It was a State Meet to remember;,a day fueled by high-octane performances and topped off by an emotional finish.

The Hawks of Hendricken collected overall team trophy No. 23 in denying the title to defending champs La Salle, 96-81. Meanwhile, the Smithfield Sentinels returned to the championship podium in workmanlike fashion, downing North Kingstown, 62-60. And when the dust had settled at Brown Stadium on Saturday, the emotion registered in both camps was almost palpable.

“This was our best state championship win ever,’’ said a drained Jim Doyle, the Hendricken head coach. “When you’re not favored to win, it’s really great. We had the guys to do it.’’

Across the track, the girls of Smithfield High (and their fans) were awash in tears of joy. “I . . . can’t . . . ‘’ said Sentinel junior pole vaulter Alex Guertin when asked for reaction as she hugged her teammates. “I just can’t . . .’’

John Marchand, Smithfield’s veteran head coach, found himself in the same emotional whirlwind he experienced a year earlier, when his Sentinels won their first team prize in 43 years. “I told the kids we have to show the heart of a champion to pull it off’’ Marchand said on Saturday. “I tried to be a calming force.’’

It was difficult for anyone to remain sanguine in an atmosphere that was charged before the meet even began. La Salle senior Jack Salisbury was trying for his third consecutive 1500-meter title; South Kingstown junior long jumper Anthony Shepard was attempting to eliminate the 80 year-old state record in that event; May Stern, the extraordinary sprinter from Classical High, was poised to run three events and a relay; Barrington High’s Bobby Colantonio hoped to better the state boys’ hammer mark set in 1999.

Some of these goals were achieved, but – as is the case with any great championship - the meet came down to the finale. The Hawks relied on their customary depth to accumulate points throughout. With 18 of 19 events scored, Hendricken held a 10-point lead over the Rams, but the Hawks got a fourth-place finish from their 4x400 relay, while La Salle’s 4x800 placed eighth. Doing he honors for Hendricken in that race were Bailey Whittaker, Harry Antone, Bob Merlino and Nick Williams (3:27.84).

Despite an early-meet disqualification in the 4x100 relay, Smithfield steadily amassed points, climaxed by the 4x400. In a race with North Kingstown for the team title, Smithfield finished fourth in 4:08.30 to the Skippers’ fifth-place 4:08.80. Sentinel runners Grace Beaudry, Cassidy Bissitt, Chloe Holowachuk and Ashley Nicholson came through.

The Sentinels got a 20-point day from senior Alyssa Colbert. She won the discus with a toss of 127-7 (38.88 meters), and defended her 2015 javelin title with a mark of 130-7 (39.80). Senior Rohey Jobe went 36-5.75 (11.11) to win the triple jump. In the pole vault, Smithfield received points from junior Guertin (third) and senior teammate Ireland Judge (fifth). The vault was won impressively by Skipper sophomore Kaitlyn Brayman with a height of 10-3 (3.12).

He’s all right, Jack

Last year, La Salle’s Jack Salisbury copped titles in the 800 and 1500 meters. Lo, and behold, if the Georgetown-bound “long ranger’’ didn’t repeat those victories. This was Salisbury’s third straight 1500 win, placing him alongside Portsmouth’s John Burton (1980, ’81, ’82) and St. Raphael’s Andrew Butler (’87, ’88, ’89). On Saturday, Salisbury was involved in one of the most memorable 1500-meter races in memory. The field included teammates DJ Principe and Matt Bouthillette, and the fearless freshman from North Kingstown, Sam Toolin. The clock never lies, and so the final numbers showed the quality of the competition. Salisbury won in 3:53.91. After that, 54 1/100ths of a second separated second-place Principe from third-spot Toolin and fourth-place finisher Boutillette. “It was a good race,’’ Toolin said, understatedly. “I tried to hang in. My goal was to keep up in a close pack.’’ Said the Rams’ Bouthillette: “It came down to the last 100 meters. It was all about the team today.’’

Workhorse Stern

May Stern didn’t have a particularly productive day. All the Classical senior did was win three gold medals. She went 12.13 to win the 100 meters; powered herself to a 200-meter dash time of 24.74, and in her bread-and-butter event – the 400 meters - clocked a winning 56.28. (Stern holds the R.I. record in the quarter: 55.09, clocked last weekend.) Stern won the state 400-meter title two year ago, and last year finished second to Hope superstar Quashira “Q” Mc Intosh. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,’’ Stern said on Saturday. “I’d been practicing a lot going off the blocks. Was just out for good times.’’ Stern also ran a leg on Classical’s third-place 4x100 relay.

