A new state record and a nation No. 1 were among several highlights this weekend at the Yale Track Classic.
La Salle Academy's distance medley relay squad of senior Dan Paiva (3:12/1,200m), junior Cameron Rotstart (53, 400m), senior Jamie Placco (1:59/800m) and Jack Salisbury (4:17/1,600m) forged to the front of the national rankings on Friday night with a winning time of 10:22.25. The Rams edged Syosset, N.Y., which placed second at 10:23.27 (US #3).
On Saturday, Hope senior Quashira McIntosh broke the state 55m dash mark of 7.11 that she shared with former Blue Wave star Royal Cheatham by finishing second overall with a time of 7.09.
Rhode Island swept both weight throws on Friday morning. Barrington senior Adam Kelly led a 1-2-3 sweep by the Eagles in the boys' 25-pounder with a first-place toss of 78 feet, 6 inches. Teammates Bobby Colantonio (72-4) and Mike Alvernaz (67-2) took the next two spots. In the girls' 20-pound weight, Classical senior Alva Hick was first at 53-10. Junior teammate Lysah Russell was second at 51-3.
La Salle had an impressive showing in the 3,000m with three of its runners under 8:40. Salisbury was third (8:34.41), junior Matt Bouthillette placed fourth (8:35.33) and sophomore D.J. Principe took seventh (8:38.13). Cumberland junior Sean Laverty (12th, 8:48.63), Clipper senior Abdullah Kaba (16th, 8:55.63) and La Salle senior Jake Grundy (17th, 8:55.97) also placed well among the 312 entries.
The Rams' Placco finished fourth in the 800m with a time of 1:58.61 and Bishop Hendricken senior Lee Moses was fifth in the long jump with a leap of 21-6.
In the girls' mile run, Cumberland senior Nichole Barger was fifth with time of 5:10.02.