By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp

Ocean State XC Invite Website

Thanks to the support of sponsors Marathon Sports and New Balance, the Ocean State Invitational has become a premier destination race. After just 17 years, this annual event at Goddard Park in Warwick, RI, consistently attracts many of the top teams and individuals from across the Northeast.

The meet action begins Friday afternoon, when the middle school runners take the stage. On Saturday, the high-schoolers get their turn, with 14 races scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. And right in the middle of it all are the featured Championship races — the spotlight events where the best of the best will toe the start line.

At last year’s meet, 41 boys dipped under 17 minutes on the lightning fast 5k course. The stage is once again set for fast times and elite competition.

Check out our preview of the top individuals on the boys’ side, which features several CT runners.

John Bianchi, Natick (MA) – The senior class dominated the top 10 at last year’s race, with Bianchi one of just two non-seniors to break into that group, placing sixth overall in 16:01. He’s among two, possibly three runners on this list who appear capable of extending the Bay State’s streak to three straight individual titles. In 2023, Westford Academy’s Paul Bergeron struck gold, followed a year later by Boston College High’s Shamus Larnard.

After his high finish at Ocean State, Bianchi stayed consistent on the trails, placing among the top three in his next six races, including a runner-up finish at the Division 1B Championships. He also earned eighth at the Meet of Champions, clocking 15:59.4 at Fort Devens. His success carried over to the track, where the Redhawks’ standout posted lifetime bests of 1:57.4 for 800m, 4:12.15 for the mile, and 9:16.10 for the two mile—marks that all point toward a strong senior campaign. Bianchi is one of those runners that will always put himself among the front-runners making the race honest if the pace starts to slow. Look for him to utilize a similar strategy with hopes of making it a three-peat for Massachusetts.

Sam Leone, East Lyme (CT) – Leone’s specialty is the middle distance with PRs of 1:55 for the 800m and 4:12.71 for the 1,600m, the latter earning him a silver medal at the CIAC State Open this past June. But you can’t ignore what the East Lyme junior has done in cross country. He was 12th at Ocean State last year where he was timed in 16:12.70. He was second at the Class MM Championships and tenth overall at the CIAC State Open. Leone has competed in just one race so far this season and it produced a victory with a quick 15:39 in a meet against Fitch.

Everett Pacheco, Monument Mountain (MA) – Pacheco returns to Ocean State after placing 18th at last year’s race where he was timed in 16:24.40. We believe the Monument Mountain senior will improve on that time significantly this weekend, both with his time and overall placement. Pacheco followed his performance against some of the region’s best with several highlights, including a victory in the Div. 2 race at the WMass XC Championship, a second-place finish in the Div. 3B race and an upset win at the Meet of Champions.Pacheco, who owns a best of 4:16.89 for the mile and 9:09.11 for 3,200m, should certainly be in the mix on Saturday.

Tycen Labelle, Griswold (CT) - Since middle school, Labelle has been a runner to watch. As a freshman he earned All New England and last year as a sophomore he was the 2nd CT returner at the State Open. At Ocean State he was 11th in the championship race in 16:10.3. Now a junior, he is in the conversation to win the State Open this fall. He has already run 4:20 for the 1600m and 9:22 for 3200m in track last year and this season he has already won the CT River Valley Invitational in a speedy 15:39.1. 

Silas Gartner, Falmouth (MA) – The Clippers’ gifted senior looked fantastic in his victory this past weekend at the MSTCA Frank Kelley Invitational where he clocked 9:07.95 for 3,000 meters at the Wrentham Developmental Center. A year ago, qualified for Foot Locker Nationals with a tenth-place finish at FL Northeast. He consistently ran in the 15:30–15:40 range for 5K last fall, including a 15:30.72 win at the Kelley Invite’s Championship race. While he’s earned success on the track oval with bests of 9:09 for the two mile and 4:12 for the mile, his forte is cross country. Expect him to dictate the pace on Saturday with his eyes on the prize.

Greyson Duane, Groton Dunstable (MA) – Yet another MA runner that could be among the lead pack on Saturday. Duane was 20th in this race last year as a sophomore with a time of 16:31.2. A year earlier as a freshman, he ran a best at Goddard Park of 16:20.7. Like some of our top runners in this field, Duane is a sub 4:20 miler and also has some speed in his legs with bests of 1:56.71 for the 800m.

