By Nate Leveille
This year’s Meet of Champions is stacked with returning talent, rising underclass stars, and multiple athletes seeded in more than one event. This has been quite the year for track and field in the state of New Hampshire. Based on the preview there are a number of state records that could go down and a number of athletes who have a chance to place at the New England Championships and or win their event all together. As always NHTF will be there to livestream as well as snap pics, follow on instagram and interview the champs!
GIRLS PREVIEW
Sprints & Hurdles
100m Dash
Saysaw has basically been untouchable all season long in the 100 and 200. Earlier in the year she broke the longest standing state record in the 200m. I look for her to not only win the 100m but also establish a new state record.
- Grace Saysaw (Concord, Jr) – 12.07
The clear favorite and one of NH’s fastest, she’s coming off a dominant season. - Ava Lacasse (Belmont, Jr) – 12.32
Powerful and consistent—poised to challenge the lead. - Elle MacDonald (Newfound, Sr) – 12.43
A strong veteran presence who always rises to the occasion.
200m Dash
Saysaw will establish another new state record in this event as she is the clear favorite. Cory of Portsmouth is the real deal and in any other year would be the talk of the town with the times she has put up as only a 9th grader.
- Grace Saysaw (Concord, Jr) – 24.40
One of the top sprinters in the state, a sweep of the 100m and 200m is in play. - Leiana Cory (Portsmouth, Fr) – 25.25
A breakout freshman—speed and composure well beyond her years. - Charlotte Beaudoin (Timberlane, Jr) – 25.55
Versatile and aggressive—she’ll make the final thrilling.
100m Hurdles
Thomas will wrap up her high school career over the next two weeks. She has been a dominant performer in whatever event she runs since her 9th grade year. She is the top seed by .4 in the low hurdles.
- Jhanelle Thomas (Nashua North, Sr) – 14.74
The defending queen of hurdles—fluid and fearless. - Avery Baumgardt (Oyster River, Jr) – 15.17
A fierce challenger with great form and rhythm. - Bristol Shirland (Coe-Brown, So) – 15.23
A rising star with massive upside.
300m Hurdles
Thomas and Brown are no strangers to running alongside each other in practice, and now, on the biggest stage in the state, not much has changed—they enter as the top two seeds. Thomas holds a significant advantage over the field, and the state record of 43.54 is well within her reach.
- Jhanelle Thomas (Nashua North, Sr) – 44.60
She owns this event and is the one to beat. - Tiana Brown (Nashua North, Sr) – 46.05
A top-tier teammate—could push Thomas to a meet record. - Sienna Metcalf (Portsmouth, Jr) – 46.06
Smooth hurdling and great closing speed.
Middle Distance & Distance
400m Dash
Cenesca of Central and Beaudoin of Timberlane should provide a fun battle to watch, as both athletes tend to take the 400 out extremely hard. Macy Sawyer could be lurking, and if she can stay close early, her strong finish might give her the edge. This is shaping up to be one of the closest races of the day.
- Angela Cenesca (Manchester Central, Jr) – 57.93
Explosive out of the blocks, she’s the state’s best bet under 58. - Charlotte Beaudoin (Timberlane, Jr) – 58.00
Pulling double duty—dangerous in both 200m and 400m. - Macy Sawyer (Gilford, So) – 58.20
Sophomore sensation—her time drop has been remarkable.
800m Run
Neveu won the D1 title in one of the best races of the meet last week. She enters with the top time more than three seconds clear of her teammate Laura White and Brianna Paterna who will be doubling back in this event.
- Rosalie Neveu (Nashua North, So) – 2:16.67
Fast, tactical, and confident—she’s leading the new wave. - Brianna Paterna (Exeter, So) – 2:19.14
Known for her strong finish, she’ll be right in the mix. - Laura White (Nashua North, Sr) – 2:19.75
Veteran leadership and experience—don’t count her out.
1600m Run
Laura White enters with the top time, but in a non sanctioned meet Kavanaugh of Oyster River has run faster. Those two will look to go into the low 4:50s. Cross of Exeter will look to make a run at the 5 minute mark.
- Laura White (Nashua North, Sr) – 4:57.80
Strong season and a sub-5 performance make her the favorite. - Haley Kavanagh (Oyster River, Sr) – 5:00.49
Always composed—she could take this in the final lap. - Eli Cross (Exeter, So) – 5:08.46
The future of distance running in NH is bright with her.
3200m Run
Cook and Lane enter with the top two times, but maybe no one in the state is running better than 3 seed Alexis Paterna of Exeter. The last time these three met up was at the NH Distance Festival in the 1600. Lane and Cook with be fresh while Paterna will have an 800 on her legs in the 4×800. Cook and Lane will look to push the pace while Paterna will look to hang onto them with her devastating finishing speed. This has the makings of the race of the day as all three girls are among the best in New England.
