There are still almost two months left in the outdoor track season, but the Classical boys are already flying high after handing Hendricken what is believed to be its first loss –– ever –– in dual-meet competition.

Trailing by as many as 52 points in the Central Division meet at Hendricken on April 8, the Purple rallied and edged the Hawks, 77-76.

“For 18 years, I’ve been chasing them,” said longtime Classical coach Bob Palazzo, whose team also defeated La Salle, 84-69, that day. “I told the kids that regardless of what happens, this will certainly be etched in stone. This is a major accomplishment for our kids.”

Palazzo admits that at first he didn’t believe his team had actually won.

During the meet, he stopped by the track to check in with Classical assistant Mike Green before heading over to the discus and shot put events.

“We really look good,” Green told Palazzo. “We’re scoring a lot of points on the track.”

But Palazzo says he didn’t think Green meant they were necessarily doing well enough to win.

Then, after the meet, Hendricken coach Jim Doyle walked over to Palazzo and handed him the official score sheet.

“You’re going to want to frame this one,” Doyle said to Palazzo.

“Stop busting,” Palazzo said to Doyle.

But Doyle was serious. And after checking the score sheet with his own eyes –– and then checking it a few more times just to be sure, Palazzo couldn’t have been happier for his team.

“This graduating class has done a lot of special things already. Both the boys and girls have been amazing,” he said. “But this particular thing has left a lasting mark.”

Classical earned the double win over Hendricken and La Salle thanks in part to victories by senior Ed Jean-Louis (200 meters, 23.5), senior Keith Raymond (400 meters, 53.5 seconds) and senior Roy Mcfarland (long jump, 18 feet, 2 1/4 inches).

The Purple swept the high jump, won by senior Tom Cole after he cleared 5-8, as well as the triple jump, won by senior Emanuel Tutu with a leap of 40 feet even.

Classical also picked up some valuable points by taking the top three spots in the discus, won by junior Josh Faboyede with a toss of 135-10, and going 1-2 in the shot put, won by Patrick Onye (47-2).

“It’s a tremendous accomplishment for Classical,” said Doyle. “They have a great team. They covered all the bases.”

Venable to Iona

Hendricken senior Bronson Venable, who last fall captured the individual state cross country championship, will be heading to Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., where he will compete for the cross country team, as well as the indoor and outdoor track teams.

“I think that’s fantastic for him,” Hawks coach Jim Doyle said, adding that the Gaels’ coaching staff shares a philosophy similar to his. “He still hasn’t blossomed yet as a runner, and I expect him to do very well at Iona. Bronson understands what it takes to be successful. Mentally, he’s very tough. He has a tremendous work ethic and it’s going to take him a long way.”

A number of Rhode Island athletes have gone on to compete at Iona, including former Hendricken All-Stater Steve Wood, who is a freshman there, and former Toll Gate standout Stephen Doherty, who is just finishing up his junior year.Last spring clinics

The final spring coaches’ clinics, hosted by the Rhode Island Track Coaches Association and sponsored by The Bill Falk Fund of the R.I. Track & Field Foundation, will be held today.

Former Brown coach and current track official Anne Rothenberg will hold a high-jump clinic at Cumberland from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. At the same time at Hope High School, Clarke Lowery, a nationally certified starter, will discuss blocks and starts, while Hope track coach and soon-to-be RIIL Hall of Famer Thom Spann will offer instruction on the mechanics of baton exchanges.

The free clinics are open to all high school coaches and athletes. Coaches may select two athletes per team, which means two boys and two girls from each school, to participate in the clinic while any other athletes from that team may observe.

cthorn@projo.com