On Thursday at the Sweeney-Headley Last-Chance Qualifier, varsity athletes throughout the state gathered one last time before heading to the State Meet on Feb. 18. Here's some of what transpired during a long night of track & field at the Providence Career and Athletic Center.
- Woonsocket's Jared Briere improved on his personal best and his national ranking by winning the weight throw with a heave of 72 feet, 5 inch. The distance moves him to No. 5 on the list.
- Barrington's Mars Bishop and North Providence's Nathan Coogan clocked the state's second and third best time in the 1,000-meter run with Bishop winning the race at 2:32.74 and Coogan placing second at 2:33.85.
- North Kingstown's Sam Toolin, who has been showcasing his speed lately, won the 600m run with a PB of 1:24.30, a time that ranks No. 3 statewide. Finishing second was Toll Gate's talented middle-distance star Nikolas Reygades with a school record 1:25.09.
- Portsmouth's Nikki Merrill improved her No. 1 status on the 1,500m with a best of 4:41.07. She also won the 1,000m
- Westerly's Randi Burr demonstrated her versatility by capturing the 600m with the state's third fastest time of 1:39.75.
- Cranston East's Molly Botts moved up to No. 5 in the state rankings by taking the weight throw with a toss of 50-2.5.
Meet Results
Girls Highlights
- 1,000 Meter Run - Nikki Merrill (Portsmouth High School) 3:03.33; Leinni Valdez (Hope High School) 3:05.79; Elizabeth Sullivan (Portsmouth High School) 3:05.97;
- 1,500 Meter Run - Nikki Merrill (Portsmouth High School) 4:41.07; Elizabeth Sullivan (Portsmouth High School) 4:45.62; Grace Henson (Cumberland) 5:01.54; Sydney Bagus (Smithfield Senior High School) 5:02.11; Olive Allen (Portsmouth High School) 5:03.40; Emma Shaw (St Mary Academy-Bay View High School) 5:04.49; Katarina Ho (North Kingstown High School) 5:05.40; Lisbeth Valdez (Hope High School) 5:05.51; Una Treanor (Smithfield Senior High School) 5:06.15; Sarah Bain (St Mary Academy-Bay View High School) 5:06.19; Brookelynn Forcier (La Salle Academy) 5:08.35; Emma Sammartino (North Kingstown High School) 5:08.57;
- 3,000 Meter Run - Eleanor Lawler (South Kingstown High School) 10:28.71;
- 300 Meter Dash - Isabella Gentil (East Greenwich High School) 42.24;
- 4x200 Meter Relay - East Greenwich High School 1:48.52;
- 600 Meter Run - Randi Burr (Westerly High School) 1:39.75; Meghann Maguire (North Kingstown High School) 1:40.04; Bridget Mckierman (Classical High School) 1:40.27; Emily Kane (La Salle Academy) 1:41.25; Aliya Barrows (St Mary Academy-Bay View High School) 1:41.33; Téa Bishop (Barrington High School) 1:41.52; Sydney Federico (Westerly High School) 1:42.32;
- Weight Throw - Molly Botts (Cranston East High School) 50-2.5; Samantha Andrews (Lincoln High School) 48-6.75; Ani Armenakyan (Toll Gate High School) 47-11.25; Joangely Mata (Mount Pleasant High School) 47-11; Maggie Tarmey (Lincoln High School) 47-9; Chelsea Yang (Pilgrim High School) 46-10.5; Jasmine Gallo-fusco (Toll Gate High School) 44-6.5; Keyarsa Harris (Central High School) 44-2; Nicole Valdez (Hope High School) 43-7; Lea Fusco (Coventry High School) 42-10.25; Katrin Kurowski (Woonsocket High School) 42-3; Morgan Cruz (West Warwick High School) 41-3.25; Takiyah Lewis (Central High School) 41-3; Megan Cook (Ponaganset High School) 40-10.25; Brianna Shablom (Portsmouth High School) 40-4.5; Voski Armenakyan (Toll Gate High School) 39-8; Melissa Mejia (Classical High School) 39-5.5; April Younkin (Portsmouth High School) 39-5.25; Georgina Farley (Classical High School) 39-2.5;
Boys Highlights
- 1,000 Meter Run - Mars Bishop (Barrington High School) 2:32.74; Nathan Coogan (North Providence) 2:33.85; Jack Perreault (North Kingstown High School) 2:37.91; Matthew Walker (Westerly High School) 2:38.25;
- 1,500 Meter Run - John Pagliaro (Smithfield Senior High School) 4:10.27;
- 300 Meter Dash - Sam Coleman (La Salle Academy) 36.52;
- 4x400 Meter Relay - Central High School 3:29.50;
- 4x55 Meter Shuttle Hurdle Relay - Bishop Hendricken High School 30.83; Bishop Hendricken High School 31.16 (prelims); Shrewsbury Senior High School 31.81;
- 55 Meter Dash - Leonardo Daveiga (Central Falls Senior High School) 6.58; Leonardo Daveiga (Central Falls Senior High School) 6.61; Dametrius Oconnor (Central High School) 6.58;
- 600 Meter Run - Sam Toolin (North Kingstown High School) 1:24.30; Nikolas Reygadas (Toll Gate High School) 1:25.09; Kyle Martinez (East Greenwich High School) 1:25.83; Charles Kolie (Central High School) 1:26.67;
- Weight Throw - Jared Briere (Woonsocket High School) 72-5; Dilyn Cote (Woonsocket High School) 66-5; Jacob Greenless (Woonsocket High School) 64-4.5; Garrett Doyle (Lincoln High School) 63-6; Evan Grivers (Lincoln High School) 61-8; Matthew Thibaudeau (Lincoln High School) 60-4.5; Abraham Salako (Bishop Hendricken High School) 59-10.75; Ryan Morel (Bishop Hendricken High School) 57-2.25; Jason Hoskins (Coventry High School) 56-3.5; Alex Cabral (West Warwick High School) 55-11.5; Rondie Almeida (Bishop Hendricken High School) 55-5; Alex Mazika (Cumberland) 53-8; Derin Paskanik (Woonsocket High School) 53-6; Jide Akinjisola (Bishop Hendricken High School) 52-11.75; Tyler Pelletier (Coventry High School) 52-11.5; Jonathan Buchanan (Classical High School) 52-8.5; Michael Luna (Central High School) 52-4.5;