Academy) 19:00.49; Nichole Barger (Cumberland) 19:08.61; Marissa Mcphillips (Narragansett High School) 19:12.99; Amy Laverty (Cumberland) 19:22.15; Jessica Bellows (Coventry High School) 19:26.41; Elise Papazian (La Salle Academy) 19:27.05; Audrey O'neill (La Salle Academy) 19:27.43; Katy Brayman (North Kingstown High School) 19:29.29;Margaret Mccaffrey (East Greenwich High School) 19:32.73; Isabel Baker (Chariho Regional High School) 19:36.04; Meaghan Scullin (Cumberland) 19:38.65; Una Treanor (South Kingstown High School) 19:39.22; Cianna Lynch (La Salle Academy) 19:42.69; Claire Hanlon (St Mary Academy-Bay View High School) 19:43.28;
Boys Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - David Principe (La Salle Academy) 15:37.17; Tom Grizzetti (Bishop Hendricken High School) 15:51.21; Dan Paiva (La Salle Academy) 15:55.44; Matthew Bouthillette (La Salle Academy) 16:00.28; Dominic Parlato (Bishop Hendricken High School) 16:02.34; Sean Laverty (Cumberland) 16:03.17; Noah Barreto (East Greenwich High School) 16:15.34; Jake Grundy (La Salle Academy) 16:18.70; Jack Salisbury (La Salle Academy) 16:29.59;