(Photos by MARY ALBI)
Rhode Island swept the team titles and Connecticut took individual honors at the 80th annual New England Championships on Saturday.
La Salle Academy made school history by taking the boys' and girls' races at the regional meet, held at Wickham Park. Highlighted by a sixth-place finish from sophomore D.J. Principe, the Rams copped their second straight boys title, easily defeating second-place Danbury, 67-144. It was a much closer verdict in the girls' competition with the Lady Rams dethroning last year's titlist, Coe Brown of New Hampshire, 80-93.
Individually, it was simply no contest. Darien's Alex Ostberg was never seriously challenged as the nationally-ranked senior cruised the challenging five-kilometer layout in a time of 15 minutes, 7 seconds. William Hall junior Ari Klou was second at 15:39. Staples junior Hannah DeBalsi won her second consecutive NE crown in the girls' race with a solid 17:58 clocking. Finishing second was New Fairfield senior Gabrielle Richichi, who was timed in 18:23.
Meet Results
Girls Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Hannah Debalsi (Staples High School) 17:58.00 SB; Gabrielle Richichi (New Fairfield High School) 18:23.00 SB; Maegan Doody (Oyster River High School) 18:26.00;Emma Mcmillan (Barrington High School) 18:30.00; Eliza Rego (La Salle Academy) 18:35.00; Karina Tavares (La Salle Academy) 18:39.00; Elisabeth Danis (Coe Brown Academy) 18:42.00;Mia Nahom (New Milford High School) 18:44.00; Hannah Parker (Coe Brown Academy) 18:45.00; Ellie Lawler (South Kingstown High School) 18:47.00; Grace Connolly (Barrington High School) 18:52.00; Morgan Sansing (Pinkerton Academy ) 18:53.00; Rena Schwartz (U-32 High School (Uhsd #32)) 19:01.00 SB; Mackenzie Pias (Mercy High School) 19:05.00; Sophia Gorman(Champlain Valley Union High School) 19:07.00; Bethany Nunnery (North Kingstown High School) 19:08.00; Sheridan Wilbur (La Salle Academy) 19:10.00; Elisabeth Jean (Coventry High School) 19:11.00; Alli Pratt (Coe Brown Academy) 19:11.00; Katherine Deloreto (Tolland High School) 19:12.00; Courtney Akerly (Tolland High School) 19:12.00; Haley Hasty (Rockville High School) 19:13.00; Allison Mcardle (Glastonbury High School) 19:16.00; Caitlin Swanson (Tolland High School) 19:16.00; Anne Johnston (Darien High School) 19:19.00; Randi Burr(Westerly High School) 19:19.00; Kaitlyn Hebert (Glastonbury High School) 19:21.00 SB; Mary Lynch (Wilton High School) 19:22.00; Hayley Collins (Tolland High School) 19:23.00; Brooke Laskowsky (Coe Brown Academy) 19:24.00; Sara Tarascio (Pomperaug) 19:25.00; Katherine Leggat-Barr (Greely High School) 19:25.00; Audrey O'neill (La Salle Academy) 19:26.00; Gaelyn Kattman (Glastonbury High School) 19:29.00 SB; Ariel Vailancourt (Pinkerton Academy ) 19:30.00; Emma Farrington (Essex High School) 19:35.00 SB; Carly Neeld (Champlain Valley Union High School) 19:35.00; Cassie Shea (Concord High School) 19:36.00; Danae Rivers (Wilbur Cross High School) 19:36.00; Hannah Steelman (Orono High School) 19:38.00; Margaret Mccaffrey(East Greenwich High School) 19:39.00; Marissa Mcphillips (Narragansett High School) 19:39.00; Casey Hecox (The Derryfield School) 19:40.00; Erica Hefnawy (Staples High School) 19:41.00; Kelly Arsenault (Winnacunnet High School) 19:41.00; Gwenyth Winship (Bedford High School) 19:44.00; Cianna Lynch (La Salle Academy) 19:45.00;
Boys Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Alex Ostberg (Darien High School) 15:07.00; Ari Klau (William Hall High School) 15:39.00; Austin Gilbert (Ridgefield High School) 15:46.00 SB; Gabriel Altopp(Ridgefield High School) 15:48.00; Eli Moskowitz (Souhegan High School) 15:54.00; David Principe (La Salle Academy) 15:56.00; Dan Schumacher (Naugatuck High School) 15:58.00 SB;Michael Noonan (Darien High School) 16:01.00; Cameron Daly (Inter-Lakes High School) 16:03.00; Grant O'Connor (William Hall High School) 16:09.00; Sam Nishi (Harwood Union High school) 16:10.00; Oliver Hickson (Staples High School) 16:10.00; Liam Kimball (Timberlane High School) 16:11.00; Spencer Brown (Wilton High School) 16:11.00; Eric van der Els (Brien McMahon High School) 16:12.00; Randy Neish (Glastonbury High School) 16:13.00; Matthew Bouthillette (La Salle Academy) 16:15.00; Dom Repucci (Hopkinton) 16:15.00; Bryce Murdick(Falmouth High School) 16:15.00; Kristian Sogaard (Ridgefield High School) 16:15.00; Bryce Hedman (Ledyard High School) 16:16.00 SB; Aaron Willingham (Mt. Blue High School) 16:16.00;Jake Berman (Staples High School) 16:17.00; Dominic Parlato (Bishop Hendricken High School) 16:20.00; Dan Paiva (La Salle Academy) 16:22.00; Nick Sevilla (Pinkerton Academy ) 16:24.00; Scott Daly (Bedford High School) 16:24.00; James Lewis (Staples High School) 16:24.00; Jake Grundy (La Salle Academy) 16:26.00; Abram Gagnon (Manchester Central) 16:27.00;Patrick O'brien (Oyster River High School) 16:27.00; Jack Salisbury (La Salle Academy) 16:27.00; Eric Waterman (Danbury High School) 16:28.00; Sean Laverty (Cumberland) 16:28.00;