By Caitlin Cole – @DHSCCTF
#7 – JV State Championships!
For most of this season, I knew that we really had something special with the girls team. Both sections- JV & Varsity. I mean, for the first time in a long time varsity girls have had some real momentum as a team going for the last three or so years. But, even with an influx of new runners, there are still only 7 spots on the varsity team. What does that mean for us? Well, for one, those spots are battled for every single day. It also means that our JV squad was bound to be stacked. And stacked it was for Friday, at the Division I JV State Championship.
Last year (2022), the girls team came in 5th at this same meet. Which, though it may not sound all that impressive, was the first time in recent history (at least 20 years) that the girls’ JV squad had even placed in the top ten (except for 2019– we came in 9th. There were only ten teams, for perspective). 5th place felt like some incredible thing, which for this program, it kind of was. This year, with such a strong JV team, we had a real chance at making the podium. Like, it was almost guaranteed, assuming that everyone a) ran what they usually did, and b) finished. Which was crazy in itself because just a few years ago that kind of proposition would have sounded delusional.
I really think we pulled off something incredible. For a long time, Bedford has been the team to beat, and props to them because it is really amazing to see just how much depth they have (also, I talked to their runners at the starting line, super nice). But this year we gave them a run for their money. Dover Girls finished as the RUNNER-UPS at the state meet! Just 8 points behind the winners with a total of 44 points! We placed every scoring runner within the top 15. Just awesome stuff. Getting to go up at a state meet and hold a plaque with your team is pretty sick, turns out.
Janelle Poulin had just about the race of her life, coming in 5th overall (PR’ed by literal minutes). Isabella, the Lilys, and Jane rounded out the scoring group with some nasty personal bests. Actually, almost everyone PR’ed on Friday, so that’s pretty freaking cool too. Four of the top five, plus another two who ran on Friday, are freshmen. The group of departing seniors is pretty large this year, but not all hope is lost.
All in all, a pretty good way to start the post-season activities. Lucky for us, the rain held off, and Chick-fil-A was had on the bus ride home. Apologies to all of the workers that night– I can’t imagine how much fear a sports team brings to those employees. Also, shoutout to the boys’ team; all of their runners had some great races, and a lot (if not all) of them PR’ed.
While the team basks in their glory, we are also preparing for D1’s on Saturday. We have a few individuals on the boys’ side hoping to make it to MOCs, and a girls’ team looking to place and do the same. Those runners had their final workout before states today (surprise! More 600s!). Let the games begin (or… .
#8 – NHIAA State Championships!
After an incredibly successful showing at JV states a couple Fridays ago, it was time for the varsity
squad to dial in and get prepped for their D1 state meet. Every year Derryfield Park does its
damage, but for the last 3 seasons, it hasn’t managed to get the best of the women’s team, and
we’ve advanced to the Meet of Champions. That was the goal again this year, along with the hope
that we could make the podium. Two of our guys hoped to qualify for MOCs as well.
Saturday was rather hot (70s in October… help) so that would not be to our advantage,
unfortunately. But the show must go on, and on it did go. The gun went off for D1 girls at 10am. Shoutout to Anique for putting herself out there during that first mile— she was right up with the front pack and at times was leading the race. She ended up finishing in 9th overall, an incredible accomplishment, especially considering the hills and the heat. Alyson thrived with the hills, coming in 16th, followed closely by Margaret in 19th, who crossed the line not long before Maddie. Izi, coming back from injury, was our fifth runner in just her second race of the season, and Evangeline and Anna rounded out the squad and helped with scoring displacement of other teams. At the end of the day, we tied for 2nd with Bedford, and their sixth runner broke the tie by two points. Pinkerton smoked literally everyone, so shout out to them because even though they’re our opponents it’s actually insane to see the depth that they have.
The boys, on the other hand, didn’t have as smooth of a build leading up to Saturday. Clayton came down with some nasty cough, so his chances at making MOCs disappeared, because he wouldn’t be racing. Another one of our guys came down with the same thing and someone else had some crazy limp going on. Not the best circumstances, but as I said, the show must go on. Ethan Fiorenza led the way in 53rd, and was followed by our freshman Sam. The rest of the boys trickled in, and despite missing one of our best runners, we didn’t come in last. Take the wins where you can get them. I want to give a big shout out to Ethan: he had a real shot at making MOCs this year, but it was just a tough day for him (which just sucks to happen on such an important meet). Last year he ran 18:59.9 as a lifetime best, and this year his cross country PR became a crisp 17:40, nothing to bat an eye at. He’s our only senior guy and is a real model of hard work, and I think that needs to be recognized.
Girls will be heading to MOCs this Saturday! For the 4th year in a row the entire team qualified and will race against New Hampshire’s best. Hopefully the weather will be better than the last few times at Alvirne… we shall see. Last year, we qualified for New Englands by the skin of our teeth. One of our best runners had been struggling with injury for the better part of the season and unfortunately it just came to a breaking point at the worst time. But, this year, we have a top 4 who’s been consistent all season and a #5 who’s been getting better and better each race after being hurt for most of the season (and summer). I don’t know what exactly to expect going into Saturday— I do know however that it’s going to be fast, and that it’s going to be here before we know it.
