Mt. Hope Track Star Nominated for State Award

Sophomore runner Kylie McPherson had a banner year for Mount Hope track, setting several school records en route to an individual and team championship for girls indoor track. Kylie's accomplishments have earned her a nomination for the statewide Cox Sports Awards.

McPherson led Mount Hope to its first championship in either boys or girls track by finishing the dual meet season undefeated at 9-0 in the Sullivan Division II. The Lady Huskies scored at the state championship for the first time, with McPherson leading the way. Individually, McPherson won the 600 meter — making her Mount Hope's first-ever individual champion — placed second in the 55m Hurdles and tied for fourth in the High Jump. She teamed with Megan Vento, Nicole Rusin and Meghan Rainville to win the 4x400 meter relay.

McPherson has already set a slue of team records, scoring top times in the 600 meter, the 400 meter and the 55 meter hurdles. She joined her relay teammates in setting school records in the 4x400m relay and the 4x200m relay. She is also an accomplished high jumper and long jumpe, placing fourth in the high jump at the state meet.

McPherson will be honored along with about 50 other student athletes from around Rhode Island at the sixth annual Cox Rhode Island Sports Awards June 13 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. The state’s best high school scholar-athletes from each sport for every season, as well as the Team of the Year and Coach of the Year, will be announced. State Championship teams from each season will also be honored. Former Boston Celtic Chris Herren — one of the most decorated high school athletes in the region when he led Fall River's B.M.C. Durfee High School in the 1990s — is exected to be the keynote speaker, according to Deb Weinrich, spokesowman for the awards.

McPherson is nominated for best performance in girls track, along with LaSalle Academy's Molly Keating and Dakota Dailey Harris, and South Kingstown's Paige Either.