The final few weeks of spring are supposed to be one of anticipation and exaltation for track and field athletes, but the mood turned a bit glum for the Mt. Hope High School team as the locals began their 2025 championship meet schedule this past weekend.

The Huskies, specifically the girls' side, entered the Eastern Division championships Sunday, May 18, still regrouping from the gut-wrenching loss of All-State caliber performer Thea Jackson. The junior, multi-event standout suffered a season-ending injury in Mt. Hope's final dual meet of the season just six days earlier.

Gone, most importantly, were Jackson's visions of placing among the league and state's elite in sprinting and jumping events. So, too, were Mt. Hope's chances of placing among the first few spots in the girls' team ranks, though the Huskies, led by another superb junior Jessica Deal, still managed a top-half finish.

Host Barrington was the far-and-away winner on the female side, the Eagles doubling up second-place East Providence to win the Eastern Division title with 276.5 points to the 131 of the Townies. Portsmouth finished third with 99.5 points followed by Mt. Hope in fourth with 54, a half-point ahead of fifth-place Rogers.

The Eagles were even more dominant in the boys' competition, tripling up their nearest competitor. Barrington finished 345 points. Second-place Rogers had 113 followed by Portsmouth with 104, East Providence with 96 and Tiverton with 30. Mt. Hope was sixth with 17.

Jackson reflects
Jackson was on hand Sunday to support her teammates, her left foot in a boot after a freak accident occurred when she severely injured her lower leg sliding off the mat upon the completion of an attempt in the high jump Monday, May 11.

"I was doing high jump at the dual meet, and I was coming to step off the mat, and there was, like, something there. And so I didn't see it, so then I came down on it, rolled my ankle and I sprained it, and then I also fractured the tip of my fibula," explained Jackson, who will be in the walking boot for some five weeks.

Of the end to her track and field season, she added, "It's very disappointing. It's like the worst time, because all of the big meets are coming up, and I was finally starting to get times and measurements that I was happy with. So I wanted to keep going, but unfortunately this happened."

A self-described "perfectionist," she had already surpassed several of her own school records this spring. Now, Jackson, an All-State soccer player as well, will rehab in the lead up to her senior year in the fall.

"I'll be back in time for the school season," she said of soccer. "There's not much to do yet. It's kind of slow process. I'm just going chill out for a while. Once I get out of the boot, I'll start PT (physical training) and they tell me what I'm actually able to do."

More girls' notes
In Jackson's stead, Deal had a terrific afternoon, earning 18 of the Huskies' total points by winning the 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 57.24 seconds and finishing second in the 800 with a time of 2:24.44 to Laura Hoag of Rogers, the winner in 2:22.72.

Sophomore Kara Pisasale also had an stellar meet, finishing second in the 400 with a time of 1:02.87 behind the winner from Barrington Kate Pearse, who ran 58.75. Pisasale was also third in the pole vault at 9 feet.

Senior Lola Silva was her usually steady self, adding a pair of fourth-place results with a time of 51.28 in the 200 meter hurdles and in the long jump with a distance of 15'11.75." Mia Malo chipped in a solo seventh in the discus with a throw of 61'10."

In the relays, Deal, Pisasale, Evelyn Towers and Sarah Bissonnette ran third in 4x800 with a 10:51.68. And the team of Bissonnette, Garcia Davidson, Silva and Deal added a fifth in the 4x4 with a time of 4:52.01.

More boys' notes
Points for the Mt. Hope boys were scored in a pair of relays. Suleman Baig, Adam Cobb, Nathan James and Will Southworth were sixth in the 4x8 in 11:25.03. In the 4x1, Elijah Pichette, Jackson Lopes, Alex Watkinson and Ryan Castillo were seventh in 46.38. Also, Jackson Cicchinelli, Lopes, Baig and Tyler Scarborough were sixth in the 4x4 with a 4:12.11.

Individually, Cicchinelli had a fine meet as the junior ran sixth in the 1,500 with a 4:34.06, eighth in the 800 with a 2:15.56 and was fifth in the high jump at 5'8.". Watkinson was eighth in the javelin with a distance of 104'8."