Langevin, Centaurs take 1st in frosh race at Ocean State Invite
Winning a freshman event is not something that generally nets headlines. But the Ocean State cross-country Invitational run in North Kingstown. R.I., Saturday, does draw a lot of teams not only from its host state but from all of New England and even beyond.
So it’s not a surprise that coach Joe Banas was pretty pumped after his freshmen unit captured first place in its 4000m race for small schools and also had the individual champion.
“We were all thrilled,” Banas said. "I had fellow (ECC) coaches like Mike Flynn (of East Lyme) text me. This is a big deal. This is our future and I’m hoping to build on this.”
Emelia Langevin has, as expected after a strong start in junior high cross-country, burst on to the cross-country scene.
The youngster, who finished first in the Centaurs first home meet against Ledyard, led everyone home again.
“She led from out of the gate and wanted to beat the time of the freshman winner in the large school race (which took place earlier in the day) and she finished six seconds faster, the fastest time of the day for a freshman,” Banas said.
Langevin led 60 runners across the line, coasting across in 15 minutes, 39 seconds which was 44 seconds better than Talia Labell of Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School in South Hamilton, Mass.
“I think this will definitely help her this season. It was great that she actually got to break a big tape, a really big tape with her arms in the air,” Banas said. “The younger kids never get the attention --- they’re always in the back --- but there were a lot of freshmen girls in this race and I think she deserved this.”
Banas could have run Langevin and Clair Bruneaux, his top two varsity runners in the Varsity race but chose not to.
Bruneau finished fifth in 16:39.
“Claire might have learned a little (Saturday), she went out a little too aggressively, faded, but held on, which was good because if we would have lost a few more places, we would have lost the title,” Banas said.
Brianna Beck placed 13th for the Centaurs; Alexandra Dobosz was 48th and Sophie Bruneaux 51st.
“Brianna ran really well and the other two girls were running their first race ever in high school and I was just happy that they were able to finish and be a part of the winning team,” Banas said.
The varsity team, minus its top three runners as Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain was out on a college visit, still finished 12th out of 31 teams.
Olivia Tracy was tops for Woodstock Academy in the varsity race as she placed 45th in 22:08.
Boys’ Cross-Country
It was not exactly the easiest day to be running a cross-country meet. For the boys in the invitational as temperatures hovered around 80 degrees.
The Centaurs acquitted themselves well as they came away with a ninth-place out of the 49 teams that scored in the Varsity 2 small school race.
“I think a top-10 finish in the boys’ race was excellent. They had to deal with a hot day and a super-fast start and they all did great,” said coach Josh Welch.
Sophomore Lucas Hecker led the Centaurs across the line with a 26th-place overall finish in 17 minutes, 20 seconds.
“Lucas hung in there after getting out fast and ran near a personal best. Sam Greene looked strong throughout and ran his fastest time yet,” Welch said.
Greene finished in 42nd in 17:44 while Bronson Eddy posted a 66th-place finish (18:09) and Harrison Durand was 70th (18:12). Carter Mydlarz was the fifth Centaurs runner in 143rd out of the 344 runners who took to the course.
The freshmen contingent of the boys’ team also showed well as it placed fifth overall led by a 20th-place finish from Liam Hewson (15:13) and a 28th for Jaxon Welch (16:14) in the 4000m race.
“Liam and Jaxon both ran a faster pace than we have season so far this season and we’re hoping that will transfer to their upcoming 5K races,” Josh Welch said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Captions: 123.1: Three members of the Woodstock Academy boys’ cross-country team took home medals from the Ocean State Invitational Saturday. (From left to right) Woodstock Academy freshman Liam Hewson earned a medal for 20th-place in the 4000m freshman race; Lucas Hecker for a 26th-place finish in the boys’ varsity 2 race and Jaxon Welch for a 28th-place finish in the freshman event.
IMG 2757: Woodstock Academy freshman Emelia Langevin heads for a first-place finish at the Ocean State Invitational 4000m freshman race at Goddard Park in North Kingstown, R.I.
2025 Ocean State Invite champs: The freshmen members of the Woodstock Academy girls’ cross-country team (from left to right) Coach Joe Banas, Sophie Bruneaux, Claire Bruneaux, Emelia Langevin, Brianna Beck and Alexandra Dobosz display the freshman championship plaque at the Ocean State Invitational on Saturday. Photos contributed by Woodstock Academy.