Kingston boys, girls solid at R.I. event

A healthy Robert Becker led a solid performance by Kingston’s boys and girls cross country teams as they tackled the five-kilometer course in the Brown High School Invitational at Goddard State Park.

“Our athletes shaved a considerable amount of time off of their lifetime bests (in the 5k) and their times from last year on the same course,” Kingston coach Joe Cahill said. “While everyone is rounding into postseason form, this meet is a great, fast confidence boost for our varsity programs.”

The Tiger boys were ninth overall with 272 points. The girls had 270 points and were 10th.

Becker, who has missed much of the season to injury, medaled with a 10th-place 16:00.

Every other runner had bests. Bailey Ryan was 37th (16:47), Bradley Hack 38th (16:48), Colin Keck 91st (17:36), Gio Melchionne 96th (17:41), Eddy Zajac 109th (17:52) and Trevor Loughlin placed 124th (18:11). Ryan, Hack and Melchionne all ran more than 40 seconds better than their times at this meet in 2016. Keck, Zajac and Loughlin bettered their PR in the 5K by more than 30 seconds.

Hailie TerBush led the Kingston girls, placing 24th in 19:47, a PR by 61 seconds.

She was followed by Maggie

Noe (38th, 20:10), Clara Sensini (50th, 20:23), Morgan Juric (58th, 20:28), Thea Kovaleski (112th, 21:50), Amelia Loughlin (128th, 22:44) and Molly Green (152nd, 24:01). Sensini and Kovaleski shaved more than a minute off

their times from last year’s time invitational. Loughlin and Green slashed more than 70 seconds off their 5k best.

“Our girls team saw everyone come away with lifetime best 5ks,” Cahill said. “The team is young, but

very talented. With the finishing times from today, our girls are shaping up to have a great close to the season.”

The Tigers are back in action next Saturday in the Section 1 Coaches Invitational at Poughkeepsie’s Bowdoin Park.