Before the holiday break, the Rhode Island Track Coaches Association hosted its annual indoor season invitational meet at the Providence Career and Tech Academy Fieldhouse where East Providence High School junior Nazarae Phillip showed why she will once again contend for being labeled as the state's fastest female.

Phillip edged Mt. Hope sophomore Thea Jackson to win the 55 meter dash, the former crossing the tape first at 7.40 and the latter at 7.41. LaSalle senior Alexis Caggiano was third at 7.47. Townie sisters Kendra, a sophomore, and Kandace, a senior, Daniel ran eighth and ninth, respectively in 7.81 and 7.91.

Phillip and the Daniel siblings were joined by Aliyah Evora on EP's victorious 4x200 meter relay, winning the event in a time of 1:50.97.

Caggiano got the better of Phillip in the 300 meters, winning in 42.98 with the latter running third in 44.6. Sierra Thompson, a South Kingstown senior, split the pair in second with a 43.41.

Phillip's day wasn't done. She added a ninth-place result in the field, clearing a height of 4 feet, 6 inches in the high jump. Katelin Cruikshank of Middletown won the event at 5'5."

Like her teammate, Keira Mullen showed she should contend for a top spot at states in the 55 meter hurdles, the EPHS sophomore running third (9.53) behind the winning time of SK's Thompson (9.08) and Cranston West's Reece Vitale (9.23). Fellow Townie Trinity Johnson-Carter was ninth in 10.81.

Of note as well from the locals, the EPHS 4x8 relay of Marcinely Aredes, Alicia Pinto, Kathryn Patalano and Adriana Perry ran sixth in 11:49.37. A Prout quartet won the event in 10:37.85. Also, the Townies' Audrey Lepine covered 15 feet in the long jump to place ninth. Barrington's Sophia Ford won the event at 17'3.75."

The EPHS girls' squad returns to league dual meets on Friday, Jan. 5, at the PCTA Fieldhouse when the Townies take on Exeter West Greenwich, Johnston and the Moses Brown School in Sullivan Division action at 6 p.m. EP swept Burrilville, North Providence and neighbor Bay View in its 2023-24 season opener also prior to the holiday recess.