The East Providence High School boys' outdoor track and field team continues its 2024 regular season with the aim of remaining relevant come the championship meet schedule later this spring.

The Townies, who this week improved their Eastern Division dual meet record to 8-1, traditionally have featured some of the best sprinters and jumpers around. This year, the strength of the EPHS squad leans more towards the latter with a trio of superb leapers in seniors Cam Evora, Dylan Slavick and Kenaz Ochgwu.

At the moment, Evora is pacing the pack. He's already impressed long-time Townie head coach Bob Lyons with his distances in the early going, considering he's coming off a significant knee injury suffered during the football season last fall. Evora has covered over 43 feet in the triple jump, which would have been in the state title mix last year. Each of the three have cleared 6'2" in the high jump.

Ochgwu's four points for his results in the high and triple jumps accounted for the entire EPHS points total at last year's state meet. He's also the two-time defending Eastern Division triple jump champ and won the division high jump at 6'6." The 6-foot-7 Ochgwu, though, is coming off a superb basketball season for the Townies this winter and continues to seek playing opportunities in college via the travel team circuit in the spring.

Of his team, which numbers around 50 athletes, in general, Lyons said, "We're a work in progress. I will say this, good on them, they're following all the rules, they're listening. They seem to enjoy being around me and I them. For the older kids, hopefully they're getting better as the season goes along and for the younger kids, the older kids are showing them good habits."

Senior Jaidin Ivy leads the upperclassmen sprinters, seeking to make their marks in the 100 meters, 200, 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Lyons is high on the prospects of another senior and newcomer Brandyn Van Wagner, who has shown signs of being competitive in the long jump as well as in the sprints.

Junior Justin Jardine is turning into an "impressive track athlete," according to Lyons, who is consistently placing at the top or winning in the 100 and 200. Other contributing sprint juniors are Lucas Santa Cruz and Kwamahn Gillard. In the mix as well in the solo sprints and relays are sophomores Julius Cortes and Roger Beaudet along with impressive freshmen Jack Pawlik, Max Prevete and Gerry Gagnon.

Lyons called junior Nolan Travassos the team's "best hurdler," but he is only a part-time track athlete while also serving as a key contributor to the EPHS boys' lacrosse team in the spring. Lyons is similarly impressed with the effort of classmate Zekiah Hopper as he seeks to contribute to the team in the 110 and 300 versions of the hurdles as does Beaudet in both.

In the other field events, three sophomores — Bryan Chuckran-Rivera, Stephane Mardy and Beaudet — are competing for the Townies in the pole vault, just the second year the program has vied in the event.

Junior Michael Precious is the Townies' top thrower, who is expected to score points during the regular season in a number of the disciplines, but Lyons said his best chance in the championship events is likely in the hammer.

The Townies are next scheduled to compete in the annual Classical Classic Saturday, April 27, at Conley Stadium in Providence. East Providence then has one more regular season dual meet remaining in Barrington Monday, April 29, before heading back there for the Eastern Division Championships on Saturday, May 4, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The Class A Championship Meet follows at Coventry High on May 18 with the 2024 season culminating on Saturday, June 1, with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League State Meet at Bryant University in Smithfield.

Of the championship season ahead, Lyons said, "How we do depends on if the kids in the high jump and the relays perform. At the indoor (championship) meet, we struggled. But outdoors we also have the triple jump to go along with the high jumpers so I feel good about that. Hopefully we can get the 4x4 and 4x1 into state meet, maybe Nolan and Roger in the hurdles. I really believe Justin and Jaidin can do well. I'll have a better feel for all of it after the Classical Classic."

Lyons continued, "What will make me happy is if we can get a champion or two at the state meet, score in double digits and be competitive in the division and class meets. I want people to know we're here, to be relevant and I think this group can do that."