Rhode Island Standout Shows Range With 9:55.50 3,000 Followed By 55.45 400

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan photo

Sophia Gorriaran of Moses Brown RI has wasted no time getting off to a strong start to her indoor season. 

The 16-year old ran her first 3,000 meters on the track Saturday at the Energice Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational at The Armory in New York, winning in 9:55.50. She returned to the track later and won the 400 meters in 55.45. 

Gorriaran, the youngest athlete to qualify for last summer's Olympic Trials, opened her indoor season Dec. 4 at Boston University, where she ran 2:04.07 and barely missed Athing Mu's junior class record in the 800 meters. And she also ran a PR of 39.35 for 300 meters. 

Members of the Saratoga Springs NY No. 1-ranked cross country team participated as well. 

Emily Bush won the girls invitational mile in 4:52.48 and teammate Ella Kurto was second in 4:54.92. Peyton Hollis from Columbia NJ was third in 4:55.36 and Saratoga's Mackenzie Hart was fourth in 5:03.11.

Saratoga's quartet of Sheridan Wheeler (10:06.69), Anya Belisle (10:27.83), McKinley Wheeler (10:37.42) and Claire Cuneo (10:42.02) finished behind Gorriaran. 

MEET VIDEOS 

Joseph Perazzo from Susan Wagner NY won the boys invitational mile in 4:22.36, edging out Ryan Bush of Saratoga Springs (4:22.63).

In a speedy boys 55-meter final, Fitzroy Ledgister from St. Peter's Prep NJ ran 6.38 to reach the finish line ahead of William Floyd's Eddy Vu (6.41).

Alanna Smith from Danbury CT beat Elise Cooper of McDonogh School MD, 7.21 to 7.23, in the girls 55-meter final. Hailey Rios from Somerset Area PA won the small-school final in 7.22.

Myla Greene of Bullis MD won the girls 55-meter hurdles in 8.33 seconds. Teammate Mirai Bernard won the girls invitational 300 in 39.13 seconds. The Bullis girls also won the 4x400 in 3:57.10 and broke the meet record. 

Victoria Vidolova, running unattached, won the girls 500 in 1:14.73.

Shamali Whittle from Hamilton North-Nottingham won a close race with Jaavier Jackson of Cardinal Hayes NY in the invitational boys 300 meters, 34.29 to 34.34. Ledgister was third (35.41).

Brian Luciano of Somers NY won the boys weight throw with 61-11.25. Teammate Megan Spencer won the girls event with 41-1.25. 

Christopher Milillo from Iona Prep NY won the boys shot put with 54-7.

Kelly Moran of Stillwater Central NY won the girls triple jump with 39-3.50. Gregory Foster Jr took the boys unattached/club triple jump with a mark of 46-3.

Penn Wood PA's boys swept the 4x200 (1:32.93) and 4x400 (3:26.27) relays.