RI Outdoor T&F Preview: Girls' Throwing Events


It should come as no coincidence that the top two returnees in the shot put were also the best this past indoor season. In a mild upset, Lincoln's Samantha Andrews defeated No. 1 seed Ani Armenakyan of Toll Gate at the State Meet with a PB of 36-4.25. On paper, it appears the talented duo could be battling it out again for the individual crown in early June. The Titans' Amernakyan has the top distance among all the competitors with a best of 38-0.5 from her runner-up placement at the Schomp Invitational. She also been a bridesmaid at the last two State Meet, placing second to Cranston West's Jennifer Iozzi at the 2016 outdoor states. Can she get it done this spring? It could happen. The Prout School's Sarah Mitchell, a third-place finisher at the indoor states with a PB of 35-8, has potential to match that performance. There's also Rogers' teammates Ajahnea Greene and Jianna Peno and Bay View's Diana Bianco Riley that should be contending for podium placements.

Ponaganset's Gianna Rao owned the weight throw this past indoor season, winning her first state title and then placing second at the New Balance Nationals. We're guessing she'll own the hammer, too. Rao was second at last year's State Meet and finished with a best of 174-8. Warwick's Kate Johnson's state mark of 189-03, set in 2001, may be untouchable this year, but the talented junior still has another  year left to challenge that mark. A low -to-mid 180-footer is certainly attainable and should keep her on top in the Ocean State and once again one of the best in the nation. Barrington's Annika Kelly (164-9), the Lions' Andrews and Barrington's Faith Polando (154-10) should be contesting for top spots.

Andrews has potential to score quite a bit of points for the Lions. She's also the top-seeded discus-thrower. Last year, she placed second in this event, just four inches from her PR with a toss of 118-1. The next closest among returnees is Armenakyan, who had a best of 108-1 from the Class B meet. Kelly (100-10) and Coventry's Hanna Inman (100-6) are the only other athletes to exceed 100 feet.