PORTSMOUTH — The Rhode Island track and field championships at Conley Stadium in Providence Saturday featured some outstanding performances from Portsmouth High School athletes.

Aiden Chen, a junior, was crowned state champion in the high jump after he was the only competitor to clear 6 feet, 4 inches on his first attempt. He also ran on the 4x400-meter relay team that placed fifth with a time just two seconds off the school record.

Sean Gray, who’s just a sophomore, lowered his own school record in becoming the first-ever 3,000-meter state champion among Portsmouth High boys. His time of 8:33.13 — more than 24 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor — qualified him for the New Balance Outdoor National Championships at UPenn’s Franklin Field. He will compete in the Championship Two Mile and 2,000-meter steeplechase events. 

Emily DeConto, also a sophomore, lowered her own school record in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.04 seconds. The Third Team All Stater will get a chance to break it again at New Englands next week.

Landon Rodrigues, a Third Team All Stater in the 300-meter hurdles,  came in third in that event in a time of 39.36 seconds. He also placed fourth in the 110 hurdles (15.54 seconds) and anchored the fifth-place 4x400 relay team.

Landon will graduate Friday night and then drive up to the University of New Hampshire Saturday morning for the New England Championships, the final track meet of his high school career.

As a team, the PHS boys finished fourth, their best finish since 1982 when them came in third place.