EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School indoor track and field teams began their 2019 regular season meet schedules at the Providence Career and Tech Academy fieldhouse just prior to the Christmas recess.
The boys won two of three Metropolitan Division contests, beating Wheeler 77-30 and Hope 89-15, but losing to Classical 81-28. The girls split their Division I-Headley subgroup opener, defeating Toll Gate 63-33 while falling to Portsmouth 99-9.
Jahad Davis Pinto was the standout for the Townies in the meets. The freshmen won two events for the EPHS boys, running a time of 6.94 seconds in the 55 meter dash and covering 18 feet, 10 inches in the long jump. Jayden DaCruz added the other win for the locals in the boys’ meet, clearing 5’4” in the high jump.
Girls’ preview
Ailments played a role in the Townies finishing with just a 1-7 meet record a year ago, according to head coach Mike Almeida, and the injury bug has already bitten the locals this season due to lingering effects from fall sports participation.
“I’m looking forward to the new season. The girls are excited and working hard,” Almeida said.
If and when healthy Almeida expects quality and qualification for states from the 4x800 relay team of junior Eva Caron along with sophomores Miranda Moniz, Katherine Diaz-Araujo, and Michelle Diaz-Araujo. Similarly, Almeida said the Townies’ 4x200 could place at states. The team consists of sophomore Makiah Denson, senior Alyssa DeOliveira, sophomoreArianna Cunha and senior Emma-Kim Raphael.
Denson, who doubles as a basketball player in the winter with a focus on that sport, had the best performance for the Townies last season. She finished second at state in the 55 meter dash and is also a competent high jumper. Almeida expects DeOliviera to makes states in the 55. Raphael is the team’s best hurdler. And he said the Diaz Araujo twins should make states in the 600 meters.
EPHS enjoys depth in its throwing contingent. Junior Skylah Chakouian, like Denson, is a two-sport athlete, who also wrestles. She is coming off a sixth-place finish at outdoor states last spring in the shotput and is expected to be in the mix indoors this season. Almeida said junior Elizabeth Meneses and senior Jasmine DosSantos should also qualify in the weight and hopefully the shot.
“We had a tough season last year due to injuries, so I’m hoping we can finish .500 and have good representation at the state meet,” Almeida added “Just a couple of years ago we won back to back division titles (Division II-Dwyer subgroup) but now we are in the toughest division in the state.”
Besides a very good Portsmouth team, the Townies vie in D-I-Headley against reigning league, Large Class and State Meet champion LaSalle along with traditionally strong sides North Kingstown, Cumberland and West Warwick. Smithfield, Toll Gate and Lincoln are also in the group.
Boys’ preview
The Townies graduated several high quality jumpers who were the core of their team from a year ago that went 5-5 in the Metro regular season and finished sixth at the state meet. Included among that group was two-time reigning indoor long champ Anuoluwapo Ogunronbi.
“I was really worried having such a senior led team last year, but the beauty of track is you only need a couple of kids to perform and the others start to follow. We have a lot of good young kids,” said EPHS head coach Bob Lyons.
In their stead steps several athletes with the potential to carry on the EPHS tradition in those events as well as in the sprints led by Davis Pinto, coming off a fine season at running back/receiver in his debut for the Townies in football during the fall. Another underclassman of note is sophomore Adam Marschat, who runs the 300 and 600 meters.
DaCruz, a junior, paces the upperclassmen back along with classmate and fellow jumper Elijah Owens, who is also a sprinter. Another junior, Santi Nocella, should be in the high jump mix, according to Lyons. Junior Kianu Duarte, who doubles as a wrestler in the winter, could vie for a place in the shot put. In the relays, Davis Pinto, Marschat, DaCruz and Owens likely present the Townies with their best opportunity to score at championship meet in the 4x200 meters. Lyons said junior Fabio DeGraca is among those with the potential to improve in the hurdles.
“If we can finish .500 or better in the division and if we can get some kids to perform well individually and are factors in the championship meets, then I’ll be happy. If we get some kids qualified for states and New Englands, I’ll be very happy,” Lyons added. “But with such a young team, if they continue to perform, if we stay healthy and get better, I’ll be pleased.”
The Metro Division includes the Townies, defending meet champ Classical, division meet winner LaSalle, Mt. Pleasant, Central, Moses Brown, Juanita Sanchez, Hope, Scituate and Wheeler.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Tyler Maxwell shot the accompanying gallery of photos.