While tomorrow’s meet between Concord and Coe-Brown is not a traditional rivalry, it will still provide tremendous excitement on what would have been Manchester Invitational weekend. It features the top 2 teams in the state’s preseason poll as the #1 teams in the state are currently the Concord girls and Coe-Brown boys as well as top teams in their respective divisions in the Concord boys in D1 and Coe-Brown girls in D2. Confused? Don’t be! Both races should be competitive lined with some of the fastest individuals in the state!!!
Beginning with the girls and NH #1 Concord. They return their top 6 led by senior Morgane Orcutt, junior Katherine Kennedy and sophomore Sophie Hopkins. Factor in the now experienced Alexis Christie and junior Katie Watt, Concord has graduated from up and coming to arrived and favored. While the Crimson Tide are opening up their season, the Coe-Brown Bears are having their 3rd meet. The Bears opened up their 2020 season with convincing wins over Oyster River and Merrimack Valley. Led by a rejuvenated senior in Addison Cox, the Bears sport a great pack of four featuring senior Tessa Millette as well as sophomores Sheldyn Fisher and Mallory Taylor. Add last year’s small school middle school 
champ Bella Lemay, and the Bears should challenge the Crimson Tide.
The boys race pits defending D1 and D2 champions and the last 2 MOC champs. One has to give NH#1 Coe-Brown the nod as favorite, but Concord #1 Eben Bragg dropped an eyebrow raising 15:57 at Derryfield last week. He should be in the front pack duking it out with D2 Champ Luke Tkaczyk and Aidan Cox who went 1-2 at tough DeMeritt Hill Farm v. Oyster River last week. With their supporting cast of Wyatt Mackey, Logan Mihelich, Lars Hogne and Carter Sylvester not too far behind, the Bears will be tough to beat on their home course. But don’t count out the Crimson Tide. With names like Brayden Kearns, Ryan Ciesluk, and Sam Hilts, the D1 defending champs are looking to keep the momentum going.
Spectators are permitted at Coe-Brown, with the requirements of masks and social distancing. This meet is truly a gift in these times of regional competition. It is the first in a 3 meet series between these 2 programs. Should be exciting!!! NHCC will be taking pics and videoing the races! Girls race at 4:00pm and boys at 4:40pm. Good Luck!
