Hendricken, La Salle to put state cross country titles on the line Sunday

BY CAROLYN THORNTON
Journal Sports Writer

Last weekend, they each successfully defended their Class A titles and on Sunday, the Bishop Hendricken boys and La Salle girls will return to Ponaganset High School and attempt to defend their state crowns, as well, at the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Cross Country State Championships.

La Salle will go first, with the girls' race set to kick things off at 1:15 p.m. Led by sophomore sensations Molly Keating and Emily Papazian, the Rams can expect a fierce challenge from Barrington. Paced to their third-straight Class B crown by Abigail Jones, the Eagles have topped the coaches' poll rankings all season and topped La Salle for their second straight Metropolitan Division title during the dual-meet season.

The girls' field also will include Suburban Division champion and Class A runner-up Cranston West, Class C and Northern Division champion Smithfield and Southern Division champion North Kingstown, among others.

Hendricken will get its turn at 2:15 p.m. The Hawks - who have been led this season by Jake Sienko and like the Barrington girls have consistently held the top spot in the boys coaches' poll - will be facing a boys' field that also includes recently-crowned class champions Lincoln (Class B) and Smithfield (Class C), Metropolitan Division champion and Class A runner-up La Salle, Northern Division champion Cumberland and Southern Division champ North Kingstown.

Based upon their performances on the same Covered Bridge Trail last weekend, here are some of the top runners to watch at the state meet:

BOYS
Jake Sienko, Bishop Hendricken, 16:08 (1st in Class A race)
Robert Allen, Cranston West, 16:17 (2nd in Class A race)
Zach Fraielli, La Salle, 16:32 (3rd in Class A race)
Brian Doyle, Bishop Hendricken, 16:41 (4th in Class A race)
Mike MacKenzie, Bishop Hendricken, 16:45 (5th in Class A race)
Dan Appenfeller, Mount St. Charles, 17:02 (1st in Class C race)
Mike Martin, North Smithfield, 17:12 (2nd in Class C race)
Alex Gallo, North Providence, 17:14 (1st in Class B race)
Robert Parker, St. Raphael, 17:17 (3rd in Class C race)
Adam Coogan, North Providence, 17:26 (2nd in Class B race)

GIRLS
Molly Keating, La Salle, 18:46 (1st in Class A race)
Abigail Jones, Barrington, 19:16 (1st in Class B race)
Samantha Chace, Toll Gate, 19:33 (2nd in Class B race)
Emily Papazian, La Salle, 19:34 (2nd in Class A race)
Kendall Feaster, South Kingstown, 19:45 (3rd in Class B race)
Arianna Colella, Cranston West, 19:55 (3rd in Class A race)
Molly Malinowski, Barrington, 19:59 (4th in Class B race)
Michaela Hackett, Cranston West, 20:08 (4th in Class A race)
Alex Hackett, Cranston West, 20:09 (5th in Class A race)
Danielle Renzi, La Salle, 20:14 (6th in Class A race)
(Later diagnosed as having a stomach virus, Stephanie Beaudette, a standout from Bay View, collapsed during the Class B race and is questionable for Sunday)

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)