2016 New Englands!

Results – Courtesy of Northeast Sports Timing Service

Despite whacky weather and the long trip, the 71st New England Championships saw two of New Hampshire’s best successfully repeat as New England Champs and one Granite Stater claim a state record which was almost 20 years old.

Oyster River’s Maegan Doody, in a deluge of rain, successfully repeated as 1600 Meter Champ in 4:47.93 and Lebanon’s Corinne Kennedy defended her title in the 300 Meter Hurdles in 44.11.  Doody would go on to place a close 6th in the 800 in 2:11.72, while Kennedy had also reached the podium with a 4th place finish in the High Hurdles.

The state record came from Exeter’s Jackie Gaughan in the 3200 as she placed 2nd in 10:24.27.  The NH 3200 meter champ has been knocking on this door over the course of the season with posting times in the 10:30s.  This performance broke Monadnock’s Erica Palmer’s 1997 record of 10:27.06.  Gaughan ran a very smart race, patiently sitting in the pack, which kept dwindling, until the last lap where she unleashed a kick that saw her overtake defending NE Champ Hannah DeBalsi!

Bedford’s Leya Salis was also a runner-up in the 800 in 2:10.15.  White Mountain’s Alex Curtis placed 3rd in the 300 Hurdles in 45.03, while NH also claimed 2nd and 3rd in the High Jump.  Both clearing 5’3″, BG’s Danielle Poublon was 2nd and Bedford’s Molly McCoole placed 3rd.

Also claiming podium finishes for the girls were Concord’s Grace Devanny (3rd, 400), MV’s Kristie Schoffield (6th, 1600), Coe-Brown’s Elisabeth Danis (6th, 3200) and Sanborn’s Megan Sheehan (5th, Discus).

NH’s had two runner-up finishes on the boys side with Central’s Jacob Stanko in the Javelin with a toss of 178′ and Winnacunnet’s Philip Antonio with a leap of 21’7″ in the Long Jump.  Third place finishes were posted by MV’s Brandon Wood in the High Hurdles (15.21) and South’s Daniel Frechette in the High Jump (6’5″).  The High Jump was actually NH boys’ best event with Hopkinton’s Kevin McGrath placing 4th (6’5″) and Kennett’s Jack Ricker placing 6th (6’3″).

The race of the day for the 603 had to be Cam Daly’s, once again, gutsy performance in the 1600.  He placed 5th in 4:15.63.  He was in it until the very last straightaway which saw all of the top 4 finish in 4:12.  Cam was right with the very best of New England and still bested 2015 New England Champ and future Brown teammate, Eli Moskowitz’s 2015 time.

Also making the podium from NH was North’s Ed Vargas (Long Jump) and Jordan Buckmire (Triple Jump).

Congrats to all!