By BRENDEN SOARES

Cranston West graduate Bobby Allen found himself in an unfamiliar role in the 5,000 meter race at the America East Conference championship meet on Sunday afternoon, as the former Falcon and current UMass-Lowell River Hawk helped set the early pace.

He spent much of the early going dictating the tempo alongside teammate Paul Hogan in a bid to crack the pack, which included Hassan Omar of Maryland-Baltimore County, who won the 10,000 meters the previous day.

In the end, Allen could not outlast the field, finishing just off the podium in fourth place with a time of 14 minutes, 53.70 seconds, 13 seconds behind the indefatigable Omar and nine seconds back of runner-up Hogan.

The result sees Allen improve by two positions compared to 2014, but the slower pace of this year’s race was reflected in his time; last year’s would have bettered Omar’s by seven one-hundredths of a second.

Messier leads Hawks’ offense

Cranston native Taylor Messier enjoyed a productive spring at the plate for the Roger Williams softball team, leading the Hawks in several offensive categories while making the leadoff position in the batting order hers.

Messier had team highs in batting average (.417), hits (49), extra-base hits (9) and slugging percentage (.539), while also stealing 13 bases in as many attempts.

The Mount St. Charles alum was in particularly fine form in an April 11 contest versus Wentworth, going 5-for-5 at the plate, driving home four runs, scoring three herself and finishing a home run shy of the cycle in a 16-8 triumph over the Leopards.

While she proved more-than-proficient in the batter’s box, Messier was just as adept in the field, only committing one error from her centerfield posting for the entire season.

Other notes

Ex-Falcon Mike Hayden completed his senior season at St. Anselm as the Hawks’ leader in batting average (.305) and doubles (11)...Cranston West alumna Emily Tilton was on the short end of a heartbreaking 10-9 result for Plymouth State in Saturday’s Little East women’s lacrosse championship that saw Keene State score three unanswered goals in the final five minutes of the contest to snare the title...Cranston East graduate Sarah Nolan saw action in 20 games this spring for Rhode Island College’s softball team, recording six hits and driving home a pair of runs for the Anchorwomen.