Running stride for stride

Cumberland, St. Raphael crosscountry teams shine

at weekend meets

St. Raphael junior Darius Kipyego made his mark at the Ocean State Cross Country Invitational that took place Saturday at Warwick’s Goddard Park.

In the Boys’ Championship Race, Kipyego placed eighth overall (16:13) and earned the distinction as the first R.I. male runner to complete the course. St. Raphael senior Nasavell Medeiros finished in 12th place (16:23) and placed second among R.I. male runners.

In the Girls’ Championship Race, St. Raphael junior Rachael Mongeau continued her strong season with a 10th place finish (18:55). She was the second R.I. female runner to complete the course.

Also at Goddard Park, Lincoln’s Nicholas Gaitanis earned a 28th place finish (17:10) in the Boys’ D2 Varsity Race. In the Boys’ 4K D1 Freshman Race, St. Raphael’s Pedro Mayol and Devan Kipyego placed 1-2 with only a second separating the pair. Mayol wrapped up the race in 13:48 while Kipyego was through in 13:49.

Also Saturday, the Cumberland High varsity boys’ cross-country team traveled to Wappingers Falls, N.Y. to participate in the Bowdoin Park Classic. The Clippers departed with a strong sense of accomplishment after placing third in the Varsity 1 Race (an improvement from last year’s 10th place showing) and then placed eighth as a team with the merged results (an improvement from 20th last year).

Cumberland was the only team from R.I. in the Bowdoin field, which overall featured 58 teams.

“Our goal was to run better than last year and we did,” said CHS head coach Kerrie Carpenter.

Cumberland’s top point getter was sophomore Henry Dennen, who placed 10th with a time of 17:11. Next was sophomore Ethan Carpenter (17th, 17:23) followed by junior Owen Molis (27th, 17:41) and junior Jorge Rocha (39th, 17:53).