Rego goes out strong

Over the past four years, Eliza Rego has treated track and cross country fans to one exciting race after another. On Saturday, the gutsy distance ace defended her 1500-meter title with a time of 4:36.83 against a challenge from Westerly sophomore Randi Burr (4:38.23 for second). Rego also mined gold in the 800, where she clocked 2:13.87 over Narragansett’s Marissa McPhillips (2:15.59).

In boys’ long jump, it was Shepard

Junior Anthony Shepard earlier this season had long-jumped 24 feet, 1.75 inches (7.36); numbers-wise it bettered the 1936 record (24.0.50) set by Don Blount of Moses Brown. However, since no wind gauge was present that day, a state record could not be considered. On Saturday Shepard took to the runway, but this time with a measuring device in place. He may not have surpassed Blout, but he nevertheless won the event with a leap of 22-10 (6.95). Shepard also placed in the high jump.

Notable notables

North Kingstown senior Beth Nunnery staged a thrilling race in the 3000 meters. With former Skipper all-stater and Stonehill College All-American Aisha Mc Adams on hand to cheer her on, Nunnery battled La Salle’s Karina Tavares to post a winning time of 10:00.55. Tavares came through in 10:02.96 for second . . . Barrington’s Colantonio (No. 1 U.S.) won the hammer with a mark of 246-5 (75.10) . . . The girls’ hammer was won by No. 3-ranked Courtney Jacobsen with a throw of 180-1 (54.88) . . . Cumberland senior Meaghan Scullin won the 300 intermediates (45.30) and the high jump at 5-1 (1.54) . . . La Salle’s Bouthillette clocked 8:37.28 to win the 3000 . . . Central High received wins from Austin Wolo in the 400 (48.27) and a pair of victories from Donatien Djero in the 100 (10.81) and 200 (21.71) . . . Jon Celico, a senior from Hendricken, cleared the pole vault bar at 13-6 (4.11).

“Oval Sidebar’’/An old hand returns to the track

William Simmons was on hand Saturday to present medals to the athletes. But the Brown University anthropology professor, 77, had a connection to the sport he was helping to honor. As a sprinter for Classical High in the 1950s – and later at Brown – Simmons could remember the thrill of victory. At the old Cranston Street Armory in Providence (wherein all indoor meets were held), Simmons won the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds for the 1956 title. He also ran outdoors in the 100- and 200-yard events. “I loved the Armory,’’ said Simmons, who ran Classical High track under legendary coach Al Morro. “I loved the turns. We knew how to run turns.’’

As he watched the athletes of 2016 compete, Simmons couldn’t help but remark on the differences. “[Athletes today] are much better coached than anything I saw,’’ he said. “Running shoes are better; training.’’ It was also ironic that Simmons presented a medal to May Stern, another Classical track star who’s headed to Brown in the fall.

Oval Notes: The State Championship is presented for the ninth year by the Bill Falk Fund of the R.I. Track & Field Foundation . . . The New England Championships will be held next Saturday in New Britain, Conn.

GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

Team scores

1, Smithfield 62; 2, N. Kingstown 60; 3, La Salle 55; 4, Classical 51.3333; 5, Cumberland 50; 6, E. Greenwich 48; 7, Pilgrim 32.3333; 8, Westerly 26; 9, (tie) Toll Gate and Barrington 23; 11, Hope 21; 12, S. Kingstown 20; 13, Lincoln 16; 14, Central 15; 15, (tie) Narragansett, Bay View and Ponaganset 14; 18, Cr. Wesr 12; 19, Woonsocket 8; 20, Portsmouth 7; 21, Middletown 6; 22, Coventry 5; 23, E. Providence 3.33333; 24, Mt. Hope 2; 25, Linc. Sch. 1.

