For the last few years in Rhode Island, Nick Ross has had to run in the shadow of Andrew Springer, the Westerly High phenom who shattered numerous state records and was one of the nation’s top middle-distance stars.
At Saturday’s R.I. State Outdoor Track & Field Championships, it was the East Greenwich senior’s turn to steal the spotlight.
Taking care of his competition quick and early, Ross cranked out one of the country’s best clockings for the 1,500-meter run, touring the oval at Brown University stadium with a sizzling time of 3 minutes, 52.67 seconds (US #3). The E.G. standout smashed the existing meet record of Springer, who ran 3:54.02 in 2009.
A few hours later, Ross added another victory on a hot and muggy afternoon by breaking the tape in the 800. After getting boxed in the first 100 meters, the gifted Avenger sprinted to the outside lane and never appeared to change gears, finishing with a fast time of 1:54.5.
The more impressive of the dual wins was certainly the 1,500 where Ross turned the event into a one-man show despite a talented field that included five runners that have run faster than 4:02. He established his ground early, forging to the front right from the start and racing the first 400 in 61 seconds.
Ross didn’t really have a plan going into the race. His main focus was to be the first to cross the finish line.
“I was talking with a bunch of people about strategy,” said Ross, who last year was one of three R.I. runners to qualify for the high school mile at the Millrose Games. Springer and E.G. teammate Mark Feigen were the other two milers to earn an invite. “I just thought I can think about it all I want, but I really just have to go with it. Just wing it. That helped today, and it saved on stressing out about the race.”
Ross hit 2:03 at the 800 and was 3:07 at 1,200. To the encouragement of the crowd, he didn’t disappoint with a strong finishing kick to dip under Springer’s record. Hendricken senior Brian Doyle was a distant second at 4:01.01.
“My training has been different, but it’s definitely helped this year,” Ross said. “I knew I had to work hard to get close to Springer’s records. It has been paying off a lot. I am definitely happy with how everything is going.”
The six-plus hour state meet produced a bevy of sensational individual efforts and team performances. Putting an end to a three-year drought, Bishop Hendricken claimed its 21st crown in its storied history with a convincing 91-58 victory over La Salle Academy in the boys’ competition. La Salle was the recipient of the girls’ plaque by holding off Barrington, 85-72.
Hendricken relied primarily on its depth, scoring in 12 of the 19 events. The Hawks had a trio of victories, including one from senior Jake Seinko. The fall’s cross-country champion finished out his high school career in grand style at Brown by capturing the 3,000 with one of the state’s all-time best clockings of 8:39.71.
With thoughts of a Division I scholarship on his mind, La Salle sprinter Kadeem Kushimo captured the 100 and 200 dash and also anchored the Rams’ winning 4x100 relay squad. Kushimo won the short sprint with a state-record time of 10.59 and spurred his teammates to a blazing time of 43.09 in the relay.
The senior expressed the most pleasure with his performance in the 200 where he broke another state mark with his time of 21.47. That time just might have saved Kushimo some cash for his post-high school education. Among colleges that are interested in the muscular speedster are the University of Tennessee, the University of Kentucky and the University of Connecticut.
“I’m so excited. I didn’t think I was going to run (21.47). I was shocked,” said Kushimo, who has a hand-held best of 21.3 for the 200. “A couple of Division I schools told me if I did 21.5 (electronically) I can almost get a full scholarship. Doing better than that is just amazing and I’m happy for that. I am so happy for that. I can’t wait to tell them what I did.”
Looking ahead, Kushimo plans to compete in this Saturday’s New England Championship in New Britain, Conn., and also the Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) on July 2 in Eugene, Ore. He was fourth in the 300 at the Nike Indoor Nationals.
“Hopefully my teammates (and my coach) can push me, which I know they can,” he said. “I’m going to go to the gym and workout and improve my times.”
Hope senior Angie Quiah, who is in just her second year of track, was a four-time winner in the championship meet. She anchored the Blue Waves’ 4x100 relay squad (48.07) and also captured individual titles in the 100, 200 and 400.
In the 100, she equaled a R.I. record with her time of 12.12. She came close to the state’s best in her other individual events with a time of 25.22 in the 200 and 56.70 in the 400.
“I went to the Prom last night. I left it early, went home, iced up. I came to the track meet ready to do my best,” Quiah said. “My coach told me, like he told the whole team, to do my best out there. Four events, I was like OK, and I just did it. “
Quiah, who is leaning towards competing at NON, has finished out her short high school career with five state titles. She captured the 300 during the winter’s indoor state meet, “I was confident in every single event (today),” Quiah said. “I was shaky a little bit in the 400, but everything else was good.”
La Salle sophomore Molly Keating proved she has a bright future ahead by winning the 1,500 and the 800. In both events, she out-raced Barrington senior Sarah Barry. She took the 1,500 in 4:39.73 to Barry’s 4:41.78 and earned gold in the 800 with 2:17.15 to her rival’s 2:17.79 clocking.
Molly Reilly, a senior from South Kingstown, broke two state marks in the hurdle events. She cruised over the 100 high hurdles in 14.44 and was 43.91 in the 300 low hurdles.
Junior Aleide Fernandes of Central Falls was dominant in the throwing events, walking away with three titles. She defended her crown in the shot put with a distance of 39-1 ½ and was also first in the hammer at 154-0 (US #8) and the discus at 118-10.
Hendricken senior Max Milder, ranked No. 5 in the nation in the hammer (209-6), won his specialty with a heave of 205-4.
In the javelin, Nick Keeling moved up to No. 13 on the list with his career-best heave of 205-8. Keeling, a two-time all-state running back, had four of his throws exceed 200 feet.
James Strawderman, a senior from Cranston West, cleared 15-3 for his second consecutive title in the pole vault. South Kingstown senior Jess Graham won her third straight girls’ crown in the event by clearing 10-6.
For complete results of the R.I. state meet, go to RITCA.com