EAST PROVIDENCE — On the same afternoon as their counterparts in softball were doing the same, the East Providence High School girls' and boys' outdoor track team conducted the first Interscholastic League-sanctioned meet at the two-year-old Townie Stadium Monday, April 3.

Though the turf field inside the track has been used since the new EPHS opened in August of 2021, stress cracks emerged on the track once the surface settled, so no formal events took place last term.

Monday, the Townies swept outings for both genders as they opened their 2023 Eastern Division meet schedule. EPHS defeated Rogers 69-46, Middletown 93-24, Shea 96-14 and Tolman 99-19 on the girls' side. On the boys, East Providence beat Rogers 90-60, Middletown 122-20, Shea 121-19 and Tolman 125-15.

Aside from one or two smaller events held out of extreme necessity on the crumbling track behind the old school, this was believed to be the first full-on meet held on the EPHS grounds in nearly 30 years.

"We had a great turn out with spectators," said EPHS girls' coach Mike Almeida. "The stands reminded me of a football game, which we all know never happens for track dual meets. All the coaches helped out to make the meet run smoothly and the kids seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

"We won all 4 contests and I feel like it was due to the energy of being home, having your peers watch you compete. That's something that hasn't happened it decades."

EPHS boys' head coach Bob Lyons, who has coached the Townies for over two decades, echoed the sentiment of his peer.

"I loved hosting and seeing all the kids have fun," Lyons said. "It was a very good first meet. We won all four and the place was packed."

Girls' notes
The Townies had a few winners in the girls' meet led by speedster Nazarae Phillip won both the 100 meters, in 12.52, and the 200. Kandace Daniel was second in the 100 with a 12.6.

In the 800 meters, Kathryn Patalano won in 2:54 with teammate Alicia Pinto in third with a 3:43. Patalano also won the 1,500 with a time of 6:19. Aredes Marcinely was third in 7:43 just in front of Pinto in fourth.

Kiera Mullen won the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 17.87 and the 300 version in 54.09.

Madison Slavick was a winner in the long jump for the Townies, covering 14 feet, one-half inch. She was also second in the high jump, clearing 5'2." The winning height was 5'4."

Also of note, Avarie Arruda was second in the discus with a throw of 47 feet, 5 inches.

Boys' notes
Kit Ruddock, like Phillip on the girls' side one of the top male sprinters in the states, also won both the 100 and 200 Monday. Ruddock clocked a time of 11.6 in the dash.

Kenaz Ochogwu was best for the Townies in the high jump, clearing 6 feet on one attempt. He missed at 6'2." Ochogwu led a 1-2-3 EPHS sweep with Dylan Slavick in second, clearing 5'10" on just one try and Cam Evora who cleared 5'8."

Martim Moniz added a victory for the Townies in the long jump, leaping 18'7" followed by Slavick in second at 18', 4-3/4."

Jaidin Ivy led a 1-2-4 finish for the locals in the 110 hurdles, clocking a 20.4 followed by Jonas Rivera with a 20.59 and Jahziah Cardenas with a 21.91.

The Townies won the 4x100 relay with Ruddock, Moniz, Max Whiting and Yusef Abdullah running a 46.1.

William Anthony was first for EPHS in 3,000 with a time of 10:48. Jayden Delgado was third in 11:21.

In addition, Francis Machar placed second in the shot put with a toss of 37'9." Justin Jardine was also the runner-up in the 400 with a time of 54.5.

Also, Delgado was third in the 800 with a 2:29 as was Anthony William in the 1,500 with a 5:20 and Evora in the triple jump with a distance of 34'7.5."