Bishop Hendricken Boys, North Kingston Girls Win Titles

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

St. Raphael Academy’s Devan Kipyego didn’t get a chance to run in the Rhode Island Interscholastic State Cross Country Championships last fall due to an injury. The standout junior more than made up for lost time. Kipyego covered the 5,000-meter course at Ponaganset High in North Scituate in a personal best time of 15 minutes, 32.3 seconds. 

Kipego, who is fresh off winning the Class C title last week, has experienced a breakout year, which included winning the Manhattan College Varsity B race back in October in 12:39.2. The younger brother of middle-distance standout Darius Kipyego, now at Iowa State, is one of the top runners headed into Saturday’s New England Championships in Thetford, Vt. Runner-up went to Cumberland’s Henry Dennen (15:41.69). In the boys team race, Bishop Hendricken returned to the top spot after finishing runner-up in 2020, scoring 62 points. Cumberland was second (125) and last year’s winner, La Salle Academy, was third with 136. Bishop Hendricken put four runners in the top 15. 

On the girls side, DyeStat’s No. 25 runner, Reese Fahys of East Greenwich, dominated and defender her title in 17:40.6. The junior bettered her time from a year ago by three seconds. Second place went to Moses Brown junior Sophia Gorriaran, who clocked 18:13.74. Gorriaran, known more for her talents in the middle distance, making the U.S. Olympic Trials in the women’s 800 meters, bettered her spot from a year ago when she finished third.  

In the team race, North Kingston dethroned La Salle with 64 points. The Rams were runner-up with 75, while East Greenwich was close third (76). North Kingston finished with three runners in the top nine on the day. 

Team Champions

Bishop Hendricken  boys 62 points; North Kingston girls 64 points