A BOMB IN THE FINAL ROUND CLINCHED NEW ENGLAND TITLE FOR CUTHBERTSON
Meet Information
New England Weight Throw Championships
March 2, 2026
Providence Career and Technical School - Providence, RI
RESULTS
PROVIDENCE, RI - LHS's Bomb Squad traveled down to the Ocean State on Monday evening for the New England Weight Throw Championships. Rhode Island traditionally produces some of the best weight/hammer throwers in the nation each year, and this year has been no different. In the boys 25lb weight, Woonsocket's Shamrock Thoun ranks US #1, and the senior showed why as he won the New England title with a throw of 82'8". In the girls 20lb weight, senior captain Ainsley Cuthbertson still holds the #1 spot in the nation, but went up against three of the next five best throwers in the country on Monday.
In the first two rounds of the prelims of the girls' weight, none of the athletes had established themselves yet. However, on her final throw of the prelims, Julia Smith of the Prout School (RI) launched the 20-pound implement 55'2" into the sector to take a commanding lead. Meanwhile, Cuthbertson entered the finals in third place with a best throw of 51'0.50", which meant she would be the third-to-last thrower in the finals' throwing order. That fact would be key, as after she took her last attempt both Smith, and Classical (RI) senior Chibuzo Ihenaho would have one more chance. The top three spots remained as they were during the first two round of the finals. Then, on her final attempt, Cuthbertson uncorked a bomb that crashed down at 56'11.50. That mark was her farthest throw in a month, and grabbed the lead with just Ihenaho, and Smith to go. Ihenaho followed Cuthbertson's performance with the best throw of her day, however, it fell more than two feet shy of the LHS senior's mark. As the Prout senior stepped into the circle, tensions were high as everyone waiting to see how the meet would be decided. In the end Smith's final attempt ended up being a foul, which meant that Cuthbertson became the first LHS athlete to be crowned New England Weight Throw Champion.
The Minutemen's top thrower, senior Franz Schroeder, was at his best on Monday night. Next winter, the Brown University commit will compete just down the road from where New Englands was held, and perhaps that gave him a bit more juice, as he battled some of the best throwers in the nation. On his first attempt, Schroeder sent the 25-pound ball a personal best distance of 62'1.50". That mark qualified him for the finals in seventh place overall, just behind Bishop Hendricken (RI) junior Brady Smith, who's first round throw was measured at 63'6.50". After the LHS senior fouled his first two attempts in the finals, Schroeder unloaded on his final attempt of the night. The weight traveled 63'7", and snatched sixth place by just a half-inch. With that finish, Schroeder earned himself All-New Englands honors.
Other Highlights from the Meet
Up Next
A handful of LHS athletes will compete at the Rising Stars Youth Champs this weekend at the TRACK at New Balance. The meet is one final tune-up for those preparing for the New Balance Indoor Nationals. Action begins on Saturday, March 7th, as sophomore Amelia Whorton, Ceci Kvaal, Mackenzie Callahan, and Natalie Bielat will compete in the 800m. Then on Sunday, senior Felice Haverly will compete in the 400m. Live results can be found HERE.
New England Weight Throw Championships
March 2, 2026
Providence Career and Technical School - Providence, RI
RESULTS
PROVIDENCE, RI - LHS's Bomb Squad traveled down to the Ocean State on Monday evening for the New England Weight Throw Championships. Rhode Island traditionally produces some of the best weight/hammer throwers in the nation each year, and this year has been no different. In the boys 25lb weight, Woonsocket's Shamrock Thoun ranks US #1, and the senior showed why as he won the New England title with a throw of 82'8". In the girls 20lb weight, senior captain Ainsley Cuthbertson still holds the #1 spot in the nation, but went up against three of the next five best throwers in the country on Monday.
In the first two rounds of the prelims of the girls' weight, none of the athletes had established themselves yet. However, on her final throw of the prelims, Julia Smith of the Prout School (RI) launched the 20-pound implement 55'2" into the sector to take a commanding lead. Meanwhile, Cuthbertson entered the finals in third place with a best throw of 51'0.50", which meant she would be the third-to-last thrower in the finals' throwing order. That fact would be key, as after she took her last attempt both Smith, and Classical (RI) senior Chibuzo Ihenaho would have one more chance. The top three spots remained as they were during the first two round of the finals. Then, on her final attempt, Cuthbertson uncorked a bomb that crashed down at 56'11.50. That mark was her farthest throw in a month, and grabbed the lead with just Ihenaho, and Smith to go. Ihenaho followed Cuthbertson's performance with the best throw of her day, however, it fell more than two feet shy of the LHS senior's mark. As the Prout senior stepped into the circle, tensions were high as everyone waiting to see how the meet would be decided. In the end Smith's final attempt ended up being a foul, which meant that Cuthbertson became the first LHS athlete to be crowned New England Weight Throw Champion.
The Minutemen's top thrower, senior Franz Schroeder, was at his best on Monday night. Next winter, the Brown University commit will compete just down the road from where New Englands was held, and perhaps that gave him a bit more juice, as he battled some of the best throwers in the nation. On his first attempt, Schroeder sent the 25-pound ball a personal best distance of 62'1.50". That mark qualified him for the finals in seventh place overall, just behind Bishop Hendricken (RI) junior Brady Smith, who's first round throw was measured at 63'6.50". After the LHS senior fouled his first two attempts in the finals, Schroeder unloaded on his final attempt of the night. The weight traveled 63'7", and snatched sixth place by just a half-inch. With that finish, Schroeder earned himself All-New Englands honors.
Other Highlights from the Meet
- Senior Christian Brown finished 32nd with a throw of 46'10".
Up Next
A handful of LHS athletes will compete at the Rising Stars Youth Champs this weekend at the TRACK at New Balance. The meet is one final tune-up for those preparing for the New Balance Indoor Nationals. Action begins on Saturday, March 7th, as sophomore Amelia Whorton, Ceci Kvaal, Mackenzie Callahan, and Natalie Bielat will compete in the 800m. Then on Sunday, senior Felice Haverly will compete in the 400m. Live results can be found HERE.