Merrimack Meet Hub
Girls Accepted Entries Courtesy of Lancer Timing
Boys Accepted Entries
Traditionally one of the more competitive meets in the state of NH, the Merrimack Invitational is Thursday. With a little over 2 weeks to go until the Division State Championships, many teams and individuals use this meet to improve their seeds going into the seeding meetings. Below is what to watch for!
Girls
SPRINTS & HURDLES
Jhanelle Thomas (Nashua North) comes in as the expected heavy favorite at 14.82, with Bristol Shirland (Coe-Brown) (15.55) and Tiana Brown (Nashua North) (15.56) rounding out the top seeds. Leading the charge in the 100m is Grace Saysaw (Concord) with a blistering 12.12 seed. She’ll face strong competition from Leanny Ortiz-Blanco (Salem) at 12.59 and Tiana Brown (Nashua North) at 12.67.
In the one-lap sprint, Charlotte Beaudoin (Timberlane) leads the field with a 58.89 seed. Martelle McBride (Exeter) and Isabelle Bremer (Exeter) follow with sub-61 performances. Jhanelle Thomas (Nashua North) returns as the favorite in the 300 meter hurdles as the top seed (45.22), ahead of teammate Allison Frye (Nashua North) (46.84) and Sienna Metcalf (Portsmouth) (47.32).
Saysaw (Concord) also headlines the 200m (24.63), positioning herself as a double sprint favorite. Leiana Cory (Portsmouth), just a freshman, is close behind at 25.45, followed by Tiana Brown (Nashua North) at 26.08.
DISTANCE
Laura White (Nashua North) tops the list in the 1600 meters with a 5:04.69 seed. Shelly Smith (Concord) and Samantha Swanbon (Souhegan) are the next best seeds at 5:25. Dover’s Anique Poulin returns to action this season and is the top seed in the 800. She will face a stiff challenge with Brianna Paterna (Exeter) at 2:21.54. Paterna is quietly having a breakthrough season. Brianna’s sister, Alexis Paterna (Exeter) is the heavy favorite in the 3200 with a 10:49.86. Teammate Eli Cross (Exeter) follows in 11:31.04, and Melanie Bedard (Merrimack) is seeded third at 11:55.39.
RELAYS
The top team in the 4×100 meters is Concord (48.98) featuring Grace Saysaw, Ella Goulas, Ballay Conteh, and Chelsea Toenah. They’ll be challenged by Portsmouth (49.62) and Nashua North (49.89), both loaded with sprint depth. The 4×400 relay sees Nashua North leading the pack again at 4:01.02, featuring Thomas, Neveu, Frye, and Wilson. Exeter (4:03.11) and Portsmouth (4:06.50) round out a competitive top three.
FIELD EVENTS
Verticals
Danielle Bates (Timberlane) leads the field with a 5’4” clearance. She’s followed by Emma Lander (Portsmouth) and Cassandra Jimeno (Merrimack), both at 5’0”. In the pole vault, Madeline Muller (Concord) tops this event with a 10’0” seed. Shannon Elizabeth (Coe-Brown) and Emma Millette (Nashua South) are tied at 9’6”.
Horizontals
Ella Goulas (Concord) is top seed in both the Long and Triple Jumps. Her long jump seed is an impressive 18’3”, and is followed by Ballay Conteh (Concord) and freshman Kathleen Lynch (Dover). She sits at 38’2” in the Triple Jump. Nabah Yahya (Concord) and Danielle Bates (Timberlane) are seeded next with 35’8” and 34’7.25” respectively.
THROWS
The Shot Put sees Consuelo Borico (Concord) as the top seed at 37’4”, trailed by Avery Trask (Pinkerton) and Gabriella Mosto (Salem). The Discus has Isabelle Grenier (Coe-Brown) as the top seed with a 112’3” mark. Jameson Trask (Pinkerton) and Lucille Beem (Exeter) are next. The Javelin has Sarah Rzasa (Pinkerton) is the top seed at 115’9”, with Kelly Wright (Windham) and Maggie Pataki (Portsmouth) in pursuit.
