For the last two years, Hendricken's Tom Webb and Westerly's Samantha Gawrych ruled the roost in high school cross country, with Webb capturing back-to-back individual state titles and Gawrych doing the same on the girls' side.

Now that Webb is off to Providence College and Gawrych to Boston College, both crowns will be up for grabs this season, and based upon last week's Injury Fund Carnivals there are a number of talented runners poised and ready to challenge for the top spot.

Hawks coach Jim Doyle expects two of Webb's former teammates -- seniors Steve Wood and Andrew Palumbo -- to be in the mix for the boys' title.

Wood posted the fastest time of the day at the Injury Fund meet, held at Goddard Park in Warwick, winning the Mal Williams Race in 16:12.50.

Although Palumbo missed that race while recovering from a bout with mononucleosis, Doyle says he looked strong in his debut at the Hawks' dual-meet opener on Monday.

Then there is Ponaganset senior Benjamin Freeman, the fastest returning runner from last year's state meet with a time of 16:21.

Doyle also knows that Andrew Johnson has worked hard over the summer, logging at least 70 miles per week. The Coventry senior took first in the Pop Johnson Race last week with a time of 16.14.90.

Other returning All-Staters who should push the pace this season include East Providence senior Nick Barao (16:26.30) and Cumberland junior Devon Holgate (16:37), who finished 1-2 in the Norm Monk Race.

A second pack of runners who shouldn't be far behind will undoubtedly feature Barrington sophomore Sid Griffin (winner of the Ron Platt III Race in 17:01.6), North Kingstown junior Mitchell Leveille (second to Griffin in 17:24), Skippers senior Brandon Burns, Cumberland senior Derrek Turcotte, Lincoln's Jim Sylvestre, Hendricken senior Alex Varone, Hawks junior Bronson Venable and Chariho sophomore David Hurley.

"It should be an interesting season," said Cumberland coach Tom Kenwood. "There was a lot of young talent last year that could be a factor."

No shortage of girls stars

Returning All-Staters to watch closely on the girls side include the La Salle duo of sophomore Jean Christensen and junior Jeanne Mack, who recorded the fastest times of the day at the Injury Fund meet, each shaving more than a minute off of last year's times en route to placing first (19:29) and second (19:32), respectively, in the Roy Varsity Three Race.

Cranston West junior Nicole Cocozza, third at the 2005 state championships, won the Caswell Varsity One Race in a solid 19:41, while freshman Kaitlyn Grimshaw of defending champion Coventry took second in 19:57.

Although North Kingstown would prefer to keep a low profile this year, there's no question the Skippers will be making some noise. Paced by seniors Siobhan Breagy and Caitlin Crawford (runner-up to Gawrych at last year's state meet in 19:30), North Kingstown finished third through nine behind Christensen and Mack at the Injury Fund meet. Skippers coach Keven O'Neil also suggests keeping an eye on two of Gawrych's former teammates -- senior Bulldogs Emily Doucette (20:18.9) and Mackenzie Ferreira (21:04) -- who finished first and second, respectively, in the Sullivan Varsity Two Race.

He expects Bay View senior Christina Nelson and Exeter-West Greenwich senior Caroline Ward to also make things interesting.

Barrington field hockey

Switching over to field hockey, Barrington appears to be picking up right where it left off last fall, when the Eagles capped off a 15-0-3 season with their first Division I State Championship in 23 years by defeating Lincoln, 1-0, in the title game.

Lee Markowski's squad won its first three games of the season -- a 7-0 decision over Lincoln School, a 2-0 win over North Kingstown and a 6-0 blanking of East Greenwich.

Two-time All-Stater Julie Ruggieri -- last year's tournament MVP and the league's top scorer in 2005 with 22 goals and 11 assists -- is once again leading the way. Heading into yesterday's matchup, she had already compiled six goals and five assists.

New show on Cox

Cox Sports Television has launched Varsity Zone, a program showcasing Rhode Island high school sports that will air on selected Sundays at 7 p.m.

In the show's debut last Sunday, Scott Cordischi provided the play-by-play and Mike Wall served as the color commentator in Varsity Zone's coverage of the Coventry-Cranston West football game.

The fall series of Varsity Zone, which will feature game coverage and athlete profiles, will be highlighted by coverage of the Division I field hockey and boys soccer championships. In addition, live coverage of the Thanskgiving Day football meeting between La Salle and East Providence will air on Varsity Zone on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m.

The Moses Brown-St. George's boys soccer matchup will be the focus of Sunday's edition of the program. For the rest of the fall lineup log on to: http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo Blogs/hssports/2006/09/12/

Children's Fund 5K

The inaugural National Education Association Rhode Island Children's Fund 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Goddard Park.

More information is available at http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo Blogs/hssports/

cthorn@projo.com / (401) 277-7340