The Mt. Hope High School outdoor track and field teams began their 2025 seasons in recent weeks with their athletes attempting to build upon the winter indoor campaign while others are getting back in the groove.

Co-head coaches Renae Cicchinelli and Chad O'Neil welcome a growing cast of participants, which were afforded a longer lead-up to the start of the year due to weather and vacation. The Huskies had nearly a month's prep time prior to facing Eastern Division stalwarts Barrington and Portsmouth to open their dual meet slates last week.

"A lot of the kids started the season where they ended up in the winter season, which is really encouraging," Cicchinelli said of the early times, heights and distances of the athletes.

She continued, "We had a good three weeks of practice before our first meet, which normally doesn't happen. The first meet was cancelled because of weather then we had spring break, so it was nice to have that extra time before we got going."

Girls' preview
The Huskies, as a team, were competitive in falling to both the Eagles and Patriots last week, but star junior Thea Jackson was already on the mark in a couple of her specialties.

The multi-sport All-Stater — most know by now she's a stellar performer on the soccer pitch in the fall — broke two of her program field records to begin the spring.

Jackson bettered her existing mark in the long jump, covering 18 feet, 4 inches a week ago to win the event. Likewise, she topped the field while also shattering her record in the triple jump, leaping two feet farther than she did in 2024 with a distance of 38'3."

The highlights kept coming. Jackson won the high jump at 5'2," coming close to clearing 5'4," but was just shy. She also won the 100 meters in a personal-best equaling time of 12.2 seconds.

Another of the Mt. Hope standouts, junior Jessica Deal, also made an impactful season debut. She won the 800 meters in 2:31 and ran a solid time of just under 5:20 in the 1,500. Those performances came only two days after running a half-marathon. Deal will also be part of the Huskies' 4x400 relay quartet.

Mt. Hope's other superb upperclasswoman, Lola Silva, focuses on girls' lacrosse for the Huskies in the spring. Cicchinelli still expects the senior to be a factor outdoors in the long and triple jumps as well as the 300 hurdles.

Among the other females who are expected to qualify for the state meet in June is sophomore Kara Pisasale. The noted MHHS gymnasts matche her 2024 season-ending height of 9 feet in the pole vault last week. She also runs the 400 and 800.

Two other sophs who should to help the Huskies in the middle and longer distance and associated relays, Evelyn Towers and Ellie Donovan. Senior Sarah Bissonnette should score points in the sprints and middle length events as well. Junior Caitlin Richardson is a contributor in the sprints. Sophomore Garcia Davidson is an emerging sprinter. Freshman Riley Hoffman is a hurdler/sprinter new to the team.

Bissonette, Jackson and Deal are the team captains.

In the field events, Cicchinelli said of both genders, "I like that we have a bunch of girls and boys trying new things. We're really harping on that this year. A lot of them have been trying different stuff, which is great."

Junior Chloe Morais throws and also sprints as does sophomore Jasmine Kenney. Classmates Hazel Bradley, Avery Walsh and Lily Parisi lead the javelin group. Another soph, Kyleigh Durette, throws shot and discuss. Mia Malo is yet one more second-year thrower.

The freshmen class includes talents Julia Pisasale, a jumper/spring, Ava Cabral, both track and field events, and Chloe Questel, who like Silva is a lacrosse player that will run middle distance.

Boys' preview
The Mt. Hope boys have the most experience they've had of late, with the hold-overs now beginning to see the fruits of their efforts, according to Cicchinelli.

"We definitely have for the first time since I've been here the largest group of upperclassmen with the boys," she continued. "They've put in the time, paid their dues and have really started to excel in some of their events."

Senior, four-year athlete David Lowney along with juniors Gavin Stegall and Alexander Watkinson are the team captains. Lowney is a thrower. Stegall is dealing with a pesky injury, though the coach remains hopeful he'll be able to compete in either the 400 or 800 before the spring ends. Watkinson is a sprinter, runs the 4x4 relay and throws both the javelin and shot.

The two other seniors on the roster are Suleman Baig (middle distance) and first-year Elijah Pichette (sprints/jumps).

The bulk of the squad is the junior class. Ethan Almonte throws the javelin and sprints. Tyler Scarborough runs middle distance and relays. William Southworth is also a middle distance runner. Jackson Lopes can perform in numerous events, focusing this year on javelin and the 4x1. Jackson Cicchinelli is another quality middle distance runner. Rowan Field returns from a year off to also run middle distance.

The other track-focused sophs include sprinters Joel Ferro and Ryan Castillo, the latter whom Coach Cicchinelli calls among the hardest workers on the boys' side, along with freshmen Mitchell Kitchen (sprints), Adam Cobb (middle distance/jumps) and Nathan James (middle distance/throws).

Junior Quentin Smith paces the Mt. Hope throwers, faring well already in the shot. The Huskies are also buoyed in the field by freshman Rowen Mark, the middle school state champion in the javelin last year for Kickemuit. He also sprints.

Sophomore Benjamin Neverka-Vinciguerra is another thrower. Freshman Leo Eikenberg, who also competed indoor this winter, jumps, sprints and throws. Classmate Lucas Machado throws. And newcomer Luke Kutz, a recent transplant from Florida, is a sprinter and javelin thrower.

Both sets of Huskies have new assistant coaches. Long-time former Mount St. Charles aide Mark Westphal works with the high jumpers while Alexander Storts specializes in the pole vault.

Of each team, Cicchinelli added, "All of the kids are putting in the time. I think once we get some good weather consistently, they're going to do well."

— East Bay Media Group and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.