Congratulations NH! Yesterday was quite the show! A track and field meet accurately representing how strong our state is in athletics! There were showdowns, surprises, and NH State Champions crowned.
Meet Hub: 2017 MOCs! – broadcast, interviews, pics, results all in one place!
Results of the Showdowns!
You chose it in our most recent poll! In the most exciting race of the day, which featured move and counter move, the girls 800 exceeded expectations! Rolling through the first 400 in 66 and change, Bedford’s Leya Salis towed MV’s Kristie Schoffield, and Leb’s Corinne Kennedy, with Souhegan’s Madeline Hunt right off the back. Heading into the back stretch, it was clear each of the top three wanted the lead with MV’s Schoffield putting on the strongest move to seize it just after the mouth of the final turn. Salis countered to Schoffield’s shoulder. Kennedy, rather stuck in third, came wide off the turn to draw even with the other two and the three continued their epic battle down the final straight. With a slight burst in the last 15 meters, it was Loucks Games Champ Kristie Schoffield outleaning the state record holder in the hurdles Kennedy to take home the 2016 800 title 2:08.46 to 2:08.59. The day after crushing the mile in 4:45.16 at the Boston Adidas Boost Games, Salis placed third in 2:09.97, with Hunt 4th in 2:16.34.
Alvirne’s Noah Bellomo also displayed his dominance of middle distance, cruising to a NH title in the 1600 in 4:19.92. Good thing he conserved, because everyone came to play in the 800! With Keene’s Jonathan Allard posting a flying 1:56.14 in the first heat, the second heat would have to race hard to ensure the win. They wasted no time as Trinity’s Tim Zepf pulled the field to a 55 second 1st 400 with Bellomo enjoying 
the escort. Bellomo, the defending champion, would take the lead and pull away to win in one of the fastest times ever by a Granite Stater, 1:52.45!!! Ironically, the top three would repeat from 2016 as Zepf would place a strong 2nd in 1:54.61 and Allard’s 1:56.14 would hold up for 3rd. Pinkerton’s Calvin Graves placed 4th in 1:56.81, Inter-Lakes Ian Daly placed 5th in 1:57.45 and Coe-Brown’s Zach Richards would also punch his ticket to New England’s in 1:57.72.
Speaking of dominance, Central’s Katya Levasseur put up quite the case for Miss NH Track and Field for this season as she was the only Triple crown State Champion winning the 100, 200 and Long Jump! Lebanon’s Kath Merchant came within 5 inches of the throwing version triple crown by sweeping the Shot and Discus (on the last throw!!!), and placing 2nd in the Javelin.
Kudos to two girls who spent the most time on the track, Milford’s Rebecca Durham and Bishop Guertin’s Caroline Fischer were certainly inseparable as they spent 12 laps only seconds apart in both 1600 and 3200. Both ran massively impressive doubles with Durham winning the 1600 in 4:55.76 to Fischer’s 4:56.75. Durham then went on to finish 2nd on the 3200 in 10:42.35 to Fischer’s 3rd (10:46.56
). Exeter’s Jackie Gaughan once again put on a display in the 3200 winning in 10:09.49, just a few seconds off her personal record.
Random Good Stuff
Battling injury and sickness, in what will be his final high school race, Oyster River’s Patrick O’Brien slowly turned the screws in the 3200 slowly pulling away from North’s David Vorbach to win in 9:14.76.
Division 2’s Lebanon’s Marcus Roper and Goffstown’s Oliver Gunski continued their shot put rivalry from last week with both tossing the rock over 50 feet and Roper once again winning 50’10” to 50’5.25″. Gunski would go on to take the Discus title with a toss of 150’2″.
A sign of another possible state record going down, only a sophomore, Grace Devanny ran 57.54 to take the 400.
Winnacunnet’s Billy Powers certainly did not clip any hurdles this week as we swept both hurdles events posting times of 140.07 and 38.71. Can you say “Future Sta
te Record Holder”?
Finally, the High Jump the saw South’s Lewis siblings sweep the titles beginning with D1 Champ Terrell Lewis defeating Hopkinton’s Kevin McGrath both clearing 6’2″. Then his sister and Division 2 champ Sydney bettered Division 2 Champ Pelham’s Mia Herrling with both clearing 5’4″.
An obvious thank you to the Merrimack High School community for being gracious and accommodating hosts! And also to Lancer Timing and the NH State Officials for a superior, efficient and well run track and field meet! Also a great representation of what NH Track and Field is all about!
