Yes, it’s that time. Get ready — this one’s going to be good.
This weekend, runners and teams from across the Northeast — and a few from beyond — will converge on Warwick’s Goddard State Park for the 17th annual Ocean State Invitational, presented by Marathon Sports and New Balance.
The 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 line up.
At last year’s meet, 25 girls broke 20 minutes for the five-kilometer course, while 41 boys dipped under 17 minutes. The stage is once again set for fast times and elite competition.
Here’s our preview of the top individuals on the girls’ side — including three of the top four finishers from last year’s race.
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Abby Hennessy, Westford Academy (MA) — The gifted senior is the defending champion and our pick to repeat on Saturday. In 2024, Hennessy cruised to a PR of 17:59.4, finishing about 75 meters ahead of Chase Gilbert of Old Lyme (CT), who ran 18:13.0.
Much has changed since that showdown — and for both, it’s been all for the better. Six months later, Gilbert captured individual titles in the indoor mile at the New England Championships, and then did it again during the outdoor season. Hennessy, despite a shortened XC and indoor season due to injury, closed her junior year with a spectacular third-place finish at NBN in June where she set a Massachusetts outdoor state record of 4:34.69 in the mile.
This will be Hennessy’s first race of the season, and we’re expecting her to go all-out. Like in past years, she won’t race heavily this fall, with her sights firmly on the championship stretch and what lies beyond. This will be a good race for her to set the tone for the remainder of the fall.
The insane course record of 16:06.87 — set in 2018 by North Rockland (NY) alum and multiple national champion Katelyn Tuohy — is safe. But don’t be surprised if Hennessy dips into the mid-17s, especially with Gilbert in the field. If it comes down to the final stretch, both athletes have serious wheels. But the edge goes to Hennessy, who boasts sub-60 speed for the 400 and a 2:07 PR in the 800.
Chase Gilbert, Old Lyme (CT) – After a strong year on the track, Gilbert comes into this race with plenty of confidence. On the trails, the Old Lyme senior was the CIAC Division 3 champion, placed third at the State Open, and earned runner-up honors at New Englands. Like Hennessy, she has great range, from the 400 (59.28 best) to the two-mile (10:43.42). In her specialty, the mile, she boasts a PR of 4:44.68. Gilbert has raced twice this fall, coasting to a two-plus minute victory at the Wheeler Invitational and winning a tighter battle at the Whitton Invitational, where she clocked 13:53.38 for 4,000 meters. Expect Gilbert to give it everything she has on Saturday. The question is: will it be enough to flip the script and earn gold this time?
Emily Flagg, Whitinsville Christian (MA) – Flagg is no stranger to success at Ocean State. The Crusaders’ talented junior has captured the Varsity Div. 2 race the last two years, running 19:07.4 as a freshman in 2023 and defending her title with an 18:53.9 last fall. She’s also no stranger to winning in general: Flagg was unbeaten last season, highlighted by a second straight Division 2C title and her first crown at the Meet of Champions. The diminutive harrier is also unbeaten in her first two races this season, earning back-to-back titles at the Vineyard XC Invitational and taking the Championship race at the Highland Park Invitational. The always-confident Flagg, who owns a 5K best of 17:21.9 on rugged terrain, likes to dictate the pace. Don’t be surprised if she employs her usual front-running style this weekend. Even if she holds back, expect her to stay with the leaders and aim for another high finish.
Gianna McGowan, Billerica (MA) – This will be McGowan’s first race of the season. She’s coming off an inaugural cross-country season in 2024 that earned her much success. She was fourth at Ocean State last year with a season best of 18:44.9 in her debut race. She was also fourth (PR, 18:11.5) in the Medium School race at the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational. She capped off the fall by taking the Div. 1C title and coming back a week later to secure the silver at the Meet of Champions.
Jane Conrad, Lexington (MA) – Conrad will have added motivation to be at her best this weekend. Her team has a good chance to walk away with the team title on Saturday. Conrad has a 5K best of 18:06.5 from her win at the ML-12 Championships and was seventh at the Meet of Champions. She finished with a solid 19:14.5 for the challenging 5K at the Nike Cross Regionals at Bowdoin Park.
MacKenzie LIckert , St. Raphael Academy (RI) – Lickert is one of three top runners that will represent the host state at Saturday’s meet. She was third at last year’s Div. 2 race at Ocean State where she posted a time of 19:44.6. The SRA junior finished the fall campaign by placing eighth at he State Meet with a best of 19:02.42. Lickert demonstarted more improvment durin her track seasons, posting a PRs of 4:47.09 for the 1,500m and 10:22.75 for the 3K, the latter earning her a third-place finish at the outdoor states. Look for Lickert to be flirting with a sub 19-minute performance this weekend on the fast layout of Goddard Park. Last year a time of 19:05.7 or faster would place you among the top 10. If results are similar, she’s capable of doing that with the right kind of race. She’s less than two weeks removed from an impressive win in a dual meet with top-ranked La Salle among other teams. She ran 17:28.60 for the 4,500m course.
Molly Richardson, Coventry (RI) – This will be the first major test for the highly touted Knotty Oakers freshman, who looks like a legitimate threat to finish in the top five at this year’s State Meet. The reigning middle school state champion impressed over the summer by running under 24 minutes for four miles at the Run4Kerri road race and averaging sub-6:20 pace at the Bobby Doyle five-miler. Those efforts suggest she’s ready to make an immediate impact on the high school stage. With the level of competition she’ll face this weekend, don’t be surprised to see her in the low-to-mid 18s. In her season-opener last week at Goddard, she ran triumphant 18:44 for three miles — a dominant win by nearly two minutes.
Lucy Stowe, North Kingstown (RI) – The Skippers’ talented junior placed 15th in this race last year with a time of 19:23.6. Like her top Rhode Island rivals in the field, she has the ability to dip well under 19 minutes this weekend. After Ocean State in 2024, she twice went under the barrier as a tenth-grader, including a fifth-place finish at the states where she ran a PR of 18:48.44. Stowe opened up the fall this year by winning her race at the Injury Fund Carnival in 19:00.89 for 5K, then coasted to a 43-second victory in her Southern Division opener with South Kingstown last week, finishing in 19:55. No doubt she’s been given the green light to let loose this weekend against some of the region’s finest.
Olivia Di Gaetano, Connetquot (NY) – The New York standout could make a big impact in her Ocean State debut. Di Gaetano has already turned in strong 5K performances this fall, highlighted by a 10th-place finish at the Queensbury Pre-States Invitational with a PR of 18:09. She also ran 18:11.30 at the Peconic Invitational on Sept. 6 and most recently placed fourth at the Xavier Invitational in 18:47.40. With a 3K best of 9:57 to her credit, Di Gaetano has both the range and the credentials to contend near the front of the pack.
