Rhode Island Classic Highlights
Despite the snowstorm that hit the northeast region, an abundance of schools from Rhode Island and its surrounding states ignored the elements and made the trek to Providence for the 4th annual R.I. Classic on Saturday. Here are some of the highlights that entertained the dedicated fans that packed the stands inside the Providence Career and Technical Academy field house:
Girls
- Hillhouse (Conn.) High senior Precious Holmes made it to the victory stand three times. Holmes captured the 300-meter dash with a season-best 40.18 clocking (US#6). She also ran the leg on the Academics’ winning distance medley relay (12:38.47) and sprint medley relay (4:13.14).
- Classical (R.I.) High junior Maddy Berkson had a productive and prosperous afternoon. Berkson held off freshman Bella Bruda of Arlington (N.Y.) High to take the mile run with a time of 5:03.37. Bruda was second at 5:04.76. The versatile Berkson also placed second in the 3,000 with a time of 10:17.4 and anchored the Purple’s first-place 4x400 squad (4:03.79), scorching her leg in 56 seconds.
- La Salle (R.I.) Academy ran the fifth fastest time nationwide in the 4x800 with the quartet of freshman Eliza Rego, junior Alicia DeCastro, senior Caitlin Marino and sophomore Sheridan Wilbur combining for a time of 9:40.91.
- Senior Ally Saccone of Old Rochester (Mass.) Regional out-leaned New Rochelle (N.Y.) High junior Ashley Wiggins by a tenth of a second to claim the crown in the 55 high hurdles with a strong time of 7.49.
- Colonie (N.Y.) High junior Kara Synder defended her title in the pole vault by clearing a height of 11-0.
Boys
- Bloomfield (Conn.) High set a meet record in the high jump relay with the trio of senior Demario Gray, Jaquan Greaux and Jermaine Lascelles combining for a height of 18 feet, 6 inches. Gray had the best leap among his teammates with an outstanding 6-8 effort.
- Junior Omari Buckmire of Bay Shore (N.Y.) High was a double winner. Buckmire snared his titles in the long jump with a distance of 22-7 ¾ (US #8) and the triple jump at 47-1 ¾ (US #3).
- Senior Sibby Hanson of Arlington (N.Y.) High took the lead for good at the 600 mark and coasted to a win in the mile with a time of 4:26.44.
- Bryce Kelley, a senior from Chariho Regional (R.I.) High, sizzled to a first-place time of 1:56.94 in the 800. That clocking ranks No. 4 nationally.
- Senior Tyler Rubega of East Hampton (Conn.) High soared to a height of 13-0 to capture the pole vault.
