Results Courtesy of Lancer Timing
By Nate Leveille
The 2025 Meet of Champions at Oyster River High School did not disappoint! In fact it has to be one of the best all state meets in New Hampshire History with numerous state records going down. New Hampshire should be able to represent well this coming weekend in Connecticut.
Girls
On the Track
The much anticipated 4×800 started things off and the Exeter girls exceeded expectations shattering the state record with a 9:08.57, that’s 2:17.14 per leg. Rounding out the top three was runner up Hanover 9:41.93 and Pinkerton 9:54.38.
In the 100 meter dash Grace Saysaw of Concord blitzed the field in 12.04 with a 1mph headwind. The state record survives for one more week. She should be on the podium next weekend. Finishing behind her was freshman sensation Leiana Cory of Portsmouth (12.50) and third was Ava Lacasse of Belmont (12.56). In the 100 hurdles Jhanelle Thomas of Nashua North cruised to victory in 14.78 ahead of Avery Baumgardt of Oyster River 15.25 and Bristol Shirland of Coe Brown 15.32. Thomas wraps up an excellent high school career in state competition. She should have a chance to place in multiple events next week.
In the 1600 Haley Kavanaugh of Oyster River left little doubt running a solo effort 4:54.54 for the win behind her was Laura White of Nashua North in 5:05.20 and third was Eilis Mckenna of Newmarket in 5:17.62. In the 4×100 Concord made another run at the state record, but came up a little bit short winning in a time of 48.42 ahead of Pinkerton 48.89 and Portsmouth 49.87.
The 400 meter run was one of the closest races of the day as D2 state champ Charlotte Beaudoin of Timberlane (57.87) was able to pull away from D1 state champ Angela Cenesca of Manchester Central 58.31. Olivia Lorenz of White mountains was 3rd in 59.29.
In the 300 hurdles, Thomas of North became a double champ for the second week in a row (45.63) using a late surge to pull away from her teammate Tiana Brown (46.64) and Adeline Takantjas of Belmont (47.59).
In the 800 meter run it was D1 champ Rosalie Neveu of Nashua North taking the win in 2:17.17 over Shaylee Murdough of Hopkinton (2:19.64) and Nicole Blake of Pinkerton (2:20.05). Neveu should be able to make a run at a podium finish this Saturday. In the 200 it was Saysaw again becoming a double state champ and breaking 25 seconds into a head win winning in 24.93. Behind her was a repeat of the 100 finals with Cory coming in second and Lacasse of Belmont finishing third.
In one of the better races of the day, it was Maddy Lane of Hopkinton (10:41.20) escaping the kick of Alexis Paterna of Exeter (10:46.26) to get the win. Mackenzie Cook of Oyster River finished 3rd in (10:55.56). All three girls should have a chance to podium next weekend. The last event on the track was the 4×400. Originally it looked like we could have a number of teams make a run at 4 minutes but the hot weather seemed to zap the field. Concord prevailed in 4:02.26 followed by Exeter 4:04.16 and Portsmouth 4:07.41.
In the Field
In the high jump, All-American Danielle Bates of Timberlane attempted a state record at 5’10” but settled for the win at 5’8”. She will likely enter next weekend as the New England favorite. Sya McKay of Somersworth and Camden Wilson of Bow both cleared 5’2” to tie for second. Ruby Kaupp of Bedford remained undefeated in the pole vault, winning with a jump of 11’0”. Julie Hou of Bow (10’6”) and teammate Mackenzie Szczpanik (9’6”) rounded out the top three.
Ella Goulas of Concord continued her dominance in the horizontal jumps, winning the long jump with a leap of 17’7” over Sophia Ethier of Keene (17’4”) and Angela Cenesca of Manchester Central. Goulas doubled up as a state champion with a win in the triple jump (37’9.25”), followed by teammate Nabah Yahay (35’6”) and Naima Elmera of Pinkerton (34’10.5”). Goulas should be a strong contender for the podium at New Englands.
In the throws, Georgia Kondi of Mascoma delivered another strong performance, winning the shot put with a throw of 39’6”. She was followed by Consuelo Borico of Concord (35’8.5”) and Madelyn Donohue of Raymond (35’5.25”). Carolyn Kemp of Bedford claimed a narrow victory in the discus with a toss of 114’0”. Jameson Trask of Pinkerton (113’5”) and Kondi (110’9”) followed close behind. In the javelin, Sarah Rzasa of Pinkerton threw a season-best 119’10” to secure the win over McKay of Somersworth (113’10”) and Kelly Wright of Windham (112’5”).
