Mark Feigen topped Andrew Springer for the first time this fall as Rhode Islanders swept the top three places at the NE XC Championships
MANCHESTER, N.H. - New England's smallest and flattest state produced some big time performances on the punishing hills of Derryfield Park on Saturday at the New England Cross Championships.
The first three finishers in the boy's 5-kilometer race were Rhode Islanders. Mark Feigen, an East Greenwich senior, nipped Westerly's Andrew Springer, also a senior, to capture the coveted New England crown. Feigen posted a time of 15:47.1, less than second ahead of Springer. In third place was junior Nick Ross, also of East Greenwich, who crossed the finish line in 15:50.
Another Rhode Islander, Connor Mercurio, of LaSalle Academy, was 6th, in 15:56.
The top three boys teams from Rhode Island were Bishop Hendricken, 9th with 294 points, last weekend's State Champions; Chariho, 11th, 367 points; and Barrington, 13th, 387 points.
Among the girls, Jenna Riley, of Coventry, finished 15th, in 18:58, and she was the only Rhode Islander among the top 25 girls. Nonetheless, the state's girls placed three teams among the Top 10. LaSalle Academy, crowned State Champion last weekend, was 3rd, with 188 points; Barrington, state runner-up, was 8th, with 287 points; and East Greenwich, was 9th with 312 points.
The boys race, which got underway first at 11:30 a.m., provided the thousands of fans that lined the course with the most drama. Going into the race, the clear favorite was Springer, who just six days before, set a course record, 15:13, on the Covered Bridge Trail at Ponaganset High School in northern Rhode Island. He was ranked as the nation's #9 cross country runner this season. His only possible competition appeared to be Eric Malnati, a senior from Fall Mountain, N.H. who was crowned New Hampshire State Champion last week.
Several coaches anticipated a Springer victory, but others wondered how he would fare on the rugged terrain.
Feigen, who finished about 30 seconds behind Springer in the Rhode Island State Championship, said that he viewed the Westerly star as ``pretty much untouchable,'' going into the race.
But Feigen and teammate Ross have had plenty of success this season. Last month, Feigen won the Varsity F Race in Van Cortlandt Park in New York City, while Ross won the Woods Trail Run at Thetford, Vermont in early October, defeating Springer by a second, 16:52 to 16:53.
Derryfield Park, Van Cortlandt Park and Thetford may feature the toughest hills of any cross country course in the Northeast. Feigen and Ross, who both stand over six-feet tall and weigh about 170 pounds, excel on difficult terrain. Part of their success can be attributed to the weight room: they lift weights three times a week.
On Saturday, the lead pack took off at a conservative pace and a thundering herd of about 25 runners passed the cheering crowd in an open field at Derryfield Park.
East Greenwich Coach Peter Dion clocked them at the 1-mile mark: Feigen, 5:10 and Ross, 5:14. Feigen said that at this point, he was shooting for a top five finish. At the two-mile mark, with the big hills behind them, Feigen was at 10:36, while Ross was right with him at 10:42.
The leaders emerged from the woods with Malnati leading Springer by 20 yards. Both boys were struggling on this unseasonably warm and muggy morning as they circled the field near the starting line. As they headed down the final stretch for the last 200 yards, Malnati looked disoriented and Springer, a sub-4:20 miler, appeared poised to catch him. Ross looked very strong in 3rd place, while Feigen, who was 4th, was ready to overtake his teammate.
Feigen had bigger plans He reached back and found something extra, passing Malnati and catching Springer at the finish line. Ross also caught Malnati in the final few yards.
So, about those hills. Do Feigen and Ross like the challenge? Depends on who you talk to.
Said East Greenwich Coach Dion: ``They do very well on hill. They enjoy hills.
Said Feigen: ``Those were very steep hills. I'm not much of a hill runner.''
Feigen, whose college plans may include Columbia, William & Mary or Villanova, hopes that his performance on Saturday will draw the attention of other college coaches. He was thrilled, but almost in disbelief over his performance. As a sophomore, he said that he finished in the ``hundreds,'' in the New England Championships. Well, not quite - he was 94th.
``I mean it's amazing,'' Feigen said.
TOP 10 RI BOYS:
1) Mark Feigen, East Greenwich, 15:47
2) Andrew Springer, Westerly, 15:48
3) Nick Ross, East Greenwich, 15:50
4) Connor Mercurio, LaSalle, 15:56; 6th overall.
5) Bob Allen, Cranston West, 16:07; 13th overall.
6) Jake Sienko, Bishop Hendricken, 16:08; 14th overall.
7) Tim O'Loughlin, Westerly, 16:19; 29th overall.
8) Matt Macedo, Ponaganset, 16:26; 36th overall.
9) Sid Griffin, Barrington, 16:28; 38th overall.
10) Dave Hurley, Chariho, 16:37; 59th overall.
TOP 10 RI GIRLS:
1) Jenna Riley, Coventry, 18:58; 15th overall.
2) Arianna Colella, Cranston West, 19:19; 27th overall.
3) Emily Siskind, Barrington, 19:26; 30th overall.
4) Allie Stasiuk, North Kingstown, 19:40; 43rd overall.
5) Emily Papazian, LaSalle, 19:45; 47th overall.
6) Erin Carmone, East Providence, 19:47; 52nd overall.
7) Laura Duff, East Greenwich, 19:58; 63rd overall.
8) Molly Malinowski, Barrington, 19:59; 64th overall.
9) Jean Christensen, LaSalle, 20:04; 67th overall.
10) Molly Keating, LaSalle, 20:05; 70th overall.