Allie Jones drives to the basket during a 2008 game against Ponaganset.

Journal photo / John Freidah

South Kingstown basketball player Allie Jones has given a verbal commitment to attend Saint Joseph’s University.

The 6-foot-2 forward had received approximately two dozen offers from Division I schools, said Rebels girls basketball coach Joel Tuoni, and in recent weeks had narrowed her choices down to St. Joe’s and Northeastern.

“I’ll tell you, the weight of the world is off her back right now,” said Tuoni. “She’s a whole different kid. She’s got so much pep in her step right now, you can tell she’s so relieved. She’s pretty thrilled and excited.”

Jones has compiled 770 points and 871 rebounds in her first three seasons at South Kingstown, helping the Rebels capture the I-South title and advance to the Division I semifinals each of the last two years.

Last season, St. Joseph’s finished as Philadelphia Big 5 co-champions with Temple at 3-1, marking a record-setting 15th time the Hawks have earned the honor.

Take your best shot

Who will be crowned the next King and Queen of the Road?

Any high school runner, including 2009 graduates, can take a shot at holding the title by competing at the second annual Bobby Doyle Summer Classic 5-Mile Road Race, to be held Aug. 15 in Narragansett.

Hendricken’s Brian Doyle, son of the legendary Rhode Island runner for whom the race is named, and Stephanie Beaudette of Bay View captured the inaugural high school titles last August, clocking times of 27:04 and 33:57, respectively. Both plan to defend their crowns this year.

The first running of the event, which attracted nearly 600 competitors, generated more than $20,000 for the various causes established in memory of Doyle, who died of a heart attack in December of 2007 at the age of 58. In addition to supporting programs that promote healthy lifestyle choices and increase awareness about heart disease, the Bobby Doyle Fund supports high school track-and-field programs in the state, as well as scholarships to be given each year to male and female high school runners.

The first scholarships were awarded last fall to Steven Francis of Coventry and Smithfield’s Rose Kozar. A $2,000 Col. John McNulty grant was presented to the Narragansett High School track team, and the Providence Cobras Track Club, Seekonk Newman YMCA and Smithfield Sentinel Striders were each beneficiaries of $1,000 grants from the Bobby Doyle Youth Running Fund.

“We’re really looking to get people to participate, especially the high school kids,” said Bobby Doyle’s older brother Jim, who is serving as co-chairman of the race committee along with Bobby’s oldest sons, Brendan and Patrick.

The 5-miler will begin at 5 p.m. at the Pier Middle School, located at 235 South Pier Rd. adjacent to Narragansett High School. The entry fee is $20, $15 for those 18-and-under. The first 700 entrants will receive tech shirts, and the first 700 finishers will receive gold-plated medals. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three overall men and women, and the top age-group finishers will receive merchandise awards.

Runners and walkers can pre-register for the race on-line through Aug. 13 at http://www.needtorace.com. More information is also available at the race Web site: http://www.bobbydoylesummerclassic.org

cthorn@projo.com