Girls
Division 3 Returning Champions
Elle MacDonald Newfound 100, 200
Alana Hagen Newmarket 400
Molly Ellison Kearsarge 1600, 3200
Reese Nicolosi Pelham 100H
Savanna Comeau Somersworth HJ
Grace Hall Hopkinton TJ
Abby Kenyon Gilford DT
Makenna Knapp Fall Mt Jav
On the girls side, this should be an exciting season as we have ten returning champions over the fifteen individual events. But repeating is never easy, and once you’ve earned an individual championship, all eyes focus firmly on your back. But champions are champions for a reason, rising to the occasion when the pressures on. Let’s take a look at the season ahead.
Sprints & Hurdles
Last year, Newfound’s Elle MacDonald dominated both the 100 and 200 and there’s no reason not to believe she’ll do it again. Her main competition should be from Clare Tuohy of Sunappe and Julia Faria of Kearsarge in the 100, and Faria, Ava Lacasse of Belmont and Caterina Hutt of PCA in the 200.
In the 100 meter hurdles, look for Pelham’s Reese Nicolosi and Newport’s Maddox Lovely to battle it out all season.
Maddox will return in the 300 hurdles, with Newfound’s Stacia Paul the other returnee under 50 seconds last season.
Mid D
In mid D action it will be interesting to see how the game is played. Alana Hagen of Newmarket won the 400 and was second to a record owning Brianna Malone in the 800. But with Malone graduated, will we see Hagen move up in distances or remain firmly in the mid D category? Only time will tell. Teammate Allison Burke is the next best returner in the 400 and third best in the 800. Kearsarge’s all everything Amelia Lefevrbe is third returner in the 400, with Shaylee Murdough of Hopkinton the best behind Hagen in the 800.
Distance
The top returner in the 1600 and 3200 is Kearsarge’s Molly Ellison, having won both last year. Ellison is still at the top of her game but some new players have been closing in. Hopkinton upstart and D3 cross country champion Madelaine Lane will be a contender if she ends up switching softball for track. Also, keep your eyes out for Conant’s Bella Nero and Newfound’s Emerald Briggs who had superb cross seasons. Maelle Jacques of Kearsarge was 1600 meter runner-up last year will be in the mix along with the Mascenic contingent that won 2023 D3 cross.
Jumps
Our top three high jumpers return with Savanna Comeau of Somersworth as our returning champion. Second and third places are back as well in Sya Makay also of Somersworth and Amelia Lefevbre of Newfound. Also note that Kearsarge’s Jacques won indoor HJ this past February and will be in the hunt as well.
In pole vault, Conant’s Bella Nero is the top returner, having finished second last year. More impressive is Nero is legally blind, making a technical event like pole vault even more impressive. Behind her is Gabrielle Minuti of Pelham and Vanessa Powers of Winnisquam.
In long jump, the top four from last year graduated, leaving Hopkinton’s Grace Hall in the top returning spot. As the triple jump champion Hall is in the driver’s seat in both events. Behind her in long jump is Ainsley Frankiewich of Kearsarge and Skyla Houle of Campbell. In triple, Hall is chased by Sya McKay of Somersworth and Adeline Takantjas of Belmont.
Throws
In shot put the top three from last year graduated, leaving Kearsarge’s everything woman Amelia Lefevbre as the top returnee. Behind her, Mascoma Valley’s Emily Brewster has had a great indoor season, but her teammate, Georgia Kondi had an even better season, winning D2 indoors. Kondi is the athlete to watch.
In discus there should be a great battle between Gilford’s Abby Kenyon and Newfound’s Isabelle LaPlume, where a scant two feet separated them in the finals.
In javelin, Makenna Knapp is returning champion, almost ten feet better than Malina Bohlmann of Newfound.
Relays
Predicting relays before the season starts is like consulting the Ouija board, however most of the top teams were young, so I’ll identify what to watch. Belmont finished first over Gilford in the 4×100 last year and they both should contend. Newmarket won over Kearsarge and Hopkinton in the 4×400 and they all should be able to contend as well. In the 4×800, Hopkinton beat Mascenic, with Gilford chasing, but Newmarket put together a squad for indoor that ran faster than any of these teams and if decided to, could win the first race of the meet.
Team
Newfound won last year by 11 points over Kearsarge and those teams should be challenging for the top of the division again. Don’t count out Hopkinton or Newmarket either as they tend to gain points in fits and starts making them dangerous.
