Lisa Raye, Spurred By Older Sister Xenia, Is Becoming The Nation's Most Dominant Sprinter

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Photos courtesy of Raye family/John Nepolitan

In mid-December Xenia Raye was called out of one of her classes at West Warwick High RI and asked to head to the guidance counselor’s office.

When Xenia arrived, the counselor handed her a handwritten letter. It was addressed to both her and her younger sister, Lisa. The letter was from a man named Robert (Bob) Mattis, who graduated from La Salle Academy in 1959.

His words, laid out in all capital letters, said he had been following their track careers – reading about the two sisters in the local newspaper and watching them on TV. He expressed a passion for the Raye sisters' sprinting success. A track athlete back in his day – his events were the 60, 100 and 220-yard dashes – he found a connection with Xenia and Lisa’s story.

He expressed good luck for their continued success. 

Xenia shared the letter with her sister. 

“We read it and we were like, ‘Why don’t we try and visit him?’” Lisa said.

The following week after a home track meet, the Raye sisters, along with their parents, showed up at the address listed on the letter.

Mattis, 83, was taken aback. He welcomed the Rayes inside and shared stories of track and field and inquired about the young spinters' experiences and dreams.

The Raye sisters invited Mattis to their state meet this month, and plan to stay in touch with him. 

“We found it really important because there was another sprinter in Rhode Island that was close to us too,” Lisa said. “We had the opportunity to talk to him and talk about track and I think it was nice,” Lisa said matter-of-factly. 

West Warwick coach Jeff Parenteau said the Raye sisters are transcending the sport of track and field, especially in the small state of Rhode Island.

On Saturday, they will compete at the New England High School Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

Together they've racked up nearly 20 state individual titles – and are the first known Rhode Island track athletes to sign a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal, with On Running.

For Parenteau, who has been coaching at West Warwick for almost 20 years, he sees the sisters as trailblazers precisely for the interactions they are making with people such as Mattis.

“They are mature beyond their age, and they realize what they are doing is bringing a lot of joy and hope to people in their community but also within the state,” Parenteau said.

Most recently, Lisa, brought an extra layer of joy and excitement to the state as she broke the 60-meter national high school record. At the prestigious Millrose Games in New York, Lisa, a junior, clocked 7.13 seconds to win the race and shatter the previous record of 7.16 held by Shawnti Jackson. 

“I was joking with her and her family, the time (she ran), I knew she could do it, I just thought it might be at nationals in March,” Parenteau said. “I knew there was going to be great competition, and alright, I’m looking at a 7.24, 7.19, and I saw that 7.13 and I'm like, ‘I should have never doubted her.’”

The Rayes will return to Boston for the New Balance Indoor Nationals held March 13-16, where Lisa will be the favorite to win her first indoor national title in the 60. 

“So, I’ve been wanting to break the national record in the 60 and I knew I'd have to run against the best to do that, and the eighth grader (Melanie Doggett), she definitely pushed me to run that time,” Lisa said. “Now, I’d love to win my first indoor title because I’ve never done that.” 

Thirteen months younger than Xenia, Lisa grew up around the sport starting at five years old. The youngest of four, Lisa and Xenia’s older brother, Lionel 'LJ” Raye Jr., a standout sprinter who competed at Thomas College in Waterford, Maine, ran for Parenteau in high school and let him know his three younger sisters were on the way. 

“I remember him saying, ‘My sisters are going to run and they are fast.’ He’s five or six years older, and I had seen them coming around to some of his meets,” Parenteau said. “I watched them through middle school, and then Xenia came in the ninth grade, and (now) I’ve had the two of them together for three years and it’s been amazing.” 

Xenia, also a strong short sprinter, is better known more for the longer sprints, winning two outdoor state titles in the 400. Lisa, who has always been a sprinter and competed in the long jump, added the hurdles to her repertoire as a way to help the team earn extra points, but also make herself more versatile.

