As always NH put on one heckuva show at the 2026 NHIAA State Division Indoor Track and Field Championships at Plymouth State University! From the athletes to meet management to the fans, this past Sunday was everything it was mean to be! A hearty thank you to all involved with organizing the meet to a level the kids of NH deserve. Congrats to a job well done on all fronts!
Results Courtesy of Lancer Timing
Oyster River Claims 4th Consecutive Division II Crown!
The Oyster River girls delivered a balanced, distance-driven performance to capture their 4th consecutive NHIAA Division II Indoor State Championship with 68 points, holding off Coe-Brown (51) and Gilford (46) in a competitive team race.
While this may not have been the most dominant of wins which has hallmarked their dynasty run over the past several years, they did what champions do, they found a way. Depth proved decisive. Oyster River scored across distance events and relays, highlighted by victories in the 4×800 and strong finishes in the 1000m, 1500m, and 3000m. Meanwhile, Coe-Brown displayed their own depth leaning on sprint hurdles and field event points, while scoring in all 3 relays to claim the runner up title Gilford rode titles in the Dash, 300 and long jump and 4×400 to remain firmly in contention until the final events. Hollis-Brookline placed fourth with 39 points, and Souhegan rounded out the top five with 29.
Sprints & Hurdles
In one of the more exciting finals, Macy Sawyer (Gilford) began her title spree claiming the 55m dash crown in 7.36, narrowly out-leaning Ava Lacasse (Belmont) in 7.38. Lilah Fitzpatrick (Coe-Brown) secured third in 7.54 just in front of Kearsarge’s Juliet Faria and HB’s Grace Dow. Sawyer doubled back later in the meet to further fuel Gilford’s title push, establishing herself as one of the meet’s premier performers. Sawyer completed the sprint double, winning in the 300 in 40.79 once again ahead of Lacasse (42.05) and Fitzpatrick (43.69). Kearsarge’s Faria once again claimed a close 4th.
One of the more anticipated events, the High Hurdles, did not disappoint. Bristol Shirland (Coe-Brown) captured in the title in 8.50, with Norah Pelletier (Kingswood) second (8.62) and Grace Dow (Hollis-Brookline) third (8.70). OR’s Avery Baumgardt would place 4th right in front of Pelham’s Ava Milley 8.77 to 8.73
Middle Distance
Madelyn Cook (Oyster River) delivered a championship performance in the 1000 meters essentially leading gun to tape crossing in 3:07.92, Molly Reardon (Hollis-Brookline) finished second (3:11.23), followed by Annabelle Lovett (Coe-Brown) in 3:13.29.
In the race of the meet, Samantha Swanbon (Souhegan) surged to victory in 1:38.48, just ahead of Kaitlin O’Shea (Mascenic Regional) at 1:38.69. The 2 exchanged leads on the final lap. Rylee Coates (Milford) placed third in 1:40.19.
Distance Events
Sophomore star Olivia Kavanagh (Oyster River) swept the distance events in impressive fashion. She began by winning the 3000 in comfortable fashion in 10:45.69. Grace Stewart (Hanover) finished second (11:12.27), and Haley Bezanson (Oyster River) added valuable team points in third (11:18.94). She came back to grab a come from behind victory thanks to a blistering kick in the 1500. She broke the proverbial finish line tape in 4:51.78, narrowly edging Erin O’Shea (Mascenic Regional) by less than half a second. Aria Deeb (Hanover) took third in 4:53.38. An impressive distance double. Distance excellence has been a foundation for Oyster River’s championship formula as they scored 28 points in these 2 events.
Relays
Macy Sawyer crossed the line in first for the third time as Gilford won longer sprint relay, the 4×400, in 4:20.10 ahead of Oyster River (4:21.24) and Souhegan (4:25.35).
Souhegan answered back by snagging the 4×200 title out of the 2nd of 3 heats in 1:51.73!! Winning the 3rd heat, Hollis-Brookline placed 2nd (1:52.30) with Gilford third (1:52.61).
Field Events
Per her seed, Pearl Marvel (Gilford) soared to 17-8.75 for the win in the Long Jump. Pelletier (17-2.25) and Baumgardt (Oyster River) (17-2) rounded out a tightly contested podium with the top 3 over 17′. Georgia Kondi (Mascoma Valley) dominated with a throw of 39-11.50, ahead of Madelyn Donohue (Raymond) (36-7). Callie Dixon (Newport, 34-3) and Isabelle Grenier (Coe-Brown, 33-8) were separated by only 5 inches for 3rd and 4th respectively.
Congrats to all!
