Sophomore Jourdan Cicchinelli was the top runner for the Mt. Hope High School girls' cross country team at the 2026 state championship meet held Saturday, Nov. 7, over the rain-drenched 5,000 kilometer Covered Bridge Trail on the campus of Ponaganset High in Glocester.

Cicchinelli placed 61st overall in a time of 21 minutes, 59.85 seconds as the Huskies placed 16th out of 19 teams with 410 points after several inches of precipitation drenched the course during the day, evening and overnight.

Senior Kara Pisasale was the next MHHS scorer, running 79th in 22:34.82. Freshman Raegan McGinn was 81st in 22:36.09 followed by senior Evelyn Towers in 99th in 23:23.09 and junior Ellie Donovan in 137th in 27:09.20.

LaSalle senior and Class A champ Alyssa Parenteau was the race winner in a time of 18:16.33 with South Kingstown freshman and Class B champion Emma Morrissey in second in 18:17.45 and Barrington sophomore Carly Gill third in 18:20.84.

Another of the state's best freshman, Cumberland Caylee Kurbec, led the Clippers to the team title with her fifth-place run in 18:33.29. Cumberland's five scorers finished 5-11th for 40 points. LaSalle was second with 71 and North Kingstown third with 92.

"The weather (Saturday) was decent, but the course was muddy and sloppy after the rain the night before," said MHHS co-head coach Neale Ross. "Everyone was covered in mud, but had a great time embracing the conditions. (Co-head) Coach (Margaret) McCaffrey and I were very happy with everyone’s performances and especially glad our senior girls had one more opportunity to compete, closing out the season at the state meet.

"We wish our senior girls, Kara Pisasale, Evelyn Towers, Ellie Donovan, and Kyleigh Durette, all the best in their next chapters. It’s been a pleasure watching them grow over the years, and we’re grateful to have been a small part of their high school journeys."

As for the boys, 94 Jacob Lopes was the lone Husky to qualify, the junior running an 18:31.24 to finish 94th overall out of 141 competitors total.

Hendricken senior Colby Flynn led the Hawks to yet another team title by finishing first in a time of 15:26.51. LaSalle senior Will Souza was the runner-up in 15:30.9 with Leo Woodman, a senior from Providence Country Day, in 15:31.95.

Hendricken's 29th-ever championship came after the Hawks placed all five of their scoring runners in the top 10 to finish with 27 points. Barrington was second with 67 and East Greenwich third with 98.

"We had a great season and couldn’t be prouder of both our boys’ and girls’ teams," Ross added. "We’re looking forward to what next year brings and are excited to get back to work this summer."

Freshmen states

The MHHS freshmen vied in their state championship meet recently over the 4K course at Deerfield Park in Smithfield where McGinn ran 20th overall in 17:50.94 and Abigail St. Pierre was 36th in 18:41.88. Cumberland's Kurbec won the race in 14:30.84 and LaSalle the team title with 60 points.

In the boys' event, Liam Donovan ran 28th for the Huskies in 14:51.71 and Noah Rozea 131st in 18:49.90. Kingston Bayha of Pilgrim won in 13:14.75. LaSalle claimed the boys' team championship with 89 points.

JV states

Also as part of the class meet schedule, the junior varsity state meet was contested two weeks ago over the same 5K Covered Bridge Trail course at Ponaganset.

Dylan Scarborough ran 153rd over for MHHS in 20:38.33 followed by Nathan James in 209th in 21:50.38, Ryan Waterman in 218th in 21:59.44 and Donovan in 272nd in 24:09.97.

Middle school states

The Kickemuit Middle School harriers took part in their respective 2026 state championship meet recently at Deerfield Park's 3K layout with the Huskies placing eighth in the girls' event.

Brynnleigh Cleary was third overall and led the locals with a time of 11:25.90. Livia Diamond was 36th in 12:46.34 Gia Corey 59th in 13:18.00 46, Mhari Coletta 83rd in 13:39.65 and Grace Donovan 96th in 13:55.28 to account for the KMS scoring. Sarah Loyola ran 112th in 14:09.29 and Sophie Tucker 116th in 14:20.9.

The Huskies finished with 216 points. Wickford (North Kingstown) won the girls' championship with 55 points. Lucia Yoder of The Gordon School won the race in 11:14.68 with Moses Brown's Priya Addai second in 11:18.48.

Cole Henault of Burrillville won the boys' race in 10:14.05 followed by Will Lang of Winman (Warwick) in second in 10:20.43 and Cole's (East Greenwich) Jonah Moon led his side to the team title with 51 points by running third in 10:23.77.

KMS sent two male runners to states, Brady Francis ran 29th overall in 11:17.01 and Lorenzo Ring 86th in 12:06.94.