Boys
On the Track
In the boys 4×800 there was also no surprises as Salem ran away with the victory narrowly missing breaking 8 minutes with a finish time of 8:00.22. Finishing runner up was Milford and third was Nashua South.
In the boys 100 Caesar Flahn of Central claimed title as the fastest NH boy with a time of 10.82 ahead of Avery Wilson of Milford 10.87 and Quentin Plourde of Kennett 10.93. All three of these guys should have a shot to make the finals next week. In the boys 110HH, Gavin Lombara of Monadnock crushed the field running 14.40 for the win. Behind him was John Child of Pinkerton 15.05 and Nick Daigle of Salem 15.20. Lombara will have an excellent shot as a high finish next weekend.
The 1600 meters was one of the more exciting races of the day. William SImard of Conval got the win in 4:21.47, followed by Elijah Bodanza of Fall Mountain 4:22.16 and Jason Robie of Pinkerton 4:22.18. 2nd through 6th place were separated by half a second!
For the 3rd time this season Pinkerton Academy boys 4×100 relay team established a new state record becoming the first team to ever dip below 42 seconds, winning in a time of 41.92. They should be a factor at the New England Championships next weekend. Behind them was Manchester Central in 42.66 and third was Nashua South in 42.71.
If there was a survey taken, Owen Janetos of Winnacunnet may have had the race of the day. He blitzed the field in the 400 meter getting out hard and closing hard setting a new state record in the 400 becoming the first NH boy under 48 seconds in 47.68 in history. Ross Stephens of Conval finished in 48.76 which has to be the fastest ever runner-up finish. In third was Wyatt Lawton of Profile in 49.20.
In the 300 hurdles Lombara of Monadnock made a run at the state record getting the win in 38.06 ahead of runner up Ryan Jamison of Winnacunnet 38.16 and Cameron Lee of Coe Brown 39.53.
Next on the track was the 800 and Ryan Zumbach of Winnacunnet left little doubt who is the best half miler in the state, winning in a time of 1:53.93. Will Hart of Portsmouth finished second in 1:55.73 just ahead of Melo Berdecia of Dover 1:55.75. The boys 800 will be players at the New England meet.
In another amazing race Flahn of Central outleaned Wilson of Milford 21.54 to 21.55 to sweep the state titles in the 100 and 200. Finishing third was Plourde of Kennett 21.74. All of these boys will have a shot at the podium next weekend.
Matthew Giardina of Bishop Guertin took home yet another 3200 meter win in 9:14.16. Andrew Valentino of Hanover was second in 9:22.99. 9th grader Ethan Fischer of Bishop Guertin 9:27.57 with one of the fastest ever runs by a freshman finished 3rd.
The 4×400 was an excellent race with three teams breaking the state record! In the end it was Manchester Central holding off the dive of the Exeter anchor at the finish line getting the win and setting a new state record in 3:21.52 to 3:21.53. Nashua South finished third in 3:22.11.
In the Field
Nicolas Oglesby of Merrimack Valley won the high jump with a leap of 6’4”, edging out Ethan Morin of Milford and Rere Edokpolo of Trinity, who both cleared 6’2”. Colby Nyhan of Concord made attempts at the state pole vault record but settled for the win with an impressive 15’0”. He’ll have another shot next week. Owen Pisinski of Souhegan and Preston Bois of Nashua South tied for second with clearances of 13’6”.
Rio Calle of John Stark saved his best for last in the long jump, breaking the state record on his final attempt with a leap of 23’7.25”. Osinachi Nwabueze of Pelham (22’3.25”) and Edokpolo (22’2.25”) followed closely. Alex Garand of Trinity won the triple jump with a mark of 46’1.25”, followed by Nwabueze of Pelham (45’6.5”) and George Butler of Pittsburg (44’6”). All three are podium contenders at New Englands.
Darius Smith of Nashua North had a season-best throw of 55’8.25” in the shot put to take the win. Barnaby Diehn of Mascoma Valley was second at 51’2.75”, and Kellen Bateman of Exeter was third with a 50’0.5” mark. Tyson Patch of Fall Mountain, seeded sixth coming in, surprised the field with a massive throw of 168’6” to win the discus. Diehn of Mascoma was second at 166’2”, and Shawn Boudreau of Alvirne placed third with 164’4”. In the javelin, Charlie Franks of Pinkerton launched a throw of 192’5” to take the title and establish himself as a top contender for New Englands. Sawyer Penny of Nashua South was second (163’1”), and Davian Loiselle of Merrimack Valley placed third (156’1”).
Good luck to all competing at New Englands this coming weekend and beyond!