- Mackenzie Cook (Oyster River, Sr) – 10:30.78
Fastest seed and tough as nails—gunning for sub-10:30. - Maddy Lane (Hopkinton, So) – 10:34.92
The top underclasswoman, ready for a huge race. - Alexis Paterna (Exeter, So) – 10:49.86
Known for her devastating kick she is running as well as anyone.
Relays
4x100m Relay
Concord has been all around the Pinkerton state record of 47.88 set two years ago. Is this the meet they finally take it down?
- Concord – 48.33
Led by Grace Saysaw, this squad is in a class of their own. - Nashua North – 49.50
Deep sprint talent gives them podium potential. - Portsmouth – 49.62
Solid and sharp—could upset with a clean handoff.
4x400m Relay
Once Concord shifted Saysaw to the anchor of their 4×400 they started running times that put them in the picture for a New England title. Exeter, North and Portsmouth all have the potential to go sub 4 which woul dbe historic.
- Concord – 3:59.52
Balanced squad—sprinting and middle-distance power. - Exeter – 4:00.67
Strong depth and chemistry—contenders every year. - Nashua North – 4:00.75
Could pull off the win with a big anchor leg.
4x800m Relay
The Exeter girls had this meet circled on their calendar to go after the state record of 9:15.02 held by BG. Unless Oyster River enters their A team they may have to go at it alone. Indoors the Blue Hawks ran 9:15.17 so they have the firepower to do it.
- Exeter – 9:23.03
Clear frontrunners with impressive team cohesion. - Oyster River – 9:26.38
Talented and competitive—can challenge for the win. - Hopkinton – 9:41.73
Small school, big heart—punching above their weight.
Field Events
High Jump
Bates was an All-American indoors and her success has carried over to the outdoor season. I believe she is unbeaten on the season and enters as the clear favorite. After her is a log jam for the second and third positions.
- Danielle Bates (Timberlane, So) – 5-07.00
Top seed and in control all season. - Camden Wilson (Bow, So) – 5-03.00
Quietly consistent—ready for a personal best. - Sya McKay (Somersworth, Sr) – 5-02.00
Senior leadership could shine in crunch time.
Pole Vault
Kaupp established a new D1 record last week and will look to eclipse the 12 foot mark. She is more than a foot ahead of the next best competitor.
- Ruby Kaupp (Bedford, Sr) – 11-08.00
Dominant and confident—she’s set to soar. - Julia Hou (Bow, Jr) – 10-01.00
Technical and focused—she’ll be a threat. - Madeline Muller (Concord, Sr) – 10-00.00
Great timing—peaking at just the right moment.
Long Jump
Goulas decided to drop the high jump and focus on the horizonals where she is one of the best jumpers in New England. She has over a 1 foot advantage on the field.
- Ella Goulas (Concord, Sr) – 18-04.25
The gold standard in NH jumps—nearly unbeatable. - Ballay Conteh (Concord, Sr) – 17-05.25
A potent 1-2 punch for Concord. - Angela Cenesca (Manchester Central, Jr) – 16-11.25
A serious multi-event threat.
Triple Jump
Goulas best event is the triple jump where she has a 3 foot advantage on the field over Bates. Baumgardt keeps getting better and better at this event and could be in the mix if Goulas struggles.
- Ella Goulas (Concord, Sr) – 38-02.00
Could double in jumps—a clear favorite here too. - Danielle Bates (Timberlane, So) – 35-06.25
Her form and drive make her a rising star. - Avery Baumgardt (Oyster River, Jr) – 35-06.00
Powerful, fast, and focused.
Shot Put
Kondi of Mascoma is closing in on the 40 foot mark in the shot. Borica of Concord is always dangerous with her explosiveness so she can’t be counted out.
- Georgia Kondi (Mascoma Valley, Jr) – 39-05.00
Dominating throws all season—looking for 40 feet. - Consuelo Borico (Concord, So) – 37-04.00
Young talent with excellent upside. - Avery Trask (Pinkerton, Fr) – 36-07.00
A freshman phenom—big things ahead.
Discus
Kondi is also the top seed in the Discus, but two seed Trask has been locked in all season long with her consistency. There will be many girls over 100 feet.
- Georgia Kondi (Mascoma Valley, Jr) – 124-02
Top seed in two events—clearly the throws queen. - Jameson Trask (Pinkerton, Sr) – 117-01
Consistent and experienced. - Chloe Cruz (Nashua South, Sr) – 113-11
Ready to launch one deep in her final MOC.
Javelin
Rzasa enters as the top seed, but Wright won last week. This should be the closest of the throws as there are a number of girls capable of winning this event. It’s wide open.
- Sarah Rzasa (Pinkerton, Jr) – 115-09
Top form lately—expect big numbers. - Kelly Wright (Windham, Sr) – 114-09
Close behind and has big-meet experience. - Sya McKay (Somersworth, Sr) – 114-02
- Could shine in her final state appearance.
