The girls indoor track team, which placed second in their division and second at the class meet, had a tougher time competing on the state level. The Huskies placed 20th as a team with 11 points during the state indoor track championships at the Providence Career and Technical Academy on Saturday.

Sophomore’s Thea Jackson, Jessica Deal, junior Lola Silva, and seniors Kali Rocha, Hannah Rezendes and Lilliana Redman, competed for he Huskies, who have had bouts with the flu throughout the winter season.

“They did awesome,” said head coach Renae Cicchinelli. “We were very pleased with our placement in the division and class meets. Everyone did as well as they could have. So many of them did better than what they usually do. You can’t be angry at that.”

Jackson led Mt. Hope in team points with 8. The speedster placed fourth in the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.32 seconds, just .43 seconds shy of winner Lisa Raye of West Warwick, who smashed the state record with a time of 6.89 seconds.

Jackson also placed sixth in the state in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.03 seconds and placed 11th in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet 11 inches. She also ran a leg in the 4x200 meter relay.

“I was pretty maxed out,” Jackson said of competing in four events.

She ran personal bests in the 55-meter hurdles and she feels that she has gotten faster over the indoor season.

“I compete in the hurdles for the team in the division and class meets,” she said. “I ended up being pretty good at it.”

Sophomore Jessica Deal placed seventh in the 3000-meter run with a time of 10 minutes, 35.25 seconds, 27.55 seconds behind winner Erin VonHousen of Chariho.

“Jess did great,” said Coach Cicchinelli. “She left it all on the line. Jess was pushing harder than she normally does. The competition this year has improved. She’ll need to step up her training and we’ll see what happens in the outdoor season.”

“It was my best time this season, but it wasn’t the race I was hoping to have,” said Deal, who hasn’t progressed as well as she did her freshman year.

I was figuring everything out last year,” she said. “Improvements came easier. Right now I am trying to stay in shape and do my best at each meet. I’ve gotten faster, but I’m still not as fast as I was last year.”

Deal said that consistency could be the issue as she balances swimming for the high school team during the winter. 

“I’m trying to fit everything in. I show up at every practice. It’s working,” she said.

The distance runner feels that swimming will help her get into better shape without the wear and tear of running on the road.

“Swim always helps because it’s full body strength and it takes less pressure off your joints because you’re in the water.”

She is hoping that the hard work will pay off during the outdoor season in the spring.

Health was a big factor for some of the Huskies this winter season.

“We are hoping that next year we can stay healthy all season,” said Coach Cicchinelli.

The Huskies practice outdoors in the cold and weather. Then perform inside during the meets.

“There are things that we can improve upon to stay healthy that we need to make a priority,” she said.

Junior Lola Silva, who was sidelined for close to a month with illness, placed 8th in the long jump with a jump of 16 feet 10 inches. She also competed in the 55-meter hurdles and the 4x200 meter relay.

“I was sick for a while,” admitted Silva during the meet. “Flu and the stomach bug hit me hard. But I’m excited to be back, now.”

Silva was jumping well over 17 feet before be sidelined.

“A week wasn’t enough time to get all the way back for states. It’s been a little disappointing. But I’ll get another chance at the outdoor season and nationals.”

Silva also plays for the girls lacrosse team and likes the extra conditioning for competing in the 300-meter hurdles, the 100-hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay as well as the long jump during the spring season.

Senior Kali Rocha placed 15th in the high jump with a jump of 4 feet 6 inches.

The girls 4x200-meter relay team of Jackson, Silva, Hannah Rezendes and Lilliana Redman, placed 13th in the state with a time of 1:55.70.

Jackson feels that the Huskies will be ready to go for the outdoor season in the spring.

“We are definitely having a good season,” she said. “Everyone is getting a lot of PR’s which is really good for us.”