Landon Sarney, Oliver Ames (MA) – One breakthrough race at the Div. 3 Championships this past June signaled that Sarney has reached another level in his development as a bona fide distance runner. The Oliver Ames senior broke the 9:20 two-mile barrier for the first time, clocking a triumphant 9:15.87 to edge pre-race favorite Nathaniel Assa by just half a second. Sarney followed that effort with a third-place finish at the MA Meet of Champions. This weekend marks his first statewide or regional competition since those races. He’s also a few weeks removed from a strong season-opener where he blazed to a winning 5K time of 15:26 in a dual meet. Keep an eye on the Pirates’ standout, who appears to have made the jump to elite status.

Arthur Ferris, Saint Raphael Academy (RI) – Ferris is a name to watch this weekend. The Burrillville transfer was 12th at last year’s State Meet for the Broncos and a third-place finisher at the Class C meet. Since joining the Saints, he’s made major strides, highlighted by PRs and podium finishes at the outdoor states (fourth in the 1,500m, 4:00.1; fifth in the 3,000m, 8:51.58), plus a 4:18.78 1,600m best at New Englands. This will be Ferris second race of the season after cruising to a 16:47 win in a league meet with Barrington. Ferris, who owns a best 16:15.18, should be focused and ready to contend on the regional stage.

Gavin Shipperley, North Kingstown (RI) – The Skipper senior was 30th in this race last year where he was timed 16:44.20. Shipperley made significant strides after that performance, including placing fourth at the Class A Championships (PR, 16:02.77) and earning a spot on the first-team, all-state squad with a seventh-place finish at the State Meet. His latest effort points to an all-out effort this weekend. How fast that will be is the question. We’re figuring at least 16:20 on Goddard’s fast layout.

Nolan O'Connor, Xavier (CT) - The Falcons are the top ranked teams in the latest Marathon Sports-New Balance CT HS XC Coaches Poll so you know they must have some good runners. O’Connor is only a sophomore so he doesn’t have a long resume, but he is showing real promise and should finish among the first dozen in this highly competitive field. Last year he was the top freshman in CT at the State Open and backed that up with a sub 4:30 1600m and sub 9:40 for 3200m. He proved he is ready for the big time when he finished 4th in 16:32 at the PTXC 16 Invitational in Kutztown University, PA against strong competition from NY, NJ and PA runners. 

Brahm Bulow Avon (CT) - This Avon senior already has five races under his belt and won the Stratton Brook and Winding Trails Invitational. He has greatly improved since last year when he was 13th at Class MM and 39th at the State Open. With the confidence he gained from his family and coaches he was able to take 5th at the State Open with a 9:19 3200m which is 4th best among returners in CT. While winning might be tough in this loaded field, expect to see the Falcon up in front. 

Ryan Newcomb, Greenwich - The Cardinals have yet to run their entire line up in one race this season but should be firing on all cylinders this Saturday. The 2nd ranked team in the CT Coaches Poll should be led by Newcomb who was a solid 62nd at the State Open last fall, but has gotten better since then. He got down to 1:54 for the 800 and 9:38 for 3200m to show off her range and in a competitive race at the Wilton Invitational he finished a strong 8th in 16:20.7 to prove he current fitness. 

Other CT Runners to Keep an Eye On:

- Jack Faitsch East Lyme

- Patrick Monahan, Cromwell 

- Lorenzo Lopes, Immaculate  

- Landon Wall, Brookfield

- Julien Silva, Fitch

- Matteo Chiesara, Greenwich

- Holden Hines Xavier

- Alex Cook, E.O. Smith

Top Boys Teams

This is going to be a real mid season showdown with the top three CT teams going head to head against some of the best in New England.The Bay State was dominant at last year’s meet, claiming nine of the top 10 spots but this year could see some CT teams mixing it up against the other regional powers. 

- Natick, Ranked 2nd in MA - Championship Race

- Lexington, Ranked 3rd in MA - Championship Race

- St. John’s Prep, Ranked 6th in MA - Championship Race

- Newton South, Ranked 7th in MA - Championship Race

- Xavier, Ranked 1st in CT - Championship Race

- Greenwich, Ranked 2nd in CT - Championship Race

- East Lyme, Ranked 3rd in CT - Championship Race

- North Kingstown, Ranked 3rd in RI - Championship Race

- Barrington, Ranked 6th in RI - Championship Race

- Londonderry, Ranked 5th in NH - Championship Race

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