Berkson establishes nation No. 1 in 600, Portelli sets state mark in steeplechase at NB Games

(The Armory, New York City)

By BOB LEDDY

R.I. Track & Field Foundation

A Rhode Island record for the indoor one-mile steeplechase was established by Barrington High’s Julianna Portelli. She finished seventh in 5 minutes, 48.93 seconds on Saturday at the New Balance Games on the Armory Track in New York. Portelli already owns the R.I. outdoor mark for the 2000-meter steeple (7:33.85), clocked at the Loucks Games last spring.

Also at Saturday’s New Balance meet, Classical senior Maddy Berkson won the girls’ 600-meter run in 1:32.26, currently the No. 1 time in the United States, up from No. 5. Berkson’s performance was two seconds shy of the R.I. state record of 1:30.87, clocked by Westerly’s Samantha Garwych in 2006. Berkson entered the New Balance meet ranked No. 3 U.S. in the 3000 meters (a state-record 9:47.35). 

Barrington’s Abby Livingston placed third in the New Balance 600 in 1:36.17. Livingston’s previous 600-meter clocking (1:34.87 at the Dartmouth Relays on Jan. 11) was third nationally. Middletown High’s Shannon Hugard finished 17th at new balance (1:42.72).

In the girls’ 1000, the Eagles’ Megan Verner-Crist came in ninth (3:03.90), while the Islanders’ Hugard finished 14th (3:07.41). The Barrington girls’ 4x800 relay placed 10th (9:49.31).