BOYS
SPRINTS & HURDLES
The top seed in the high hurdles is Nick Daigle (Salem) at 15.29, followed by Josh Kelly (Portsmouth) at 15.30 and Brogan Grzybowski (Coe-Brown) at 15.47. Speedster Jamison Isaac (Pinkerton) headlines the 100m with a seed of 11.10. Close behind are Griffin Massahos (Londonderry) at 11.14 and Travis Cavallo (Pinkerton) at 11.20, promising a fast finish.
Expect fireworks in the 400m. Shane Plumley (Alvirne) leads the field at 50.00, narrowly ahead of Brody Smith (Souhegan) at 50.03. Theo Beattie (Portsmouth) rounds out the top three with a 51.16. Joey Marcotte (Alvirne) sets the pace in the intermediates at 39.75. Behind him are Josh Kelly (Portsmouth) (41.34) and Gavin Suchecki (Nashua North) (41.70).
Briggs Catino (Portsmouth) is the man to beat in the 200 meters, entering with a blazing 22.47. He’s followed by Cameron Lee (Coe-Brown) at 22.74 and Jamison Isaac (Pinkerton) doubling back in third at 22.80.
DISTANCE
The 1600m is led by sophomore Jason Robie (Pinkerton) with a 4:30.00. Veterans Dallen Noorda (Souhegan) and Brent Dunning (Alvirne) follow at 4:34.02 and 4:37.76, respectively. It’s tight at the top, with never stop Melo Berdecia (Dover) seeded at 1:58.19, followed closely by Robie (Pinkerton) at 1:58.28 and Brock James (Salem) at 1:58.51. The 3200 meters sees long-distance standout Trainor Mailloux (Pinkerton) as top seed with a 9:50.00, chased by Nolan Peters (Portsmouth) at 9:51.54 and Carson Fitzgerald (Londonderry) at 9:52.76.
RELAYS
Expect heavy favorite Pinkerton to have a good as they are the top seed in the 4×100 at 42.66, led by Isaac, Cavallo, George, and Michaud. Londonderry (43.63) and Nashua South (43.68) aren’t far behind.
Exeter enters the 4×400 with the top time of 3:25.05, with Proulx, Griffith, Manix, and Bourgeault. Nashua South (3:26.05) and Nashua North (3:28.89) will be right there to challenge.
FIELD EVENTS
Verticals
Gavin Suchecki (Nashua North) leads the High Jump with a seed of 6-2. He’s followed by teammate Josh Sullivan (Nashua North) at 6-0 and Kaiden Okowuga (Merrimack) at 5-10. The pole vault sees Colby Nyhan (Concord) as the top seed at 14-6, with Leo Guarracino (Portsmouth) next at 13-0 and Thomas Eastwood (Exeter) at 12-0.
Horizontals
Luc Gaudet (Londonderry) tops the deep field in the Long Jump with a 21-9 mark. Teammate Chase Burris (Londonderry) (20-9.25) and Oliver Gould (Pinkerton) (20-9.00) are in a tight battle for top three. The Triple sees freshman sensation Thomas Saysaw (Concord) as the top seed with a remarkable 43-10. He’s followed by Oliver Gould (Pinkerton) (41-4) and Abrahm Siegel (Portsmouth) (41-3).
THROWS
Powerhouse Darius Smith (Nashua North) enters as top man in the Shot at 53-3, just ahead of teammate Noah Pasterczyk (52-3). Shawn Boudreau (Alvirne) is third at 50-4.75. Boudreau though is the top discus seed at 157-5, followed by Sam Pfitzenmayer (Concord) (138-10) and Connor Lazarz (Dover) (137-4).
Watch for Charles Franks (Pinkerton) as he is the clear favorite at 191-5 in the javelin. Sawyer Penny (Nashua South) is second at 163-7 and Vincent Ventura (Pinkerton) is third at 155-7.
