Novans, Choquette lead way at Northern Division meet
Woonsocket wins title; Clipper senior claims three events
LINCOLN – Woonsocket High captured only two of the 19 events on the program, but utilized its quality depth to collect the much-desired Northern Division Outdoor Championships title on Tuesday afternoon at Ferguson Field.
Senior Johnathan Upshur mustered the lone individual victory in the high jump (6-4), then played a role on the winning 4 x 400 relay (3:40.65), to lead the Villa Novans to 119 points and the crown. Cumberland finished second overall with 100, while Lincoln placed third (93.5) and Burrillville fourth (87). As for other local schools, North Smithfield took sixth with 39, Mount St. Charles ninth with 13 and Central Falls 10th with 12.
Where the Novans did most of their damage came in their ability to gather runner-up finishes. Upshur took that spot in the long jump (20-1) and triple jump (40-8), as did junior Hezekiah Adeyeye in the 400 (51.69); classmate Emmanuel Gomes in the 110 high hurdles (15.94); junior Nick Iarussi in the high jump (6-2); and fellow 11th graders Zach McIntyre in the javelin (143-10, just two inches farther than Northmen junior Chris Marsella); and Isaiah Karpinski in the 100 dash (11.76).
The WHS 4 x 100 relay also managed a No. 2 placement in 45.67.
The Clippers may have settled for second in the team standings, but senior Chris Choquette, the reigning New York Relays decathlon champion, had a field day. He not only garnered the 110-meter high hurdles (14.59) and 300 intermediate hurdles (42.37), but also the long jump (20-2.25); he produce a fourth-place finish in the triple jump (40-0.25).
Cumberland junior Nate Rogers posted a gold medal-winning time of 4:25.0 in the 1,500; and classmate Nate Mello claimed second in the 300 hurdles (43.92) and Christian Tougas the same in the pole vault (9-6).
Not surprisingly, the Lions commanded the weight events, with senior Evan Grivers taking first in the hammer (197-2), second in the shot put (48-4 ½) and discus (12310) and fifth in the javelin (142-8), while sophomore teammate Kyle Moison winning the shot (50-9.50) and taking second in the hammer (196-5).
Actually, LHS senior Mike Balestra gained the top spot in the discus with a splendid heave of 125-3; and teammate Nick Gaitanis almost pulled off another victory in the 800 before settling for second (2:08.55).
For Burrillville, senior Ethan Prario reigned in the javelin (1558), while Northmen Marsella and Adam Silvestri managed third and fourth.
Other Broncos champions included Andrew McClure in the 800 (2:06.16) and fellow senior Nick Deering in his specialty the triple jump (41-3). Burrillville also posted a win in the 4x100 relay, second in the 4x400 and third in the 4 x 800 to rack up 24 more points.
Thomas Ames contributed eight more while landing runner-up honors in the 1,500; and Cam Charron chipped in a third in the 300 hurdles (43.97) and fourth in the 3,000 (9:44.10).
NS junior standout Xavier Croteau sailed to the triumph in the 100 dash (11.56, a whopping .20 faster than runner-up Karpinski), and also keyed the third-place 4x100 relay.
The only other individual champion hailed from Central Falls, as senior Adilson Gomes S. DaSilva raced to a triumphant 51.11 in the 400.