It’s tough to top the story of 15-year-old Elizabeth Beisel, of North Kingstown, qualifying for the Summer Olympics.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

If you saw Thursday’s sports section, you may recall that the featured article that day was an invitation to readers to select, from a list of eight nominees (and any write-in candidates), the top sports story in what truly has been an eventful first six months of the year.

Well, I’m not just a writer for the Providence Journal, I’m also an avid reader. But, instead of sending my ballot to projosports.com, I’m publishing it here.

This, in reverse order, is how I rank the biggest local stories so far in 2008:

8. Manny Hits Number 500.

A significant accomplishment, no question. One worthy of recognition as Manny marches — to the beat of his own distinctive drummer — toward the Hall of Fame. But it also was inevitable and, so, doesn’t have the “punch” of the other stories nominated.

7. Ryan Westmoreland Drafted by the Red Sox

A gifted prospect, here’s hoping that the Portsmouth High pitcher-outfielder can stay healthy and avoid the woes that have crippled the highly promising career of another former schoolboy star, Rocco Baldelli. It would be nice to see Westmoreland sign with Boston, but he may opt to attend Vanderbilt instead, and there’s nothing wrong with going that route, either.

6. Providence College Fires Tim Welsh and Hires Keno Davis

It was time for Welsh to go, and Davis appears to be an excellent hire — better for the Friars, in my opinion, than Travis Ford would have been. But it’s never pleasant to see someone lose their job. Welsh is a good guy, and isn’t a bad coach. This is a big story because PC basketball is a big deal, but it’s not a totally “feel-good” story, like the other nominees.

5. Jon Lester’s No-Hitter

What makes this so special is that Lester was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. I’ll never forget talking with his father during the celebration on the diamond at Coors Field after Lester was the winning pitcher in Game Four of the 2007 World Series, completing a sweep of the Rockies that gave the Red Sox their second World Series title in four seasons.

“His winning this game,” his father, John, said that night, “is one of the best things that’s happened in my life. The best thing was hearing that he’s cancer-free.”

The young lefty’s no-hit win over the Royals in May is yet another indication of what he can do for Boston in the years to come.

4. Juliet Vongphoumy Wins High School Golf Crown

What may have been more impressive than her Interscholastic League title was her showing last week in the R.I. Amateur. Although she didn’t qualify for match play, she posted scores of 81 and 78. That’d be good for any high school freshman competing against the best men in the state, but even more so for a 5-foot-tall, 100-pound girl. She has a bright future ahead of her as a collegiate golfer, and perhaps even on the LPGA Tour. What’s heartwarming is that she grew up playing golf at Button Hole, where her parents — who came to America from their native Laos, via a refugee camp in Thailand — brought Juliet and her sisters to learn the game.

She won the state high school championship this year playing from the women’s tees, thus earning a spot in the State Amateur, in which she was the first woman ever to compete. Next year, I wouldn’t be surprised if she accepts the challenge of playing the boys from the same tees.

3. Patriots Shocked in Super Bowl XLII

You could make a case that the crushing end of the Patriots’ perfect season should be No. 1. But, for heartbroken fans hoping to see history, it’s still too painful to think about. Fortunately, training camp opens in less than two weeks, and New England football fans can start focusing on the coming season, rather than dwelling on the devastating loss at the hands of the Giants in Phoenix.

2. Celtics Beat Lakers in NBA Finals

By bringing Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to Boston to team with Paul Pierce, Celts GM Danny Ainge turned his team from the NBA’s worst to its best and revived the region’s passion for the most storied franchise in pro basketball history. Adding a 17th championship banner to those already hanging from the Garden rafters was unexpected, and exciting.

1. Elizabeth Beisel Qualifies for the Olympics

I’ve yet to meet this supremely talented young lady from North Kingstown, but I’m a huge fan of hers. Not only because it borders on the unbelievable that a 15-year-old swimmer from Rhode Island could qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in not just one event, but two — the 400-meter individual medley and 200-meter backstroke — but even more so because she’s done it while competing for her high school team. That’s a rarity these days.

Professionally, I’m supposed to be objective. In this kid’s case, I’m throwing objectivity out the window and rooting like heck for her to do well in Beijing next month, while eager to see if she can bring home gold four years from now in London.

jdonalds@projo.com