Projo GameTime Blog

BY CAROLYN THORNTON
Journal Sports Writer

What makes Ponaganset High School a good venue for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League's Class and State Cross Country Championships?

The question was recently posed to boys and girls cross-country coaches throughout the state in an e-mail questionnaire from the Providence Journal.

The responses - and the accolades - soon came pouring in.

"Outstanding venue - outstanding people - a true community commitment to a project that has been extremely successful," said East Providence coach Kevin Monagle.

"Top notch to say the least," added Smithfield coach John Marchand.

"Having the Class and State Cross Country meets at Ponaganset has been outstanding in every way," said Mt. Hope coach Andrew Sabourin.

And Sabourin admits he wasn't sure he was going to feel that way. Having enjoyed the experience of racing at Bryant University when he was competing for Barrington High School in the early 1990s, he says that initially he was disappointed when he heard that the two meets were going to be held somewhere else.

That disappointment quickly disappeared, though, after bringing the Huskies boys and girls teams to the first class and state meets hosted at Ponaganset in 2003. Sabourin loves everything about the experience his runners have received each time they race there . . . . right down to the bus ride.

Journal photo/Frieda Squires
Leaders in the boys' race at the 2008 State Championships

"For many schools it may be the longest they ride with the entire team together for the whole season and that's really where you get to know your team," he said.

"I love the races at Ponaganset," agreed Monagle. "From the day the team travels to practice at the facility - where we are greeted with hot chocolate for everyone - to race day, to the excitement of the races and awarding of the championships. The people at Ponaganset make this a very special day."

Indeed, coaches could not say enough good things about Chieftains coaches Jim Caron and Susan Shippee and the army of volunteers that they assemble to serve as the host to thousands of runners at the class and state meets, being held at Ponaganset for the seventh straight year.

When the RIIL began searching for an alternate site for the races, a group of individuals at the Foster-Glocester Regional High School began working extremely hard to make their course one that would be suitable to hold two events of that magnitude. Through their efforts and with the help of a sizeable grant from the Department of Environmental Management secured by Dr. Gail Lawson, they achieved their mission, creating not only "a nice race course, but as it turns out, one of the nicest in New England," said Mount St. Charles coach Cliff Matthews.

"I can remember when the Ponaganset course was just a path in the woods, (with) some parts barely big enough for two people to run side by side," said Lisa Bucci, a former Chieftains runner who now coaches the boys cross country team at Hope. "Before our home meet, we would have to go through the wooded path with neon spray paint and paint the rocks and roots so that the other runners wouldn't trip and fall. . . . The team would joke about `how fast' the course was because you weren't paying attention to the actual running, you were just trying to avoid tripping!"

Journal photo/Frieda Squires
The top girls emerge from the covered bridge at the 2008 State Championships.

With those obstacles removed and the trail widened, the Covered Bridge Trail - which has been accurately measured by USA Track & Field regional course certifier Ray Nelson - now lends itself to some truly quick performances, with times clocked at Ponaganset over the past several years ranking among the fastest in the history of the Class and State Championships.

In addition to being spectator friendly, the Ponaganset course, says Toll Gate coach Norm Bouthillier, "contains all the items that make cross country racing special and unique: the covered bridge, the open fields, the woods, the foot bridge and a fast finish on the track in-field. . . . . Jim Caron and friends have constructed a state-of-the-art course for all of us to enjoy."

"At the time, we didn't know what we were a part of," said Bucci, who along with her fellow captains wrote letters that were included in her school's grant request so many years ago. "But in retrospect, I am so happy I could be even just a small part of the amazing transition."

But it's more than a good course that makes Ponaganset such a special place to race each fall, the coaches say.

"Probably the biggest reason that we all enjoy going to Ponaganset is their overwhelming hospitality and dedication in making the Class and State meets a memorable experience for both the athlete and spectator," said Lincoln boys coach John Menna.

Coaches this year were provided with detailed maps, including an animated diagram, of the course designed by Ponaganset volunteer John Murphy and his son Adam. The weekend before the class meet, teams also received an open invitation to come and practice on the course and were greeted at the end of their workouts by hot chocolate and oatmeal.

Journal photo/Bill Murphy
Ponaganset boys cross country coach Jim Caron

"The atmosphere at Ponaganset is awesome," said Lincoln girls coach Sue Carlson. "You feel like you're running on your own home course. The folks at Ponaganset make you feel like you're part of their family."

"You really can feel the warmth even on those chilly November days," added Chariho boys coach Bill Haberek.

"Ponaganset, based on what they do for us every year, should be an automatic selection for the Dick Reynolds sportsmanship award every year," declared Cumberland boys coach Tom Kenwood. "Jim is a tireless individual whose goal is to make the Ponaganset course the best experience our state's runners will have. They go the extra mile . . . . I believe when the day comes that we can't use Ponaganset, the sport will be set back tremendously."

 Tags  Class Championships cross country Jim Caron Ponaganset State Championships

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