RHODE ISLAND STATE MEET

Cumberland Girls Win First State Title In 42 Years; Bishop Hendricken Edges Cumberland For Boys Title By One Point

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Saturday’s Rhode Island state cross country championships proved to be a banner day for the Cumberland program with two big victories.

At Ponaganset High School’s Covered Bridge Course, the girls team ran to the program’s first state title since 1981. Led by junior Kiley DeFusco’s fourth-place finish (18:35.41), Cumberland had four runners finish in the top 25, and all six finish in the top 50 to score 79 points.

La Salle Academy was runner-up with 116 points, while North Kingston was third (118 points).

Individually, St. Raphael Academy’s Rory Sullivan won her first state title in 18:08.79. A year she was third. Runner-up was Chariho Regional’s Erin vonHousen (18:18.30). 

In the boys race, Cumberland’s Sam Henderson, a junior, won his first state title, running away from the pack on the 5,000-meter course for the convincing victory in 15:33.29.

Runner-up was Brandon Piedade of Barrington in 15:47.14.

Cumberland almost made it a program sweep, but came up just shy, as Bishop Hendricken won its third consecutive title with 63 points. Cumberland was second with 64 points.

Bishop Hendricken was paced by junior Jack Loretta’s fifth-place finish, but used a pack-style approach to secure the title, claiming the 14-17 places, to have all five runners place within the top 20.

The top 25 individuals and top six teams from the state champions will now move on to the New England Championships held Saturday in Belfast, Maine.

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Bishop Hendricken boys 63 points; Cumberland girls 79 points - RESULTS

CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS (Saturday, October 28)

Class A: Bishop Hendricken boys 29 points; La Salle girls 48 points - RESULTS

Class B: Barrington boys 44 points; Barrington girls 56 points - RESULTS

Class C: East Greenwich boys 50 points; Moses Brown girls 65 points - RESULTS