RECAP: Boys RIIL State Cross Country Championships 2024

The trails of Ponaganset witnessed one of the greatest races in recent memory as two titans of the Rhode Island running scene clashed for the second time this season.

The 3.11 mile Covered Bridge Course saw the Class A champion, Marshall Vernon take on the Class B Champion, Sean Gray in a battle for the RIIL State Cross Country Championship title. 

While other contenders such as Class C winner Cole Francis of Narragansett, Bishop Hendricken runner Colby Flynn or defending state champion Sam Henderson of Cumberland were in the conversation, barring anything drastic, the race would come down to the two of them.  

The race started with a blistering pace of 4:49 as the two runners, led by Gray, circled the fields and entered the back loop.

In the back loop, Gray led the charge with Marshall on his heels. Unlike their last encounter where at Dual Meet #2 where Gray put a large gap on Marshall, he hung on and they went down the hill at 4k neck and neck.

This is where Vernon made his decisive move. He opened his stride and began to put a gap on Gray.  As he came around the tennis courts by the top 25 all-time performances listed, he made it seem likely he would rewrite history once again.

Vernon entered the football field's final stretch with a 14:XX on the clock, and although he came close, he ran just a tick over 15 minutes with a final time of 15:00.75.

Boys Top 10 Finishers

This is the #2 time in the history of the course as well as in the state of Rhode Island, only behind the great DJ Principe of La Salle Academy's 14:56.09.

Gray had to settle for 2nd in 15:11.82, which puts him 4th all time.  After them, Colby Flynn of Hendricken came in running 15:43.50 while Class C winner Cole Francis and defending state champion Sam Henderson rounded out the top 5 in times of 15:45.48 and 15:46.41.

Myles Napolitano of Barrington and Gavin Shipperley of North Kingstown completed the top 7 with times just above 16 minutes.  

The team battle saw Bishop Hendricken put up a dominating performance with just 64 points.  This was 39 ahead of East Greenwich with 103, and 1 more ahead of La Salle with 104.  Rounding out the top 6 was Barrington with 108, Cumberland with 130, and Portsmouth with 156.

Boys Top 10 Team Scores

One thing worth noting is that Portsmouth qualified for New England's for the first time in school history, and did so thanks to just 3 points less than North Kingstown who took 7th with 159.

This also makes it Hendricken's 5th straight state title with their last loss coming in 2021 to La Salle Academy.  

Next is New England's hosted at Connecticut's Wickham Park.

The fall of 2020 last saw this course where La Salle won the team title with 89 points as well as their very own Jack McLoughlin taking 3rd overall in the 17th fastest time in course history with a 15:35.

Can Vernon of Gray challenge this time and place?  Or can Hendricken win the team title?  On Saturday, November 9th, we will have our answer.