Saints headed to state meet

PAWTUCKET – Reilly Johnston and Nasavell Medeiros had it all planned.

The talented St. Raphael Academy junior-sophomore tandem had paced each other all season while finishing first or second on cross-country trails around the state, and they knew they would again in the Saints’ unofficial City of Pawtucket Championships at Slater Park on Monday afternoon.

“Over the summer, we knew what we had with the kids, so we laid out two goals; the first was to make the state meet as a team. We were pretty confident we could do that with the boys we had. Now, our second goal is to qualify for the New Englands.” – SRA coach Scott Grandfield

“At the end, Nas and I were coming out of the trees and played ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ to determine who’d take first,” Johnston stated seriously. “I won because I chose paper, and paper covers rock.”

And so it was. Johnston covered the 2.85mile course (with the finish line yards from the boathouse) in 16:24, while Medeiros (who backed off just before the line) went 16:25.

Together with sophomore Adam Gomes (16:55), freshman C.J. Magill (17:26) and senior Eric Martineau (17:48), who took the next three spots, the Saints not only coasted to respective 15-50 verdicts over city rivals Tolman and Shea (as well as St. Patrick’s, a no show), but closed its Metropolitan Division dual-meet campaign at 9-2.

With that mark, they qualified to compete as a team at the state meet, a first since 2009.

“The race was good; we weren’t going all out,” Johnston stated. “Nas and I wanted it to be a tempo run, just run together. I think everyone on the team had their minds set on qualifying for the state meet, going as a team, and now we are. That’s what we’ve been working for all year.

“Everyone has been putting in a lot of work, so I think we’re deserving.”

Noted Medeiros, last year’s boys individual city champ as a freshman: “I should have picked scissors, but I thought he was; still, I don’t mind because it’s all about the team. My time was off, as my best (course mark) is 15:33, but we took it easy (Monday). We wanted to make sure nobody got hurt. “Qualifying for states is awesome.” SRA actually landed the first seven spots and 10 of the top 11, with Gomes achieving a PR by five seconds and Magill by 39. The only interruption within the initial 11 came from Shea junior Ronaldo Gomes, who managed eighth in 18:11.

Because the Tigers (3-8) had faced the Raiders last week, their meet didn’t count in the league standings, though head coach John Toth’s bunch did win again. Each shut out St. Patrick’s of Providence, which failed to arrive to the site.

“Over the summer, we knew what we had with the kids, so we laid out two goals; the first was to make the state meet as a team,” said second-year coach Scott Grandfield, ably assisted by local running legend Chris Magill. “We were pretty confident we could do that with the boys we had. Now, our second goal is to qualify for the New Englands.

“This is the first time (going too states) has happened at Saints since 2009, and I know I can say that – one through seven – this is the best team we’ve had in over 20 years,” he continued. “I know because I’ve seen the times.

“The key is that they’re all good friends. They work well together, get along and enjoy the work. They don’t shy away from anything. The idea of team is the most important thing to all of them. Just look at Reilly and Nasavell. They didn’t care who won. It’s all about the greater goal.”

SHS sophomore Chris Whitfield claimed 12th overall (19:51) behind the 10 other Saints and teammate Gomes, but Tolman took eight of the next nine spots to gain the non-league win over the Raiders.

Junior Jose Vizcaino earned 13th in 19:54, and Kevin Chillin 14th 10 ticks behind, Nico Bonella, Emmanuel Cardenas and Brandon Bun landed 17th, 18th and 19th, respectively, to round out the top five.

“I actually have a lot of good kids; we have some talent, considering I only have one kid who ran last year (Cardenas),” Toth said. “We’re brand, spankin’new. The kids have only run about five races, so we’ll see how they do next year.”

Offered Raiders’ boys’ mentor Rich Kucal: “The bright spots were our two sophomores, Ronaldo and Chris, and a promising freshman in Tevin Lima (23rd overall). We’re actually going to the Manhattan Invitational in New York City on Oct. 14, so that’s going to be a huge experience for the kids, to see what a big-time regional meet looks like. I will say everyone PR’d here, so it was a great way to end this part of the season.”

