By Patrick O’Brien
And we’re back!
The leaves are starting to change, the apples are ready to be picked, and DeMerrit Hill Farm is all set to host the 2025 Bobcat Invitational. For many teams, this marks the first race of the season. The course is challenging and highlights which athletes have put in the work over the summer. It includes three loops of rolling hills, with the biggest climb coming in the final quarter-mile of the race. Competition this year is strong, featuring many of the state’s top teams and individual runners. With the season just getting underway, it will be exciting to see which surprise teams and athletes emerge.
Girls
Oyster River (NH #4) enters as a tough team to beat, having won this race in each of the past two years. They will look to defend their home course with another strong showing, likely led by Olivia Kavanagh, Maddy Cook, and Neely Roy up front. Seniors Jahrie Houle and Sadie Goldberg could also be factors for the Bobcats.
Their biggest challengers are two teams with dominant front-runners. The first is Bedford (NH #6), led by defending champion, senior Mikita Barry. Supporting her will be Raissa Caridade, Meredith Matson and Nora Buxton.
The other is Hopkinton (NH #7), led by another of the state’s top runners, junior Maddy Lane. Look for her to contend up front, while Maisie Emerson gives them another strong presence in the lead pack. We’ll see who else steps up for this well-rounded program.
Londonderry (NH #8) is another team that looks strong. They are led by Anna Laufersweiler, Stella Dutton, and Drewanne Sherman. This group could have potential to surprise some higher-ranked teams on the right day.
This year’s individual race should be an exciting one. Bedford’s Barry and Hopkinton’s Lane figure to lead the way up front after finishing 1–2 at last year’s MOCs. They’ll be joined by a strong chase pack featuring Oyster River’s Kavanagh, Cook, and Roy, along with Emerson of Hopkinton. Kaitlin Stocker of Sanborn, Leah Unger of Raymond, and Caridade of Bedford could also be in the mix.
Boys
There is a strong chance we could have a new champion, as Pinkerton (NH #1) enters this year with a very strong squad. They could have a big pack of guys near the front of the race, with Sean Hayes, Trainor Mailloux, Oscar D’Amelio, and Jason Robie leading the way.
They are the favorites, but there are a handful of strong teams behind them which will look to place high. The first is defending champs Londonderry (NH #3), who return individual defending champion Carson Fitzgerald and returning third-place finisher Josh Twomey. That could give them two low-sticks up front, while Patrick Ramsay and Jack DiBuono provide strong depth.
Oyster River (NH #5) is another team that enters the season looking strong, led by Juniors Oliver Lehman and Levi Clapp. Like many contenders, their success may hinge on depth, with Garrett Sellers and Brendan Banafato aiming to step up and make the race interesting.
Never sleep on Belmont Hill School from Mass. They have come to Bobcat for the past two years, finishing 1st in 2023 and 2nd in 2024, and return many of their top runners from last year’s race. William Trautz and Eita Fuse finished in the top 10 last year, and Fitz Courtney gives them a strong #3. If a few more runners can close the gap, they’ll once again be very competitive.
Another team to keep an eye on is one of the preseason D3 favorites, Portsmouth Christian Academy (NH #10). They are led by Senior Christian Barnes, who could be a factor in the individual race, and have a strong group of runners behind him to deliver a complete team performance.
Individually, there are several runners who could contend for the win. Fitzgerald of Londonderry, Lehman of Oyster River, and Twomey from Londonderry were last year’s top three finishers and will likely find themselves near the front again this year. Pinkerton’s group will also factor into the individual race, as Hayes, Mailloux, D’Amelio, and Robie could all be threats to win. Monadnock’s Peyton Joslyn enters as a favorite as well, coming off of a win at the Summer Nights 5k. Barnes of PCA is expected to mix it up in the lead pack too, and other runners who could make a splash include Grant Skorupan of Milford, Jack Mortimer of Bedford, and Trautz of Belmont Hill.
