Lincoln throwers, Woonsocket jumpers look to make noise at states
PROVIDENCE — Weight coach Brian Grant wants his Lincoln High throwers to carry a very simple mind-set into today’s R.I. Interscholastic Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Providence Career & Technical Academy field house: “Just do the best you can.”
“I’m just looking for us to throw well,” he stated. “We haven’t talked about where the teams could place, or getting a top-10 finish. As a boys’ team, we have no chance, not with only one or two runners and the two throwing events.
“I am expecting us, however, to make some noise in those two throwing events.”
On the guys’ side, senior captain Garrett Doyle enters the meet as the top seed in both the shot put (53-4) and the 25-pound weight throw (71-0).
“He broke the 70-foot barrier in the ‘last chance’ meet last week, and he was really excited about it,” Grant said. “We knew he was on the verge of reaching it at the Class B meet, but he fouled. I know we were both thinking, ‘It’s about time!’ We figure this time of year, the numbers (distances) should be going up, and they are.”
Doyle isn’t alone, as junior teammate Evan Grivers – the state outdoor javelin champion – rates third in the weight (67-4) and fourth in the shot (49-3), while sophomore Kyle Moison is fifth in the put (48-11) and 11th in the 25-pounder (60-11).
Grant pointed out that Moison’s careerbest heave is 62-9, so if he eclipses that,
maybe he could surprise some fellow competitors and leap over them.
Two more throwers are unranked in the top six, though senior Matt Thibaudeau sits in ninth in the weight (61-5); and classmate Mike Balestra is 17th in the same (55-5).
The Lions have only one thrower competing, though Grant believes sophomore Jackie Andrews can pull off topsix placements in both. The reigning Class B and Sullivan Division shot put gold meedalist ranks sixth in that event (35-1), and is seeded seventh in the 20pound weight (49-6).
“My hope for Jackie is to try to make finals in both events and, with solid throws maybe squeak into the top six in one or both. If it’s both, that would be great.”
For the record, LHS super frosh Riley Specht has raised eyebrows all season long, and is expected to be a factor in the 600, where she’s rated fifth (1:41.64), and the 300 (ninth, 43.98). She also will compete on head coach Sue Carlson’s 4 x 800-meter relay.
Like Grant, Woonsocket veteran head coach George Briggs is taking a similar approach. Ghe’s not worried at all about team placement but instead where his individuals finish – and whether they can register best-ever times, heights and distances.
“We should score well in the high jump, as (junior) Nick Iarussi is seeded second at 6-4 and (senior) Johnathan Upshur third at 6-2; the big thing is John has jumped 6-6 at the East Coach Invitational,” Briggs said.
Upshur also ranks fifth in the long jump (21-2) while classmate Josh Correia is ninth (20-10).
On the track, Briggs is hoping for some electric sprinting from junior Hezekiah Adeyeye, a third seed in the 600 (1:25.01), though Central Falls senior Adilson Gomes S. DaSilva is tucked a place under him in fourth (1:25.05).
Junior Emmanuel Gomes will be trying to improve upon his No. 6 seed in the 55 hurdles (8.13), and – if he chases the event favorite, Cumberland senior Chris Choquette, he just may get his wish.
Choquette is line to defend his 2017 crown with a top clocking of 7.74. Choquette also owns the third seed in the long jump (21-4 ¼), ahead of localites Upshur and St. Raphael Academy senior Manee Castillo (sixth, 21-1 ½).
Naturally, Briggs would like to see bigger and faster things from his relays. Adeyeye will team with junior Isaiah Karpinski, Correia and Gomes on the 4 x 200 relay (seeded eighth, 1:36.87); then join Iarussi, Upshur and Gomes on the 4 x 400 relay (12th, 3:42.24).
“Anything can happen at a state meet, that’s for sure,” Briggs noted. “One thing that could be a factor is that there are a lot of kids around the state have been touched by the flu; I know we have. What really makes track and field special is that this is one meet where 45 schools can compete and see where they stand, and you never know what’s going to happen.”
Leading ladies for the Villa Novans include junior Alissiana Folco, who’s seeded first in the long jump (17-6), second in the 55 hurdles (8.66) and seventh in the 55 dash (7.74); and classmate MaryAnn Carr in the high jump (5-0).
“That high jump is wide open, so I’d love to see Anna win it,” he said. “She’s such a fantastic girl and tremendous athlete, just like Alissiana.”
Other boys who have notched top-six rankings are CF junior Leonardo DaVeiga, who is first in the 55 dash (6.59) and fourth in the 300 (37.10); SRA sophomore Jake Lamothe in the 55 dash (6.69); and Saints’ junior Reilly Johnston in the 3,000 (9:02.77).
DaVeiga and Gomes S. DaSilva will combine with two other Warriors to better its No. 5 rank in the 4 x 200 relay (1:34.83).
Clippers’ girls’ coach Vanessa Molloy believes senior Grace Henson has the wherewithal to capture the 600, and Mount St. Charles varsity chief Paul Jacques would love to see several girls record personal bests, among them senior captains Paige Fitzpatrick and Stella Noecker, not to mention Eileen Whalen, Hannah Trottier, Hannah Plamondon, Delaney Green, Julia Kamp, etc.