Boys
Division 3 Returning Champions
Joshua Gentchos Brady 100, 200
Gavin Lombara Monadnock 110H
Ben Sawyer Conant 300H, LJ
Tayshawn Sheppard Somersworth TJ
Kyle Ashley Newport SP
Paul Thibault Trinity DT
Isaiah Reese Gilford Jav
Sprints & Hurdles
Last year, like on the girls side, Bishop Brady’s Josh Gentchos won both the shorter races, in a very strong D3 sprint class that includes PCA’s Tim Kelm, Gilford’s Isaiah Reese, Trinity’s Nehemiah Oyaronbi and Belmont’s Colby Vetter. Kelm got the best of Gentchos in the 55 this winter but you’re looking at a very good D3 sprint class and if I was a betting man it would be hard not to take the field on at least one of the two races come end of May.
Monadnock’s Gavin Lombara is the returning champ and there has been nothing out there to indicate he’s not in the driver’s seat now. He won the indoor 55 meter hurdles over Pelham’s Colby Crear. Conant’s Kaden Colby should be in the mix as well.
Conant’s Ben Sawyer is the returning champion by more than a second, having picked up the event just last year. I can only imagine with more fine tuning he should be in the driver’s seat this year and potentially eyeing the D3 record. Pelham’s Crear is the next in line, having had a solid indoor season as well. Lombara should also be in the mix having had a championship indoor season.
Mid D
With Patrick Gandini and Brady Ash matriculated beyond the 2024 season, there will be a large void to fill in the 400 and 800. Ash won by over a second last year over two other seniors in the 400 and Gandini was, well, Patrick Gandini. Next of the rest in the 400 was InterLakes Tristan Kamann, but also keep your eyes on Sanborn’s Shane McKeen and Pelham’s Junior MacKinnon.
In the 800, Hopkinton’s Roman Finlayson is the top returner but I’d keep an eye on Monadnock’s Peyton Joslyn who was coming back from injury last year. He finished third in the 600 this winter and is better in the longer distance.
Distance
In the 1600, the top returners are PCA’s Jonas Teeter, Monadnock’s other Joslyn, Jace, and Hopkinton’s Ben Daniels. I would have to give the nod to Teeter, who has been aggressive this past winter in racing the big boys in the 1500 and 3000.
In the 3200, Fall Mountain’s Ben Tetu is the top returner but right behind him is Mascoma Valley’s Gunner Currier who really has stepped things up a notch since a year ago, and is currently training for a marathon. Will the additional distance be a help or a hurt. I’d also keep my eye out for Monadnock’s Carlton Lampinen, #3 in cross this past fall. With the race being towards the end of the meet, Lampinen’s ability to get in there and grind might serve him well.
Jumps
Mount Royal’s Peter Hogan is the top returner in high jump, having cleared 5-10 last year for runner up. However in indoor, three other D3 athletes cleared 5-10, including Pelham’s Crear, Trinity’s Rere Edokpolo and Raymond’s Eddie Glidden, so Hogan will have company.
In pole vault, the battle should be between Elijah Beaulieu of White Mountain and Ben Cardoso of Sanborn, both having cleared 10-6 last season.
In long jump, Conant’s Sawyer has more than a foot on Trinity’s Edokpolo and more than that on Mount Royal’s Hogan. So Sawyer is the clear favorite.
In triple jump, Somersworh’s Tayshawn Sheppard is the returning champion and others will need to turn the tables to beat him. Looking to do so will be David Walker of InterLakes and Emery Garrett of Woodsville.
Throws
Newport’s Kyle Ashley is the returning champion in shot put and beat everyone last year by FOUR FEET! That puts him in the driver’s seat for sure. But keep an eye on teammates Paul Thibault and Nehemiah Oyaronbi of Trinity.
Thibault won disc last year and is in the driver’s seat again. Behind him expect Tyson Patch and Troy Penny of Fall Mountain.
In javelin there will be a clash of the titans, with returning champ Reese taking on Newport’s Ashley with both throwers in the 170 foot range. Now that’s big.
Relays
As mentioned with the girls, relays are precarious to say the least. I expect Brady and Trinity to duke it out in the 4×100. In the 4×400 last year, Gilford won with Gandini on the led leg. If they can find someone quick in the shorter distances, they should be in the driver’s seat. In 4×800, the top returner is Hopkinton, but I’d keep eyes on Monadnock who qualified for NEs this winter.
Team
Gilford beat Pelham last year by 8 points and could be in the driver’s seat again. Both teams lost some significant in points through graduation, especially Gilford in Gandini’s 32.5 points individually. Waiting in the wings is Bishop Brady, Sanborn and Trinity.