Individual results

HT (9-lb./4-kilo.) – 1, Courtney Jacobsen, TG 180-1 (54.88 meters); 2, Gianna Rao, Pon. 173-4; 3, Sam Andrews, Linc. 159-6 (48.61); 4, Annika Kelly, Barr. 158-7 (48.33); 5, Lysah Russell, Class. 157-10 (48.10); 6, Meagan Malloy, Smith. 157-9 (48.08).

SP – 1, Jenn Iozzi, CW 39-2.25 (11.94); 2, Ani Armenakyan, TG 36-10.75 (11.24); 3, Russell 36-9.50 (11.21); 4, Taylor Morris, BV 36-1.75 (11.01); 5, Malloy 36-1.50 (11.01); 6, Alyssa Colbert, Smith. 35-8 (10.87).

DT – 1, Colbert 127-7 (38.88); 2, Andrews 118-1 (35.99); 3, Tracy Kurziel, NK 112-2 (34.18); 4, Russell 112-2; 5, Morris 107-0 (32.61); 6, Jacobsen 106-4 (32.41).

JT – 1, Colbert 130-7(39.80); 2, Maddie West, SK 117-5 (35.78); 3, Taylor Deconzo, Midd. 112-7 (34.31); 4, Alyssa Mathews, TG 108-7 (33.09); 5, Kate Sleboda, CW 106-4 (33.41); 6, Shaniah Hazard, EP 105-3 (32.08).

HJ – 1, Meaghan Scullin, Cumb. 5-1 (1.54); 2, Rachel Mews, Cent. 4-11 (1.49); 3, Abby Remick, Pon. 4-11; 4, (tie) Bolu Taiwo, Class., Haley Teodoro,EP, Ilana Perdereaux, Pil. 4-11.

LJ – 1, Kayda Phillip, Pil. 18-6.25 (5.64); 2, Quinn Harlan, Woons. 18-4.50 (5.60); 3, Scullin 18-0.50 (5.49); 4, Tereza Bolibruch, NK 16-5 (5.00); 5, Rohey Jobe, Smith. 16-3.75 (4.97); 6, Charleen Theroux, Cov. 16-2.75 (4.94).

TJ – 1, Jobe 36-5.75 (11.11); 2, Phillip 35-3 (10.74); 3, Kayla Ezeama, Smith. 34-9.50 (10.60); 4, Theroux 34-9.25 (10.59); 5, Madison Stanley, Pil. 34-5.75 (10.50); 6, Julianne

Ross, Cumb. 33-8 (10.26).

PV – 1, Kaitlyn Brayman, NK 10-3 (3.12); 2, Lauren Richardson, Barr. 9-6 (2.89); 3, (tie) Alex Guertin, Smith. and Kelsey Coughlin, LS 9-0 (2.74); 5, Ireland Judge, Smith. 9-0; 6, Aislinn Mumford, Linc. Sch. 9-0.

100 – 1, May Stern, Class. 12.13; 2, Isabella Gentil, EG 12.29; 3, Emma Santee, West. 12.67; 4, Jacklyn Xavier, Cumb. 12.67; 5, Emily Jacobson, Linc. 12.69; 6, Emma Landroche, Pil. 12.69.

200 – 1, Stern 24.74; 2, Gentil 25.61; 3, Laura Murphy, EG 25.91; 4, Briana Gausland, Barr. 26.21; 5, Xavier 26.42; 6, Alyejah Roderick, Cent. 26.70.

400 – 1, Stern 56.28; 2, Aliya Barrows, BV 1:00.25; 3, Mews 1:00.31; 4, Hannah Boldt, NK 1:01.54; 5, MacKenzie Vallely, Cumb. 1:01.77; 6, Nikki Merrill, Ports. 1:01.79.

800 – 1, Eliza Rego, LS 2:13.87; 2, Marissa McPhillips, Narr. 2:15.59; 3, Lisbeth Valdez, Hope 2:17.17; 4, Leinni Valdez, Hope 2:18.71; 5, Julia Zitzmann, Barr. 2:19.92; 6, Kate Zitzmann, Barr. 2:20.24.

1500 – 1, Rego 4:36.83; 2, Randi Burr, West. 4:38.23; 3, McPhillips 4:39.46; 4, K. Zitzmann 4:40.31; 5, Karina Tavares, LS 4:43.92; 6, Danika Wayss, Pil. 4:44.11.

