Photos: Portsmouth girls cross country wins first-ever state championship

The Portsmouth girls cross country team won their first state championship, edging out defending champion LaSalle by a point at Ponaganset on Sunday. The team ran a total time of 1:36:45.71 with an average time of 19:21.15.

Nikki Merrill led the Patriots taking second place with a time of 18:00.10. Elizabeth Sullivan who led early on, fell back to sixth place with a time of 18:32. Olive Allen placed ninth with a time of 19:03.71, Maura Driscoll placed 24th with a time of 20:01.21, Sabrina Leary placed 57th with a time of 21:08.69, Bella Hook placed 59th with a time of 21:11.95 and Becky Lawson placed 74th with a time of 21:37.09.

The Lady Patriots upset LaSalle who had won the title the last four years.

The Barrington girls placed third as a team. Caroline Livingston placed 8th with a time of 18:58.70. Katie Zitzmann placed 14th with a time of 19:19.80.

Mt. Hope placed 14th in their first try at state competition. Meg O'Brien placed 28th with a time of 20:20.69 and Hope Tyska placed 31st with a time of 20:26.92.