The East Providence High School outdoor track and field teams got their first true glimpse at the overall competition around Rhode Island by participating in the annual Classical Classic in Providence Saturday, April 27.

The Townies brought back a pair of victories, one each in the boys' and girls' portions of the meet.

EPHS girls' junior sprint standout Nazarae Phillip captured in the 100 meter race in what was as of the Classical Classic the fastest time of the season in the state, 12.46 seconds.

On the boys' side, the quartet of Julius Cortes, Mac Prevette, Justin Jardine and Jaidin Ivy won the 4x400 meter relay in 3:37.

More girls' notes
Phillip was also part of the EPHS girls' 4x100 relay consisting of Kandace Daniel, Kendra Daniel and Nadine Fortes which placed second (50.46) to the winners from the host Purple (49.5) and nearly broke the existing school record.

The Daniels also went fourth/fifth (Kendra/Kandace) to Phillip in the 100 (12.67/12.73). Phillip (26.09), Kandace (26.38) and Kendra (26.45) also finished third, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 200.

In addition the 4x4 team of Layla Bates, the Daniels and Nadine Fortes finished fourth (4:19.13). Bates finished fifth in the 300m hurdles (52.55). And the 4x800 relay of Kathryn Patalano, Alicia Pinto, Adriana Perry and Melany Sotomayor finished sixth (11:07.65).

Among the other performances of note Saturday for the Townies, who also enjoyed a superb 2024 Eastern Division dual meet slate, came from Audrey Lepine in the triple jump, Rylie Souto in the 300 hurdles as well as Phillip and Jada Amado in the high jump.

More boys' notes
For the EPHS boys, Cam Evora, in the triple jump, and Ivy, in the 400 meters, led the rest of the group at the Classic with fourth-place finishes. Evora covered 41 feet, 3 inches while Ivy clocked a 52.25.

Other finishes of note for the Townies were eighth-place results from Dylan Slavick in high jump (6') and the 4x100 team Jack Pawlik, Jietan Ruiz, Kwamahn Gilliard and Ivy (45.45).

"I was happy that we performed well, won and ran an impressive early season time. Last year that time would have placed sixth at states. We will have to run in the 3:20’s to win," EPHS head coach Bob Lyons said of victorious 4x4 relay.

Of Evora, who sandwiched impressive performances in all three jumps during Eastern Division dual around his Classical effort, Lyons said, "Cam is still a threat in the triple jump and he will be in long jump also. And if he performs to his potential, he could be in the high jump mix going forward.

Eastern duals
The EPHS boys' team completed its its 2024 Eastern dual meet slate over the last week, including their final home meet when the locals defeated Rogers, Middletown, Shea, Tolman and Providence Country Day Tuesday, April 23.

Individual winners for the Townies were Evora in the triple jump and high jump, Brandyn Van Wagner in the long jump, Ivy in the 400 meter, Bryan Rivera in the pole vault, the 4x100 meter relay consisting of Pawlik, Ivy, Gilliard and Jardine and the 4x400 meter relay consisting of Julius Cortes, Gerry Gagnon, Jardine and Ivy.

The boys' squad finished its Eastern slate with a split against host Barrington and St. Raphael on April 29. The Eagles rolled their way to an unbeaten 11-0 mark after defeating the Townies 129-25 and the Saints 151-3.

Barrington also beat Providence Country Day 154-0. East Providence defeat St. Ray's 121-28, but not compete against PCD, having already defeated the Knights at an earlier meet.

Evora's outstanding day afield accounted for most the EPHS points as the senior standout swept the three jumping events. He took the high jump on attempts at six feet even. He won the long jump with a distance of 20'8.75" and the triple jump at 41'4."

The Townies' other overall event win was delivered by the 4x100 relay team of Pawlik, Ivy, Gilliard and Jardine which clocked a time of 45.6 seconds. Jardine and Ivy added solo seconds in the 200 and 400 meter races, running 24.2 and 52.4, respectively.

Jardine was also third in the 400 at 54.7 followed by mate Cortes in fourth at 55.6. East Providence finished duals with a 9-2 record and in third place.