PROVIDENCE — A record setting performance by city native Jack Salisbury highlighted local participation in the 2016 Rhode Island State High School Indoor Track and Field Championship Meet held Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Providence Career and Tech Academy Field House.

Salisbury, a senior standout at LaSalle Academy, helped lead the Rams to their third consecutive boys' team title while becoming the first male runner in state history to win the 1,500 meter race three years in a row. Salibury, headed to Georgetown University in the fall, clocked a meet-record time of 3 minutes, 39.35 seconds Saturday to easily out-distance the field.

As for the East Providence High School contingent, senior CJ Hazzard paced the Townies individually with a runner-up result in the boys' 55 meter hurdles. The race went according to form as the top seed entering states, Classical's Nate Narcisse, won the event with a time of 7.65. Hazzard was less than a stride behind in 7.87 while teammate Paulo Pereira was third in 7.94. Pereira placed in two events for East Providence, adding a sixth-place effort in the long jump, covering 20 feet, 9.5 inches.

Alejandro Duarte actually led the Townies in number of results, placing in three events. His best effort came with a fourth-place run (6.68) in the 55 meter dash, which was won by LaSalle's Sam Coleman (6.48). E.P.'s Jayden Chase was fifth in 6.7. Duarte was also just ahead in fifth with a leap of 21'3." South Kingstown's Tony Shepard won the event with a 21'11.5." Duarte was likewise fifth in the 300 meters, running a 36.49. Yeury Galva, of Central Falls, won the state title with a 35.17.

East Providence's other point came from its 4x200 relay team, which finished sixth. Chase, Pereira, Hazzard and Duarte clocked a time of 1:35.15. Central's quartet was the winner in 1:32.15.

LaSalle won the boys' team trophy with 83 points. Hendricken was second with 66 and Central third with 51. The Townies placed sixth with 26 points. Salisbury added a victory in the 1,000 (2:33.4) for good measure.

The top six finishers in their respective events at states qualified to compete in the 29th Annual New England Indoor Track and Field Championships Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Facility in Roxbury, Mass.

"We were hoping for a little better finish. I thought our fourth, fifth, sixth places finishes would have been top three finishes. I was also hopeful we would have some state champions, but unfortunately things did not break our way," EPHS boys' head coach Bob Lyons said. "We had some bad luck in the 4x200 where another team collided with us during an exchange but it was not called. Our skill set is geared more toward the events in the outdoor season, and I am still optimistic we will challenge for the state championship. I'm proud of my kids efforts during the meet and proud we were once again well represented at the meet. Also proud we will be well represented at the New Englands."

The EPHS girls' team did not point Saturday as its counterpart from LaSalle extended its record run of titles to 10 in a row. The Rams tallied 89.33 points with Classical second (64) and Cumberland third (57). Bay View shared 16th place with Lincoln High, each team scoring four points. Claire Hanlon accounted for the Bengals' total running fourth in the 3,000 (10:34.86). LaSalle's Karina Taveres won the race in 10:13.24.