Who are the top runners coming back this year? Who will make the most impact this fall.
During the next few weeks, MileSplit RI will highlight the athletes (boys and girls) we feel to keep an eye on this season. Among the top 14 boys at last year's state meet, seven are gone to graduation. For the girls, just three have graduated. The competition will be stiff once again. Both of our returning state titlist, La Salle Academy junior D.J. Principe and Barrington senior Emma McMillan will back on the trails with McMillan aiming for a record, fourth consecutive individual crown.
Without further ado...
(D.J. Principe en route to a state record of 14:42 in the 5K at the New Balance Nationals in June. The La Salle junior appears ready for another stellar campaign on the X-C trails.)
D.J. Principe
La Salle Academy, junior
If you have to label a favorite for this year's state crown, Principe would have to be listed as one of them. After all, he did win the title last year as a sophomore. His toughest competition may be two runners he sees everyday in practice, teammates Matt Bouthilette and Jack Salisbury. Principe never backs down from the competition and will make every race honest. We are looking for big things this year from the La Salle standout during his all-important junior campaign, and it starts on the cross-country trails. Principe's last high school race as a tenth-grader was the New Balance Nationals in June where he established a state record for 5,000 meters with his fourth-place time of 14 minutes, 42.15. Cross country is a different animal and that time does not commute to a similar clocking on the uneven terrain. But what it does show is a low 15-minute effort is possible. That will be tough to beat wherever he competes. Principe also has the added motivation of competing on a team that is favored to repeat its state title from a year ago and could earn a return trip to the Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon. Judging by his summer training, something that has been blogged weekly on MileSplit, Principe is focused and ready for another special fall season. How special? We'll soon find out.
