Two records fall as Seahawks compete in CCC Championships

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (Sunday, May 2, 2021) - Two school track and field records were broken at the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships held at Portsmouth (RI) High School on Sunday, May 2. The Seahawks finished fifth in the seven-team field with 45 points.

Mary Kate Scalzulli (Norwell, Mass.) was the first record breaker as she eclipsed the 400 meter mark 61.84, set by Taylor Donaldson in 2011. Scalzulli cruised to a Salve Regina's lone first-place finish with the record time of 61.08 besting the old mark which had stood for a decade.

The second record breaker was Jenny Silva (Mahwah, N.J.) who broke the 36 year-old shot put record of 10.80 meters (35'5") set by Anne Marie Simmons in 1984. Silva launched the ball 10.82 meters (35'6") on her final throw to eclipse the old mark by one inch. Silva took third in the competition.

The Seahawk javelin throwers made an impact on that event with Courtney Collibee (Kingston, N.H.) taking second place with a season's best 35.22m (115'7") only two feet off her personal best. Alexis Da Cruz (Middletown, R.I.) followed with a fifth place effort of 29.37m (96'4) followed by fellow senior Jillian LeBeau (Bristol, Conn.) in sixth with a 28.05m (92') throw.

The high jump offered more success as Bryanna Rawnsley (North Kingstown, R.I.) and Grace Gilmore (Kingston, Mass.) took fourth and fifth places respectively with identical jumps of 1.37m (4'6"). Gilmore also garnered a sixth place in the triple jump as she hopped, stepped and jumped 9.50m (31'2).

Alicia Lopez (Wading River, N.Y.) placed in both the 100m (fourth in 13.34 seconds) and the 200m (sixth in 28.26).

The 4x100m quintet of Lopez, Gilmore, Rawnsley and Scalzulli took fourth with a time of 52.97.

"As was the case with everyone this year, the season was epically difficult," commented head coach Matt Hird. "We lost seven weeks of practice, could only practice four days a week, were dislodged from our winter practice area, and were allowed on the track only twice a week. Through it all our athletes were upbeat, worked hard, surmounted setbacks and persevered as best they could. 'Wait 'till next year' is the rallying cry now. Just can't wait."