Congratulations to the folks of the Oyster River XC and DeMeritt Hill Farm communities for pulling off a first class event for the 2023 Bobcat Invitational. At the end of what was hopefully the final and perhaps most oppressive heat wave of 2023, organizers made the prudent decision to move up the start time by 2 hours to 8am. This was applauded by all and this year’s edition on the first full weekend of NH XC action was as hot as the temps. More exciting than the weather however were all the new faces and names which comprise NH XC this time of year. Bobcat was no different.
Unique to the Bobcat, varsity runners kick off the day with the girls race being the first to attack the orchard. The three-loop hilly course through the apple orchard and surrounding trails is one to be respected. That is exactly what eventual winner Alanna Hagen of Newmarket set out to do as she hung back the first 2 laps. The front pack assembled rather immediately with Oyster River’s Mackenzie Cook taking the lead of the front pack comprised of Hagen, Hopkinton freshman Madeleine Lane, Bedford’s Kelseigh O’Neil, and a couple other Oyster River freshmen Haley Bezanson and Madelyn Cook. Over the final lap, Hagen would take the lead to win clocking 19:52 to Mackenzie Cook’s 19:59. Lane would nab 3rd with a 20:18 to Bezanson’s 20:27. O’Neil would lead Bedford by placing 5th (20:45) while Madelyn Cook placed 6th in 20:59. Oyster River took the next 2 places as well to seal the team title as Neely Roy placed 7th, Haley Kavanagh was 8th. Exeter’s Eli Cross made it 4 freshmen in the top 10 placing 9th in 21:38 while Monadnock’s Summer Bentley completed the top 10 in 21:47.
Placing their scoring 5 in the top 8 places, Oyster River dominated the team competition scoring a scant 27 points. Even without their top runner, Bedford placed 2nd with 111 points over Hopkinton’s 118. Hopkinton certainly looks to continue their D3 prowess this year. Showing a ton of potential, Exeter placed 4th with 134 points while Concord placed 5th with 144 points.
The boys side saw Bedford track stud Jacob Redman show off his summer training to win gun to tape in 16:53. While this was expected, Gilford freshman Bocelli Howland-Vlahakis placed a surprising 2nd in 17:09. And this is a course on which one cannot fake fitness! Exeter veteran Gavin Malark battled Monadnock sophomore Peyton Joslyn for 3rd in 17:19 to Joslyn’s 17:21. Sanborn junior Jake Pitre placed a strong 5th in 17:32. Bobcat junior Ian Hricz outleaned Monadnock’s Carlton Lampinen for 6th 17:35 to 17:36. Another Exeter vet, Spencer Mann was 8th in 17:44 with Belmont Hill School’s Miles Sandoski
placing 9th. Hopkinton’s Matt Clarner would round out the top 10 in 17:52.
Employing great pack running strategy and execution, Belmont Hill School took home the win by only 6 points over Bedford. While Sandoski was doing his thing cracking the top ten, Belmont Hills 2nd through 4th scorers all came within 8 seconds of one another placing 17th, 18th, 19th and 21st! Bedford spread their scoring out behind winner Redman as Patrick Fish placed 12th, Jarred Bekkering 16th, Ryan Jung 30th and Ethan Pulsifer 31st. In a slight surprise, host school Oyster River placed 3rd with 135 points, 6 better than Exeter. Rounding out the top 5 was Londonderry with 144 points.
In JV action, Bedford won by a slim 2 points over Concord 42-44 in the Girls JV race. Bedford’s freshman Julia Malnar won in 24:19. Check the results and you will see freshmen take 6 of the top 7 slots! New generation! And on the boys JV, Belmont Hill took that one rather easily scoring 21 points. Their junior Davis Woolbert won in 19:47. Londonderry was NH’s top team as hurdler Christopher Chong was NH’s top finisher as he placed 2nd in 20:30. Get that distance work in!