On the girls side, the Saints swept their Pawtucket foes with ease (15-50), then recorded a 21-38 decision over Lincoln School, yet Bay View eked out a 24-31 triumph.

Lynx junior Sydney North reigned in the girls’ race in a best-ever 19:02, while Bengals’ classmate Emma Shaw took runner-up honors (19:05).

Fantastic frosh Rachel Mongeau settled for third with a solid clocking of 19:09, and senior Noelani Noel snared fifth overall (19:54).

“All I wanted to do is get between third and fifth,” explained Mongeau, whose team ended its dual-meet season at 7-6. “The girl who finished second (Shaw) beat me at the Injury Fund meet, and I know she’s an upperclassman, so I wanted to beat her. I wasn’t that far off.

“I’m pleased with my time because I’m not that far off my PR.”

Rounding out the Saints’ point scorers were Alexi Angell (ninth), Colleen Moreau (11th) and Bailey Gonsalves (13th).

For Tolman, Alex Lorenzo placed eighth in 20:34.

“Rachel’s a really impressive distance runner,” Grandfield said. “She trains with the boys, and – pound for pound – she’s probably our hardest worker. I’m not taking away from anyone else, but she’s a fierce competitor. She doesn’t fear anyone she’s running against. She’s been going full steam every day.

“Rachel is doing things that no other girl at Saints, in my memory, has done. Her times have been remarkable, and she’s only a freshman.

“Noelani ran well,” he added. “She had a PR by 15 seconds. She ran the 800 for me last spring, and I begged her to come out for crosscountry because I knew her talent. I know she wanted to play soccer, but I’m very grateful she did.”

Senior Esther Kayode placed 23rd in a bestever 26:04 to pace the Raiders.

BOYS

St. Raphael 15, Tolman 50 St. Raphael 15, Shea 50 St. Raphael 15, St. Patrick’s 50 Shea 15, St. Patrick’s 50 Tolman 15, St. Patrick’s 50

Area placementts

1. Reilly Johnston (SRA) 16:24; 2. Nasavell Medeiros (SRA) 16:25; 3. Adam Gomes (SRA) 16:55; 4. C.J. Magill (SRA) 17:26; 5. Eric Martineau (SRA) 17:48; 6. Ben Dube (SRA) 17:51; 7. Bryce Gillis (SRA) 17:56; 8. Ronaldo Gomes (S) 18:11; 9. John deAbreu (SRA) 18:36; 10. Colby Luiz (SRA) 18:37; 11. Ben Bradley (SRA) 19:04; 12. Chris Whitfield (S) 19:51; 13. Jose Vizcaino (T) 19:54; 14. Kevin Chillin (T) 20:04; 15. Sampson Daramola (SRA) 20:11; other placements, 17. Nico Bonella (T) 20:16; 18. Emmanuel Cardenas (T) 20:22; 19. Brandon Bun (T) 20:34; 20. Jeremy Clark (T) 20:48; 21. Prince Toayen (T) 21:16; 22. Alex Mercedes (T) 21:18; 23. Tevin Lima (S) 21:34; 26. Brian Bericochea (S) 22:10; 31. Jamal Tracey (S) 26:32.

GIRLS

St. Raphael 15, Shea 50 St. Raphael 15, Tolman 50 St. Raphael 21, Lincoln School 38 Bay View 24, St. Raphael 31 Bay View 15, Tolman 50 Bay View 15, Shea 50 Lincoln School 15, Shea 50 Lincoln School 15, Tolman 50

Area placements

3. Rachel Mongeau (SRA) 19:09; 5. Noelani Noel (SRA) 19:34; 8. Alex Lorenzo (T) 20:34; 9. Alexi Angell (SRA) 20:51; 11. Colleen Moreau (SRA) 22:11; 13. Bailey Gonsalves (SRA) 23:22; 14. Lilly Cousineau (SRA) 23:51; 17. Catherine Castanos (SRA) 24:54; 18. Stephanie Murphy (SRA) 25:02; 23. Esther Kayode (S) 26:04; 30. Niulka Pagan (S) 27:31; 33. Victoria Noel (S) 27:59.