How Did Rhode Islanders Fare This Weekend?

The final day of the New Balance Nationals Outdoor (NBNO) Championships produced an All-American finish by Gianna Rao. The Ponaganset High junior secured her fourth straight All-American placement at the nationals (indoor and outdoor) by taking fourth overall in the hammer with a heave of 174 feet, 2 inches.  Rao, who was second in the weight throw during the indoor meet this past March, was sixth at NBNO in 2016. Also placing among the top 10 was Central's Keyarsa Harris of Central (eighth, 162-8) and Barrington's Annika Kelly (tenth, 156-0)

La Salle Academy junior Emily Kane was 12th overall in the mile with a time of 5 minutes, 0.18 seconds. Sophomore Nikki Merrill of Portsmouth was 17th with a time of 5:06.89.

Cumberland's Ben Drezek was just two seconds from his state mark in the 2,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 6:25.46, good for 22nd overall.

At the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, Wash., recent La Salle graduate D.J. Principe finished out his outstanding high school career by placing ninth overall in the featured mile event.  He was timed in 4 minutes, 9.35 seconds. It was his sixth time under 4:10. The Stanford signee ran a gutsy race, pushing the pace with the leaders for the first three-plus laps.