Boys' Outdoor Track: Mount St. Charles, Woonsocket Making Strides

The 2011 postseason began May 9 with nine teams meeting to run, jump and throw for the Northern Division crown in Foster-Glocester, RI. After taking the title from Woonsocket in 2010, Cumberland walked away with its second consecutive championship, finishing first with 164 points.

The Villa Novans came in third with 95.5 points Monday, falling to the host, Ponaganset, (105 points,) but outscoring Lincoln (73,) Central Falls (48,) Mount St. Charles (45.5,) North Providence (28,) Smithfield (28) and Burrillville (1.)

Woonsocket finished fourth last year, and with sophomore Jalen Evans returning in 2012, WHS could move up again next year.

“We lose very few people to graduation, so we will be good next year, but we just need to fill in the ranks,” said Woonsocket head coach George Briggs.

Evans led the Villa Novans to four victories Monday, finishing ahead of the pack in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. He also helped Woonsocket to first place in the 4 x 100-meter relay, running alongside senior Jessie Charette, junior Alex Correia and junior Tyler Bourk.

Charette also won the long jump and finished second in the triple jump for the Villa Novans. Charette, Evans and Woonsocket’s Anthony Neal—runner-up in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles—will compete with the state’s best June 4 at Brown University.

Tom Kishkovich will be there, and he’ll be looking to secure a trophy for Mount St. Charles. The senior won the 300-meter hurdles Monday.

“I’m very proud of my boys today. They really competed hard, especially Kishkovich,” said Mount St. Charles head coach Matthew Clark.

Senior James Dushkewich will join Kishkovich at Brown after finishing second in the discus throw, and Austin White, another senior from MSC, will be in Providence June 4 to take part in the high-jump, long-jump and triple-jump competitions.

MSC surged to sixth place in the North this year after finishing eighth in 2010, and with hard-working youngsters like Bryan Nieva coming back, Clark is looking forward to 2012.

“Last year, [Nieva] didn’t even participate in track and field, and he’s come a really long way. He’s throwing the hammer very well,” Clark said. “Next year, I expect big things out of him.”