3000 – 1, Beth Nunnery, NK 10:00.55; 2, Tavares 10:02.96; 3, Rego 10:12.76; 4, Ellie Lawler, SK 10:14.76; 5, Grace Connolly, LS 10:22.31; 6, Amy Laverty, Cumb. 10:24.32.

100HH – 1, Bolibruch 14.84; 2, Eva McCool, SK 15.38; 3, Madison Soulliere, Cumb. 15.48; 4, Maria Nunez, EG 15.82; 5, Meghan Oliver, MH 15.84; 6, Krysan Davidson. Class. 15.93.

300IH – 1, Scullin 45.30; 2, Grace Beaudry, Smith. 45.87; 3, Bolibruch 46.15; 4, Nunez 46.80; 5, Aiyana Carter, West. 47.17; 6, Chevell Burgess, Hope 47.30.

4x100 – 1, E. Greenwich (Laura Cooper, Isabella Gentil. Laura Murphy, Racquel Rodriguez) 48.89; 2, Pilgrim 49.17; 3, Classical 49.26; 4, Cumberland 49.30; 5, Westerly 50.21; 6, La Salle 50.51.

4x400 – 1, Hope (Bugess, Isis Hack, L. and L. Valdez) 4:02.60; 2, E. Greenwich 4:03.99; 3, Westerly 4:05.49; 4, Smithfield 4:08.30; 5, N. Kingstown 4:08.80; 6, La Salle 4:09.40.

4x800 – 1, La Salle (Emily Kane, Tavares, Alyson Walsh, Connolly) 9:16.18; 2, N. Kingstown 9:16.09; 3, Portsmouth 9:30.30; 4, Cumberland 9:32.92; 5, Westerly 9:38.24; 6, Smihfield 10:00.23.

All times FAT.

BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

Team scores

1, Hendricken 96; 2, La Salle 81; 3, Central 69; 4, W. Warwick 56; 5, N. Kingstown 48; 6, Woonsocket 40; 7, (tie) Classical and S. Kingstown 25; 9, (tie) Cumberland and Barrington 20; 11, Portsmouth 14; 12, (tie) Lincoln and Middletown 10; 14, (tie) Prout, Westerly, E. Greenwich and Rogers 8; 18, (tie) E. Providence, Coventry and Central Falls 6; 21, St. Raphael 4.5; 22, (tie) Chariho and N. Providence 4; 24, Mt. Pleasant 3; 25, (tie) Johnston, Sanchez and Narragansett 2; 28, (tie) Scituate, Cr. East and Ponaganset 1; 31, Smithfield 0.5.

Individual results

HT (12-lb./5.44-kilo) – 1, Bobby Colantonio, Barr. 246-5 (75.10 meters); 2, Jared Briere, Woons. 202-1 (61.59); 3, Dilyn Cote, Woons. 195-5 (59.56); 4, Adrian Matos, Cent. 186-10 (56.94); 5, Joe Palazzo, Class. 183-3 (55.85); 6, Jody Harris, Cent. 178-0 (54.25).

SP – 1, Ivan Goretoy, WW 49-9 (15.16); 2, Steve Cirella, NK 49-4 (15.03); 3, Kwity Paye, BH 48-8.25 (14.83); 4, Chris Trebisacci, West. 46-11.50 (14.31); 5, Kyle Nelson, Johnston 46-9 (14.24); 6, Jim Bergin, Pon. 45-6 (13.86).

DT – 1, Jacon Greenless, Woons. 142-6 (43.43); 2, Goretoy 142-1 (43.30); 3, Evan Storti, BH 141-5 (43.10); 4, Trebiasacci 138-5 (42.18); 5, Briere 133-0 (40.53); 6, Colantonio 132-8 (40.43).

JT – 1, Connor Flynn, Midd. 153-11 (46.91); 2, Connor Sheridan, BH 153-6 (46.78); 3, Derek Magno, BH 152-4 (46.43); 4, Dan McBride, Cov. 150-2 (45.77); 5, Remy Leduc, NK 149-10 (45.66); 6, JT Gibbons, SK 147-10 (45.05).

HJ – 1, Dariy Esenov, Linc. 6-2 (1.87); 2, Mike Bittner, BH 6-2; 3, Quin Wilson, WW 6-2; 4, Tony Shepard, SK 6-0 (1.82); 5, Jahlani Galloway, Class. 5-10 (1.77); 6, Pat Bullen, SRA 5-10.

