Duo claimed first outdoor state titles at Brown
PROVIDENCE – As astounding as it sounds, Lincoln High junior Evan Grivers never thought he’d be in position to accomplish what he did at the R.I. Interscholastic Outdoor Championships at Brown Stadium last Saturday.
The bearded Lion was seeded eighth statewide in the javelin with a marginal heave of 146-8, but stunned his fellow competitors – heck, even himself – when he uncorked a PR distance of 163 feet, 7 inches on his initial attempt of the competition.
That toss alone delivered him his first-ever state crown. Grivers claimed it was his best pitch by eight feet, one inch, but it eclipsed his seed length by a massive 16-11.
Get this: His next furthest toss was 157-4, over six feet shy of the clincher.
Even he didn’t have a clue how he did it – but did recall why he never thought it possible.
On April 26, during a gym class, he suffered a concussion. He wouldn’t say how, as it was too embarrassing, and a promise is a promise/ He did, however, indicate he missed over two weeks of practice, as is Rhode Island Interscholastic League protocol for such an injury.
“I ended up missing three of the five state qualifiers, so I only had two chances to make it,” noted Grivers, who after the victory placed a pedestrian 13th in the hammer toss (170-6, 21 feet and four inches off his lifetime-best) and 14th in the shot put (43-5, nearly three feet distant from his ranking).
“At one qualifier, I threw 146-8, and that got me the eighth seed,” he continued. “I actually couldn’t go to school for three or four days, and I didn’t practice for a long time. I even missed the Northern Division Championships.
“When I won, I couldn’t believe it. Now it means I have to continue to work hard on everything – my technique, my run-ups, my release.”
When asked how he celebrated the feat, he merely shrugged, “I couldn’t. I missed the ceremony because I had to get to the hammer (venue); I didn’t have any time. When I went over to tell my coach (Brian Grant), multiple other coaches, including Marc (Piette, Woonsocket’s throwing mentor), congratulated me.
“I have to say it felt great, though the person who I think is the happiest is Brian,” he added. “I was his second (first-team) All-State javelin thrower because Joe Taylor won it a couple of years ago. It’s all so amazing.” According to Grant, it wasn’t. “I had been watching (senior) Sam Andrews throw the hammer, but one of the boys – I think it was Garrett Doyle – came running up and told me Evan had PR’d with a 163-7; he told me was leading by 15 feet,” Grant grinned. “My first thought was, ‘It’s about time.’
“This week, we had changed some of his technique, shortening his approach, his run-ups,” he continued. “When he did that, he immediately improved upon his distances. I’m not surprised he unleashed one. He was due. I had been eye-balling his distances, and I didn’t know how far they were traveling, but I knew they were good.
“He deserves it. Once he came back, he busted his hump.”
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After Woonsocket High senior phenom Quinn Harlan had posted two golds in the 100-meter dash (12.44) and the long jump (17-3 ¼), she added a runner-up placement in the 200 sprint with a 24.78 clocking.
In the final, East Greenwich senior Isabella Gentil outleaned her by fourhundredths of a second (24.74).
According to head coach George Briggs, Harlan had left a few workouts earlier in the week due to other schoolrelated activities.
During her tenure with at WHS, she has participated in indoor and outdoor track for four years, and also the jazz, marching and concert bands courtesy of her love for the saxophone and clarinet. Harlan also explained she adores playing the ukelele just for fun.
“I have to give her credit; when it comes to the big meets, the girl just competes,” he said after the long jump and 100 victories. “She’s such an incredible talent.”
This is the same girl who decided not to enter at the state indoor meet in late February due to a school club trip to Africa, specifically Rwanda. Briggs had said before her trek that Harlan would have been in line to claim at least two indoor titles, perhaps more. Why? During the course of the season, and at the Northern Division Championships, she had commanded her specialties.
That being said, the natural question for Harlan was this: Where did it come from? Is it genetic?
“I have no idea how I do it (win). I know I could’ve practiced more before (the outdoor meet),” she stated shyly. “I think it’s because I always want to do my best to score points for my team. Genetic? I don’t know. I know my mom did cross-country in high school in Philadelphia, and my dad was a pretty good baseball player and swimmer.
“I guess I got it from them. When I was little, I was pretty active. I think I had to be because we lived in the city (near Boston), and we did a lot of walking or running to catch buses or trains. I was also a weird kind of kid because I only wanted to eat fruits and vegetables. I didn’t like candy; I hated junk food, and still do, so maybe that has something to do with it.
“The fact I couldn’t go to the (state) indoors motivated me,” she added. “I wanted to do the best I could here. I’ve thought about it a lot, what I missed, and I wanted to make up for it.”
Like Grivers, she qualified for the New England Interscholastic Championships this Saturday in all three events, as the top six placements in each category gain invitations to the meet.
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Lincoln senior Maggie Tarmey failed to qualify for the New Englands in the hammer toss, taking seventh with a heave of 152-8, though nevertheless was elated.
Here’s why: She earned a berth in the finals, which was unexpected, and that distance happened to crush her previous lifetime best by over two feet.
“It was the best series I’ve ever had,” Tarmey smiled after her attempts. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m going out a winner.”