RHODE ISLAND STATE MEET

Cumberland Girls. Bishop Hendricken Boys Maintain Streaks In Rhode Island

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

One week after finishing fourth at the RIIL Class A divisional meet the week prior, the Cumberland girls bounced back in a big way at Saturday's Rhode Island state cross country championships.

Led by sophomore standout Cecelia (CC) Ludwig, Cumberland scored a dominating 26 points to win the program’s third straight title. All five runners finished in the top 12 as Ludwig covered the 5,000-meter course at  Ponaganset High School in a personal best time of 18 minutes, 17.27 seconds.

The previous week, La Salle Academy dominated the Class A race and scored 21 points. Cumberland wasn't running its best lineup. On Saturday, with three fresh runners in the top five, the Clippers rose to the top. 

Second place individually went to junior Mackenzie Lickert of St. Raphael in 18:45, while Cumberland's Charli McCue  was third (18:50.71). Runner-up team honors went to La Salle academy with 54 points - the Class A winners. 

The Bishop Hendricken boys continued their state dominance by capturing a fifth straight and 29th overall state title with a commanding team score of 30 points.

Second place went to North Kingstown with 94 points. Bishop Hendricken was led by junior Colby Flynn, who narrowly missed out on a state title as he found himself in a battle down the stretch with Portsmouth's Sean Gray.

Gray used a late surge to capture first in 15:16.1, while Fylnn was right there in 15:16.5. Bishop Hendricken placed four runners in the top eight and all five in the top 15.

The top 25 individuals and six teams advanced to the New England Championships, set for Saturday at Thetford Academy in Vermont.

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Bishop Hendricken boy 30 points; Cumberland girls 26 points - RESULTS

CLASS DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Class A: Bishop Hendricken boys 23 points; La Salle Academy girls 21 points - RESULTS

Class B: Barrington boys 41 points; East Greenwich girls 47 points - RESULTS

Class C: South Kingstown boys 54 points; Moses Brown girls 60 points - RESULTS