Clippers shine at RITCA
Cumberland runners stand out at RITCA invitational
PROVIDENCE – When Cumberland High representatives Ethan Carpenter and Owen Molis registered for the RITCA Outdoor Track & Field Invitational Championships, held Thursday afternoon at stunningly-remodeled Conley Stadium, neither knew what to expect from the event, their fellow competitors or themselves.
According to RITCA President and meet director Bob Palazzo, also the longtime Classical High Athletic Director, he and his fellow mentors had to request certification from USA Track & Field, Inc., as the R.I. Interscholastic League chose not to. He also indicated they had to follow strict USATF guidelines to prevent the possible spread of the coronavirus.
The event, which was not a “replacement” for the state outdoor championships canceled in June, may not have drawn as many registrants as hoped, but if Carpenter’s and Molis’ reactions are any gauge, it was a massive success.
Carpenter snared the 800-meter title with a superb time of 2:02.49, a full 6.11 seconds over runner-up Jack Chausse of Prout, while Molis earned second in the 400 behind St. Raphael Academy phenom Darius Kipyego and the same in the high jump.
“I don’t have a clue what my PR is in the 400, but it’s around 2:02.4, so I’ll take that (clocking),” the Clipper junior grinned afterward. “I haven’t done any speed work this summer; we’ve just been training for cross-country, so I wanted to see where I’m
at fitness-wise.
“I felt good during the race; I guess you could say I was just hanging out and I accomplished what I wanted to, so I’m excited about that.”
Molis claimed he found out after a group run a few weeks ago about the prospect of entering a track meet this summer, and he jumped at the chance. He admitted being mighty glad he did, as he hustled to a best-ever 400 time of 53.62 and leaped 6-0 in the high jump.
“I’ve done zero speed work this summer, just a lot of mileage for a base for cross-country,” he said. “When our coach told us about it, we just wanted to go and have fun … This is my first-ever open 400, as I usually run the 1,500 and 800. I ran the 600 in indoor and was around the top 10 in the state there, so I wanted to give a longer-distance sprint a chance. I’m a distance runner, so I felt like I have in me the extra 50 or 100 kick some people don’t (have).
“I felt pretty good in the 400, and the high jump, that surprised me,” he added. “I ended up at six feet, despite the fact I haven’t jumped in practice in about six months. Coming into it, I was just thinking, ‘Let’s see where you’re at and have some fun. No pressure.’ I can tell you, I had no plans on jumping six feet here.
“I entered at 5-8, and I thought I’d end up at 5-10 or 5-11, but my legs took me to six feet. On my sixth jump I asked (the officials) to put (the bar) at 6-1 and I fouled, but that was OK. I just wanted to gauge it, see if I could clear it. I didn’t, but I’m still elated.
“I didn’t know who was coming or what the layout of the meet would be, but it was perfect. This raises my confidence.”
Their teammate, Henry Dennen, had a pretty good day himself, as he landed runner-up laurels in the 3,000 (9:13.56). For their efforts, all earned RITCA All-State status.
The only other area athlete who competed, Lincoln’s Oliver Filion, took seventh in the 400 with a solid clocking of 57.91.
SRA head coach Chris Magill credited the coaches and officials at the event, as all volunteered their time to make sure the meet ran smoothly and safely.
Palazzo explained he and his cohorts took every precaution to do so.
Every athlete, coach, parent and fan had to register outside the entrance gate, have their temperature taken, then fill out a form with detailed questions as to their health, whether they’ve been in contact with someone with COVID-19, etc. They did so for the purpose of contact tracing.
As for the meet design itself, for the longer events (1,500 and 3,000), competitors raced one at a time. For the shorter distances and hurdles, athletes ran in heats of three with a full lane between them to ensure social distancing. And, during the jumps, each kid took all six of his or hers before another had chance.
Amazingly, Palazzo had even purchased a “sand-cleansing” product they an official sprayed after each competitor had finished.
“It took a lot of work to put this on, and I have to credit all of these people who chose to volunteer and help out,” Palazzo offered. “The USATF national organization chose to sanction our event, took care of all the insurance, sent out a 30-page document for us as to running a full-scale championship meet.
“This is a good example of how sports are going to have to be adapted once we have high school sports back.”
The effort wasn’t lost on Molis.
“I’m so grateful for this,” he said. “Everyone here has worked their butts off to give us this opportunity, so I thank them all.”