Former Cranston West track and field star Jennifer Iozzi finished up her high school career in ideal fashion in 2016.

Iozzi is now suiting up for Franklin Pierce University, but prior to graduating from West in June, she claimed the state crown in the shot put at the RIIL Indoor Track State Championships at the end of February, before going on to earn the same honor at the Outdoor State Championships at Brown University in early June.

Iozzi swept the in-state meets during the indoor season last winter, before comfortably taking gold at the state meet and earning sixth at New Englands.

In the spring, Iozzi went on to claim the Northern Division, Class A and state crowns for the outdoor season.

Last season’s West girls’ track coach Keith Croft only coached Iozzi for her senior season, but understandably came away impressed with her talent and dedication.

“She came into the year in great shape and she was able to build off her strong finish last year,” Croft said following the end of the outdoor season. “She worked extremely hard in the summer and fall and peaked at the right time. There was nothing fancy about her – she simply worked herself into a state champion.”

Croft was confident that Iozzi’s work ethic would help her to be successful at the college ranks.

“I think she’s going to do great at Franklin Pierce and make herself into a really good college thrower,” Croft said. “She’ll keep working hard. It’s a year-round commitment, which is a good thing for her because she has a tremendous work ethic.”

It turns out that Croft predicted correctly.

The indoor season is young, but Iozzi is already making an impact for the Ravens.

Iozzi has posted top-10 finishes in three of Franklin Pierce’s first four meets, including taking gold at the Smith College Snowflake Invitational on Dec. 3. She also placed sixth at the Plymouth State University Winter Classic on Dec. 9 and eighth at the Dartmouth Relays over the weekend.

- Matt Metcalf