This is the final weekend of scholastic track and field with various offerings. While the vast majority of NH’s track and field athletes have called it a season, a group of Granite Staters have competed at nationals championships as well as the annual NH Decathlon/Heptathlon in Nashua (see Pat Scott’s recaps!) Currently there are 2 major Outdoor National Championships held on each coast. One is hosted by Nike out west at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon and the other hosted by New Balance is held down at Franklin Field (site of Penn Relays) in Philadelphia. Both are historic locations. Both events feature the best in the nation. And while there are certain cross overs, Philadelphia is the choice for the vast majority of Granite Staters and New England.
A HUGE shout out to Oyster River’s Kavanagh (Haley and Olivia) and Cook (Mackenzie and Maddy) sisters as they became ALL-AMERICANS in the girls 4xMile Relay by placing 5th overall in 20:30.57! Haley anchored the Bobcats splitting 4:52, the fastest of all legs in the event. That was Thursday.
On Saturday, Mackenzie Cook nabbed another All-American honor by placing a incredible 3rd place in the 2k Steeplechase clocking 6:44.28. This is all the more amazing given the fact NH doesn’t even have the steeplechase as an event, and here is Cook placing 3rd in the nation! We think we will be seeing her competing in this event at Syracuse over the next several years as well.
The Brown University-bound Haley also doubled back to the highly competitive mile placing 29th in 4:51.24.
Exeter’s state record holders of the girls 4×800 also took a big swing as they took on the very best in their events. The New England champs, Eli Cross, Isabelle Bremer, Brianna Paterna and Alexis Paterna placed a strong 8th in 9:13.05. Alexis anchored the team after competing in the 5000 meters the night before placing 26th in a blazing 17:19.62. Can you say range?
A few other highlights include BG’s Ethan Fischer placing 12th in the Freshman 2 Mile clocking 9:40.26. Coe-Brown’s Elizabeth Joy placed 10th in the Freshman Javelin with a toss of 103’10”.
Alvirne’s Shawn Boudreau and Mascoma’s Barnaby Diehn took on best in the nation in the Championship division of the discus. They placed 33rd and 34th with Boudreau achieving a mark of 168’6″ and Diehn 167’10”. John Stark’s state record holder Rio Calle placed 34th with a jump of 21’11.75″
Bonus Alumni Shoutout! Winnacunnet graduate Oliver Duffy placed an incredible 5th in the Men’s U20 National Championship Decathlon held in conjunction with Nike Outdoor Nationals. Even more amazing, he did this in spite of a questionable DQ (lane violation) in the 400.
Congrats to all!