She’s ranked US#25 in the 55 hurdles (8.10), US#4 in the 200 (23.39) and US#1 in the 55 (6.63) and 60 (7.13) dash. She also has a PR of 19-2 in the long jump. 

“It’s definitely a lot of fun being able to do the long jump, hurdles and sprinting; it's kind of cool,” Lisa said. “Definitely doing the hurdle drills during school meets, we would run the hurdles first, and then go into the 55 sprints so running the hurdles first definitely warmed me up and opened up my hips.” 

Lisa said it wasn’t until the end of her first year at West Warwick when she started to see her full potential as an elite sprinter. 

“My freshman year, indoor, I was pretty good, but it wasn’t until I won New Balance Nationals Outdoor 100 (11.64) and 200 (23.58, meet record) for the freshman divisions that I noticed I was good,” Lisa said.

It’s been an upward trajectory ever since. She has lowered her times in all events and made herself one of the top athletes in the Class of 2026.

As a sophomore indoors, she won state titles in the 55, 300 and 55 hurdles. She went on to finish second at Nike Indoor Nationals in the 60 and 200 (23.53). During the spring, she finished second only once in the 100, won the New Balance Nationals title in a meet record and wind-legal time of 11.26 (+1.3) seconds. She also claimed the 200 national title in a No. 10 all-time of 22.77. She was the Rhode Island state champion in the 100, 200, 100 and 300 hurdles.

“Her confidence has gotten better and she doesn't like to lose,” Parenteau said of Lisa. “Her competitiveness is nothing like I've ever seen. She rises to the competition, the better the competition, the better she runs; she just has that fire in her. She’s spicy. She’s got that competitiveness and I love that. The work ethic has always been there. As she gets older she gets more confident, more competitive and you see what's happened.”

Lisa said she can still go faster than 7.13 seconds. She points to her blocks start as one area with room for improvement. Parteneu said that her arm and leg drive are also areas where he believes she'll get faster.

Parenteau works with the sisters on the technical and running aspects of the sport, while their dad, Lionel, does strength training with them in their home garage. 

“She’s extremely talented and I think if we can tweak some of those little things, I think she’s going to get faster,” Parenteau said. “Lisa, she's driven but also likes to laugh and have a good time. (But) when it’s time to go, it’s time to go.”

Aside from her own internal drive, Xenia has been a built-in training partner, support system and best friend.

The sisters often finish 1-2 in the sprints and team up on relays - at New Balance Nationals last June, they finished 10th overall in the 4x100. In early December, the pair committed to powerhouse Georgia. Xenia, a senior, will head to Athens this fall, and Lisa will follow a year later. 

“She (Lisa) had a training partner from the get-go,” Parenteau said. “I even saw with Xenia once Lisa came on the team her times got much better also. Their relationship, going to the same school together, they are typical siblings. At practice sometimes I'll just laugh only because they will be bickering and I’m a twin, so I understand what’s going. They are extremely close and they push each other. Huge advantage for both of them.”

Added Lisa: “She pushes me a lot and makes sure I'm doing everything right, and it benefits both of us.” 

Just last week the two guided West Warwick to a second consecutive state title; 2024 was the Wizards’ first state championship. Lisa contributed four golds winning the 55 (6.87), 300 (40.24), 55 hurdles (8.11) and long jump (19-1), setting meet records in all of the events except the 300. Xenia was second in the 55 (7.06) and 300 (40.57) and ran on the third-place 4x200 (1:48.06). 

“We are a small team and what they have done for us is incredible,” Parenteau said. “I can’t walk more than 10 feet in the school without people talking about the Raye sisters and what they’ve done for the community and energy they bring to the school.” 

With nationals and the outdoor season looming, big goals are on the radar for the Raye sisters - and their No. 1 fan in Rhode Island will be watching. 

“I’m looking forward to your future, amazing accomplishments,” Mattis wrote. “Which may even include the next Olympics.”