Mongeau, Kipyego highlight banner day for St. Raphael
FOSTER — It was late Saturday afternoon and shadows had completely engulfed the Ponaganset High athletic complex. Workers were in the process of removing all evidence that the state cross-country meet had taken place, yet there was St. Raphael head coach Chris Magill and his happy group of runners.
The tent that signified the Saints’ home base for the state meet had been packed away. No one, however, was in a hurry to leave the Ponganset grounds. Magill and the SRA runners had just completed their cool-down run and were now reflecting on what truly was a banner day. Had the lack of significant daylight not become a pressing issue, St. Raphael’s running crew would have probably hung out a little bit longer.
There are banner days, then there’s what the Saints achieved at the Covered Bridge Trail. Junior Rachael Mongeau repeated as a first-team all-state harrier, her confidence and poise going a long way in achieving third-place status in a very good girls field. Mongeau clocked in at 18 minutes, 31 seconds. Only three seconds separated her from second-place finisher, Barrington senior Caroline Livingston, while Mongeau was seven seconds off the first-place pace that was achieved by La Salle junior Kaylie Armitage.
The lead pack was established fairly early in the race as Mongeau succeeded in hanging tough with the day’s top rivals until the very end.
“It’s about trusting what Coach Magill has been telling me all season long,” said Mongeau. “The plan was to stay with the top girls and laying it all out there.”
“Whoever was leading it, that’s where we wanted Rachael to be,” said Magill. “Once again, she raised her game. We’re very proud of her. She’s done everything she’s been asked to do.”
At the class meet, which also took place at Ponaganset, Mongeau clocked in at 19:01; only La Salle’s Armitage posted a lower time (18:44). One week later at the state meet, she succeeded in shaving 31 seconds off her class meet time. In her eyes, the substantial leap boiled down to one key ingredient.
“I had amazing competition that pushed me,” said Mongeau, who on Saturday established a school record time at Ponaganset.
More good news for the Saints came in the boys state meet. Junior Darius Kipyego didn’t become submerged amidst a sea of Hendricken and La Salle runners. He was the only non-Hendricken or La Salle runner to finish in the top 10, as Kipyego earned first-team all-state status after coming in sixth (15:56). His SRA teammate, senior Nasavell Medeiros, also figured prominently (14th place, 16:24).
To have three runners achieve all-state distinction is a noteworthy achievement. To Magill, what made Saturday even more memorable is that the SRA boys were able to snag the sixth and final R.I. berth to this coming Saturday’s New England Championship. With 195 points, St. Raphael held on for a seven-point margin over Westerly, which came in seventh.
“We were sweating it out as we waited for the boys results, but once they announced that we got sixth … we snuck in and that’s all that matters. Survive and advance,” said Magill. “We’re very, very happy.”
Known as an outstanding track runner who made quite the splash at this past summer’s Pan-Am Under-20 Games, Kipyego set out to become known as an all-around runner this fall. Judging by his performance on Saturday, he achieved said lofty goal.
“He said he wanted to improve in cross-country and show that he’s not a onetrick pony,” said Magill. “If you think about it, some years you can probably win with (the time Kipyego posted Saturday).”
When asked about his individual success, Kipyego quickly shifted the focus to what the Saints achieved as a team at Ponaganset High. One weekend after capturing the Class C team title, St. Raphael summoned just enough to figure prominently in the team standings.
“Coach Magill has done an amazing job in developing every runner. No one is left out,” said Kipyego.
After Kipyego and Medeiros, the Saints waited until freshman Pedro Mayol crossed the finish line as the 40th fastest runner (17:12). Then came another freshman finisher as Devan Kipyego placed 57th (17:25).
The clinching points were supplied by another freshman, Andrew Worden, who Magill couldn’t help but sing the praises of after coming in 95th place with a time of 18 minutes, nine seconds. You have to go back to 2001 to find the last SRA boys’ cross-country team that qualified for the New Englands, which this year will take place in Wickham Park, located in Manchester, Conn.
“Normally, Andrew is our No. 7 runner and (Saturday) he moved up to No. 5. He was the key to this whole thing,” said Magill. “When you’re looking at a cross-country race, you’re always like ‘Where is this team’s No. 5?’ Mr. Worden came up big as a freshman and ran a smart race.”
The SRA boys along Mongeau and their head coach didn’t go out for their cool-down jog until after the post-race medal ceremonies. By then, Magill told everyone that he had already made hotel reservations for the New England Championship in anticipation of Saturday’s outcome, which proved to be favorable.
“Everyone was smiling ear-to-ear during the cool-down,” said Magill.
“It’ll be amazing to go to New Englands with my entire team,” said Darius Kipyego.
Follow Brendan McGair on Twitter @BWMcGair03