Principe, Lawler break course records

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

Sunday afternoon at the Rhode Island State Championships at Ponaganset High School, it was all La Salle Academy.

The nationally ranked boys and girls teams dominated on the 3.1 mile course, both winning team titles and head into the New England Championships this Saturday in Thetford, Vt. as the favorites.

In the boys’ 5,000-meter race, junior David Principe Jr lived up to the prerace hype once again. Principe posted a winning time of 15 minutes, 9.5 seconds. His finished the race nearly 40 seconds better than runner-up and senior teammate Matt Bouthillette (15:43.94).

Principe’s time also broke a seven year old course record (15:41.1) that was previously held by Westerly’s Andrew Springer.

La Salle nabbed the first three spots and placed four runners in the top 10 to score 35 points. Runner-up was Bishop Hendricken (59).

In the girls’ 5,000-meter race, La Salle won the program’s third straight title scoring an impressive 28 points and placing four in the top six, and all seven in the top 15.

North Kingstown was second with 74 points.

Individually, sophomore Eleanor Lawler of South Kingstown rank 17:29.28 to collect the victory, which was also a course record. The previous record of 17:42.9 was established in 2013 by Barrington’s Emma McMillan.

Lawler was the only female runner to clock under 18 minutes as second place went to La Salle senior Eliza Rego (18:14.34). 

Rhode Island will now join Maine, Conn. and NH and Vermont at the New England Championships on Saturday at Thetford (Vt) Academy.