Jumpers set the pace for EPHS boys’ outdoor track and field unit

Townies’ strength this season comes in three leaping disciplines

By Mike Rego
Posted 4/11/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School boys’ outdoor track and field teams began its 2019 season last week with an Eastern Division meet hosted by Tiverton and including Barrington, …

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Jumpers set the pace for EPHS boys’ outdoor track and field unit

Townies’ strength this season comes in three leaping disciplines

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School boys’ outdoor track and field teams began its 2019 season last week with an Eastern Division meet hosted by Tiverton and including Barrington, Shea and Tolman.

The Townies enter the spring with a core group of jumpers who fared quite during the winter campaign. Senior Anuoluwapo Ogunronbi defended his state long jump title indoors while classmate Exondus Barnes cleared the top height all season in the high jump.

Two more seniors, Jason Santiago and Ednilson Silva, also performed admirably in the jumps during the winter. Santiago actually posted the longest triple jump during a non-sanctioned competition indoors. The event is, however, a part of the outdoor season. Classmate Arman Dumapias is also expected to be a factor in the triple jump. Yet another season, Dennis Urquhart, could score points for the Townies in the high jump as well.

“It’s very similar to the make-up of the team indoors. We should do well in the jumps and if our 4x1 (relay) team is competitive we have chance to score quite a few points at states,” said EPHS head coach Bob Lyons.

Ogunronbi and Barnes, likewise, pace the EPHS sprinters. They along with senior multi-sport standout Dion Hazard, Santiago, Silva, sophomore Elijah Owens and freshman Adam Marschat are in the mix to compose the Townies’ 4x100 meter relay team. Freshman Biron Chalas could contribute in a version of the 4x400 relay and 400 meter individual events. Senior Daeson Centeio, junior Andrew DeBrito and Silva start the year also in the 4x4 group.

“We’re still trying to develop some hurdlers and we’re still trying to find distance runners. We’re always trying to find a diamond rough,” Lyons added.

In the throwing events, junior Kianu Duarte has a chance to be in the mix in the discus, an event he placed in at freshmen states two years ago, and classmate Emmanuel Santiago is hopeful of being a factor in the shot put and javelin.

During the regular season the Townies vie in the always-stacked Eastern Division with the likes of perennial powers LaSalle and Barrington along with other strong sides like Rogers, Middletown, Portsmouth and St. Raphael.

“The dual meets, I’m trying to be very careful with my athletes,” Lyons explained. “The goal is just to have winning record, then be ready for the championship meets.”

The coach expects his squad to do well at the class and state competitions if everything goes well.

“I think my team will be a better ‘big’ meet team than a dual meet team,” Lyons said. “I’d be disappointed if the jump points don’t come to fruition and if the relays aren’t decent. I just hope the team stays healthy and do what they can. If that happens, we’ll be all right. If things goes according to plan, I think the best case scenario is we finish top five at states. Regardless, we should have some good results.”

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.