Allen, Moe, Saqib, Peterson win JV state titles

PROVIDENCE – If Cumberland High’s collective performance at the R.I. Girls Junior-Varsity Indoor Championships on Monday night is any indication, the future of head coach Vanessa Molloy’s program is looking mighty healthy.

Two Clippers bused home from the Providence Career & Technical Academy fieldhouse with individual gold medals, and another came within a hair of achieving the same while two relays manufactured top-five placements.

All that and more added up to the Clippers finishing second in the overall team standings with 48 points, only 12 behind champion Barrington and another dozen ahead of third-place La Salle.

CHS freshman Emma Peterson sailed to the victory in the 600 meters (1:46.00), .83 faster than runner-up West Warwick junior

Johnna Gallo, while junior Hannah Moe propelled the 20-pound weight 40-9 ¼ inches for the triumph.

Then there was classmate Brynn Eckman, who had to settle for second in the 300. She hustled to a time of 45.64, but Prout sophomore Ellie Edwards edged her by exactly one one-hundredth of a second. Then again, that proved to be the most competitive race of the meet, as the top seven placements (North Smithfield junior Thao Nguyen managed that spot) all were within 1.06 of the victor.

Clippers’ freshman Moran Champi chipped in a fourth in the shot put (28-4); senior Kayla Halpert the same in the 55 dash (7.84); classmate Olivia Sarmento fifth in the 300 (46.51); and junior Sarah Lanzi one more fifth in the 1,000 (3:25.77).

Actually, senior Kassidy Bernardo chipped in a point after earning sixth in the 20-pound weight toss (37-0).

Other big points came in the 4 x 800 relay, when the quartet of senior Emma Gaudreau, freshman Ellie Gaudreau, Lanzi and frosh Grace Holmander notched third in 10:40.43; and the 4 x 200 relay, where the foursome of juniors Maggie Peterson, Sydnee Kell and Yarelee Santiago and sophomore Katie Blais cruised to fifth in 1:58.46.

Still, there were other stellar outings recorded on Monday, as Burrillville freshman Haley Allen flew to first in the 3,000 in 11:37.80; and Lincoln senior Jennah Saqib owned the shot put with a throw of 31-5.

For Woonsocket, senior Maddie Thibodeau snared runner-up laurels in the 55 hurdles (9.97), and was one of two girls to break the 10-second barrier.

R.I. GIRLS JUNIOR-VARSITY INDOOR

TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Providence Career & Technical Academy fieldhouse

Team standings – 1. Barrington 60; 2. Cumberland 48; 3. La Salle 36; 4. North Kingstown 25; 5. Cranston West 29; 6. Portsmouth 26; 7. Bay View, Smithfield 24; 9. Pilgrim 23; 10. Toll Gate 21; 11. Narragansett 18; 12. Rogers 17; 13. Prout 16; 14. East Providence 15; 15. Classical, West Warwick 14; 17. Lincoln 10; 18. Coventry 9; 19. Woonsocket, Exeter/West Greenwich 8; 21. East Greenwich 5; 22. Central Falls 2.

Area placements

4x800m relay – 3. Cumberland (Emma Gaudreau, Ellie Gaudreau,

Sarah Lanzi, Grace Holmander) 10:50.43.

4x200m relay – 5. Cumberland (Maggie Peterson, Katie Blais, Sydnee Kell, Yarelee Santiago) 1:58.46.

3,000m – 1. Haley Allen (BURR) 11:37.80.

55m dash – 4. Kayla Halpert (CUMB) 7.84; 7. Folake Olagundoye

(BVP) 7.93.

1,500m – 8. Abigail O’Hern (L) 5:29.97.

600m – 1. Emma Peterson (CUMB) 1:46.00; 7. Yageilys Galva (CF) 1:50.42.

300m – 2. Brynn Eckman (CUMB) 45.64; 5. Olivia Sarmento

(CUMB) 46.51; 7. Thao Nguyen (NS) 46.69.

1,000m – 5. Lanzi (CUMB) 3:25.77.

55m hurdles – 2. Maddie Thibodeau (W) 9.97.

Shot put – 1. Jennah Saqib (L) 31-5; 4. Morgan Champi (CUMB) 28-4. 20-pound weight throw – 1. Hannah Moe (CUMB) 40-9 ¼; 5. Eliane Chantre (CF) 37-6 ¾; 6. Kassidy Bernardo (CUMB) 37-0; 7. Saqib (L) 36-8 ½.

Long jump – 8. Kylie Perron (MSC) 14-10.