EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School girls' indoor track and field team kept pace with the other top sides in the 2023-24 Sullivan Division standings with a sweep of its meet against Mt. Pleasant and North Smithfield last week at the Providence Career and Tech Academy Fieldhouse.

The Townies improved to 8-1 in duals to date with their 90-6 decision over the Kilties and 59-49 victory over the Northwomen. East Providence's lone loss is to unbeaten Moses Brown.

East Providence earned several individual event wins in their duals with Mt. Pleasant and North Smithfield. The Townies had a pair of overall victories as well as their 4x200 meter relay ran a night-best time of 1:55.66 and Kandace Daniel clocked the evening's fastest time in the 300 with a 45.54. Her sister Kendra was fifth overall in the event with a 47.07.

Keira Mullen won the meet and was second overall in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 9.71. The same for Kandace Daniel in the 55, running second overall and first in the meet with a 7.86. Kendra Daniel was third overall and second to her sister in 7.89.

Wendy Cabral continued the trend for the Townies, finishing runner-up on the night and first in the meet with a throw of 26 feet, 6.25 inches in the shotput.

Kathryn Palatano had a pair of quality results, winning the meet 1,000 with the fifth-best time of the night in 3:30.3. She was second in the 3,000 and ninth overall with a 12:36.64.

Also on the track, the EPHS 4x400 relay was first and third, respectively, with a time of 4:43.44. Back to the field, Trinity Johnson-Carter was fifth overall and second in the meet with distance of 14'6.25" in the long jump. Malia Mullen placed eighth overall in the high jump, clearing 4'2."

More girls' notes

The Townies were last week without one of their top performers Nazarae Phillip, who has already established herself as among the favorites for state titles in the sprints and this year has added the high jump to her repertoire. Phillip is joined on the EPHS 4x2 relay by the Daniel sisters and Samantha Clarke.

"We have a top three 4x200 relay team who has a chance to win," said EPHS head coach Mike Almeida. "Phillip and the Daniel sisters are all going to be a force in the sprints."

Almeida also expects the Townies' 4x4 group of Abigail Raphael, Clarke, Keira Mullen and Tatum Santos to contend for a top place at states while the 4x8 team of Patalano, Alicia Pinto, Perry, and Marcinely Aredes should qualify for the championship meet.

In the field, Mullen and Johnson-Carter should be in the 55 hurdle mix while the latter and Audrey Lepine could also make states in the long jump. The coach said of throwers Cabral and Whitney Monteiro, "they are getting better and have a bright future ahead."

Of his side's ability to rate at the championship meet level, Almeida added, "Barring injury this team has a chance to win the Sullivan Division and should score a decent amount of points at states."

Boys' notes

The EPHS boys' indoor squad won two of three Metro Division outings last week at the PCTA, losing to Classical 73-35, but beating Mt. Pleasant 61-46 and Mt. Hope 88-21.

Cameron Evora was an individual winner on the evening for the locals, bettering the rest of the Metro competition by clearing 5 feet, 10 inches in the high jump. Teammate Dylan Slavick was second overall and in the Townies' meet by clearing 5'8."

Also in the field, EP's Michael Precious was fifth in the meet and ninth overall in the weight throw with a toss of 41'10.75." Jaidin Ivy was 11th overall in the long jump with a leap of 18'6" to lead the locals while Logan Xavier was best for the Townies in the shot put with a toss of 20'.75" to place 14th overall.

The EP quartet of Gerald Gagnon, Jietan Ruiz, Brian Rutkowski and Immanuel Prevete was fourth overall and second in the meet with a 3:52.16 in the 4x400 meter relay. Ruiz, Gagnon, Ivy and Jack Pawlik were also third in the meet and fifth overall in the 4x2 with a 1:42.32.

The Townies swept the 3,000 with Jayden Caverio leading the way in seventh overall with a 12:09.6. Giuseppe Belanger was eighth in 12:22.4 and Travis Carlucci ninth in 14:23.63.

Will Anthony was second in the meet and eighth overall in the 1,500 with a 4:42.17. He was third and eighth, respectively, in the 1,000 with a 3:07.09. Nolan Travassos was sixth overall and fourth in the meet with a time of 9.8 in the 55 hurdles. Ruiz was 10th overall and second in the meet in the 55 dash, running a 7.15. Gagnon ran fourth in the meet and 12th overall in 600 with a 1:35.02. Cortes clocked a 40.82 to place fourth in the meet and 19th overall in the 300.

Up next

The EPHS girls' team is back in action this week against 8-1 sides Chariho and Lincoln High at the PCTA Thursday night, Jan. 18, beginning at 6 o'clock.

The boys are off until Monday night, Jan. 22, when the Townies take on Central and Moses Brown at the PCTA Fieldhouse at 7:45 p.m.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Julie Furtado shot the accompanying gallery of photos.