LJ – 1, Shepard 22-10 (6.95); 2, Josh Correia, Woons. 21-11.50 (6.69); 3, Al Duarte, EP 21-4.50 (6.51); 4, Avery Williamson, WW 21-4 (6.50); 5, Tony Ipina, MP 20-7 (6.27); 6, Cirella 20-6.50 (6.26).

TJ – 1, Shepard 42-2.50 (12.86); 2, Williamson 41-10.50 (12.76); 3, Correia 40-11.50 (12.48); 4, Manee Castillo, SRA 40-11 (12.47); 5, Evan Einloth, NK 40-10 (12.44); 6, Yaqoob Iqbal, Ros. 40-9 (12.42).

PV – 1, Jon Celico, BH 13-6 (4.11); 2, Nick Curci, Prout 13-0 (3.96); 3, Thorin Cardente, NK 13-0; 4, Nate Shimkus, Char. 13-0; 5, Julio Almanzar, Class. 12-6 (3.81); 6, Joe Zingarelli, NK 12-6.

100 – 1, Donatien Djero, Cent. 10.81; 2, Sam Coleman, LS 10.86; 3, Dametrius O’Connor, Cent. 11.02; 4, Levon Campbell, Rog. 11.17; 5, Jared Grossi, BH 11.22; 6, Brandon Brown, LS 11.27.

200 – 1, Djero 21.71; 2, Austin Wolo, Cent. 21.81; 3, O’Connor 21.97; 4, Coleman 22.24; 5, Campbell 22.81; 6, Grossi 22.95.

400 – 1, Wolo 48.27; 2, Nick Williams, BH 50.54; 3, Justin Lucier, WW 51.01 4, Tony Vega, Cent. 51.70; 5, Harry Antone, BH 51.83; 6, Ayodeji George, CE 52.47.

800 – 1, Jack Salisbury, LS 1:56.70; 2, Sam Toolin, NK 1:56.84; 3, Mars Bishop, Barr. 1:57.36; 4, Nate Coogan, NP 1:57.40; 5, Chris Figueroa, Sanchez 1:58.45; 6, Jack Perrault, NK 1:50.02.

1500 – 1, Salisbury 3:53.91; 2, DJ Principe, LS 3:54.32; 3, Toolin 3:54.34; 4, Matt Bouthiette, LS 3:54.86; 5, Bishop 4:02.93; 6, Joe Murphy, Class. 4:05.32.

3000 – 1, Bouthillette 8:37.28; 2, Principe 8:37.37; 3, Sean Laverty, Cumb. 8:41.45; 4, Dom Parlato, BH 8:44.08; 5, Tom McMahon, BH 8:50.60; 6, Mike Kiernan, BH 8:52.40.

110HH – 1, Nate Narcisse, Class. 14.32; 2, Chris Choquette, Cumb. 15.19; 3, Ethan Famiano, BH 15.22; 4, Colt Nichols, Ports. 15.48; 5, Paul Fitzgerald, Cov. 15.61; 6, Mike Garvey, Rog. 15.64.

300IH – 1, Nichols 39.23; 2, Narcisse 39.33; 3, Ben Schapira, NK 40.72; 4, Famiano 40.78; 5, Choquette 40.87; 6, Jephte Wagnac, MP 40.93.

4x100 – 1, Hendricken (Ethan Pezzullo, Jared Grossi, Desmond Bernal, Paye) 43.03; 2, La Salle 43.18; 3, W. Warwick 43.74; 4, N. Kingstown 43.97; 5, Narragansett 44.26; 6, Barrington 44.76.

4x400 – 1, Central (Djero, O’Connor, Vega, Wolo) 3:23.25; 2, W. Warwick 3:24.60; 3, Central Falls 3:26.90; 4, Hendricken 3:27.84; 5, E. Greenwich 3:29.14; 6, N. Kingstown 3:30.27.

4x800 – 1, La Salle (Bouthillette, Joe dosReis, Principe, Salisbury) 7:49.59 (MR); 2, Hendricken 7:55.13; 3, E. Greenwich 7:57.27; 4, Cumberland 7:58.76; 5, N. Kingstown 8:06.73; 6, Scituate 8:12.06.

All times FAT.