The championship race of the Nike Cross-Country National’s northeast regionals will have a Rhode Island flavor to it.
In the featured event, the Ocean State's La Salle Academy and Barrington and Attleboro’s Bishop Feehan, which includes Cumberland resident and senior Abbie McNulty, will toe the line in upstate New York for Saturday’s meet at Wappingers Falls’ Bowdoin Park.
Utilizing MileSplit’s national rankings, freshman Briana Gess of Haddonfield Memorial (N.J.), McNulty and sophomore Hannah DeBalsi of Staples High (Conn.) own the three fastest times in the field. Gess is ranked No. 9 with a 16:57 at the Colonial Conference All State Meet on Oct. 24. McNulty had a best of 17:07 (US#13) at the Bob McIntyre Twilight X-C Invitational on Oct. 19 and DeBalsi’s quickest is 17:15.8 (US#15), a time she ran to win the New England Championship on Nov. 9.
In the past, R.I. teams have fared well in the regional meet. After winning its second straight state title and a New England crown, Barrington was third in the championship race last year, just 12 points behind runner-up Hunterdon (N.J.). La Salle was seventh in 2011 and two years prior in 2009 placed second overall.
The state champion Rams and the Eagles, a runner-up at the states and a third-place finisher at the New England meet, are predicted to place among the top five this weekend. Barrington is ranked No. 4 and La Salle is ranked No. 5 according to MileSplit’s Virtual Meet simulator. Feehan is right behind in sixth. Led by nationally-ranked runner Courtney Smith, Unionville of Pennsylvania is favored to take the team title over in-state rival Pennsbury, which is ranked No. 2. In third is Coe-Brown of New Hampshire.
The Eagles’ Emma McMillan, who is No. 18 among tenth-graders nationwide with her state-meet winning time of 17:42.87, should be near the leaders on Saturday. Also expect the Rams’ Eliza Rego (17:47.08 PB) to run strong. McNulty also has potential to uncork a fast one at Bowdoin Park. She will be looking to erase a tough outing at the MIAA All-State Meet a few weeks ago where the state’s top harrier never made it to the finish line after collapsing just past mile 2.
Don’t forget, MileSplit will provide complete coverage of the NXN with results, stories, photos and videos of the day’s events on our national and state sites.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
9:00 a.m. – Boys’ Open (N.Y.)
9:30 a.m. - Girls’ Open (N.Y./Northeast) Combined
10:05 a.m. - Boys’ Open (Northeast)
10:30 a.m. - National Anthem- Introductions
10:40 a.m. - Open Awards
11:00 a.m. – Boys’ (N.Y.) Championships
11:35 a.m. – Girls’ (N.Y.) Championships
12 noon - Boys’ (Northeast) Championships
12:35 p.m. – Girls’ (Northeast) Championships