Reese Fahys' Wins RIIL XC State Championship

Watch the Girls RIIL State Championship

We've seen three Rhode Island girls running very strong this cross country season, but we haven't gotten to see them in a true head to head race throughout the season. 

Reese Fahys moved to East Greenwich from New Jersey this summer and continued the success she had as a freshman running a season-best of 17:16 and winning the RIIL Class B Championship in 17:56.  Kaylie Armitage of La Salle ran a 17:22 5K on the track and coasted to a RIIL Class A Championship last week in 18:25.  And Sophia Gorriaran holds the indoor and outdoor 800m Freshman National Record and had run 18:16 this season and also won the RIIL Class C Championship.  

The three girls along with Rachael Mongeau (St. Raphael's) took the pace out together with Fahys and Armitage pushing the pace and Gorriaran and Mongeau just behind.  They were all four through the mile in just under 5:40.  

Watch RIIL Archived Race Video

Over the second mile Fahys', Armitage and Gorriaran all stuck together.  They crossed the two-mile which had the courses' biggest hill just past it.  Just like that Fahys' attacked the hill and built a massive lead that quickly grew to 100 meters.  Gorriaran tried to hold on in second place but Fahys' had taken it to a different gear.  

Fahys' was quickly running a loop back around the covered bridge trail coming back around the tennis courts at Ponaganset High School and it went from a three girl race for the win to a battle for second.  Though Gorriaran had put a little distance on Armitage, Armitage made a chargeback and made a pass with just under 800 meters to go.  

Fahys' showed she too was hurting as she came down the football field to the finish line in the stadium, and came through the line in 17:43, 15 seconds faster than last week on the same course.  

Armitage showed strength through the end of the race and would put some distance over Gorriaran once they got out of the woods and were back on the Ponaganset practice fields and would clock 17:58 for second place.  Gorriran would take 3rd in 18:14.

Rylee Shunney (East Greenwich) sat by herself in 5th for most of the race, but was able to reel in Mongeau over as they exited the woods and took 4th place in 18:25 with Mongeau in at 18:37 for 5th place.

Of the top 5, three girls are sophomores along with 2 seniors.  6th place finished Rory Sullivan is just a freshman who went from 4th at the RIIL Freshman State Championships, to 6th overall in the state championships just two weeks later!  Caroline Jankowich (Classical) also just a sophomore took 7th finishing in 18:56.

RIIL Top 10 Girls