Over this century, the Black Bear Invitational has always been one of the deepest early-season meets in New Hampshire, with a loaded mix of talent across divisions. Include powerhouse programs like Exeter and Oyster River while sprinkling in special guests like Phillips Exeter, and we will be in for a treat with strong entries across sprints, distance, relays, and field events. This meet should provide an early measuring stick for championship aspirations.
Black Bear was the original with having the 3200 kick things off in the morning and shifting the 4×800 to right before the 4×400 creating a relay city as the culmination of the day. On both the boys’ and girls’ sides, depth will be the deciding factor—and a few programs clearly stand out.
For the girls, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter High School, and Oyster River are the names which carry the most weight over the last couple years. Phillips Exeter enters with sprint depth, strong relays, and solid representation in the jumps and distance events. Exeter High School, the new juggernaut of Division 1, will still be a force even with the start of vacation week. They have point potential everywhere, but especially in the mid-distance/distance and throws. Oyster River High School brings balance across distance, hurdles and jumps. Don’t sleep on host Coe-Brown Northwood Academy as they could factor heavily as the Black Bears have point potential across all events.
On the boys’ side, Phillips Exeter again looks formidable, especially in the sprints, middle distance, and field events. Coe-Brown will rely on strong relay teams and depth across events, while programs like Oyster River, Winnacunnet, and Concord bring enough star power to disrupt the standings.
Distance
The distance races are stacked with high-end talent and it kicks off with the 3200 meters at 9:30am. Expect a tight battle between Brianna Paterna (Exeter) and Olivia Kavanagh (Oyster River), both seeded around 11:20 . The depth continues with Maria Tilley (Gilford), Maisie Emerson (Hopkinton) and a strong Coe-Brown contingent.
The boys 3200m could be one of the races of the meet, led by Peyton Joslyn (Monadnock) at 9:20, with Owen Welch (Phillips Exeter) and Oliver Lehman (Oyster River) close behind. Coe-Brown’s youth movement is next led by sophomore Patrick Youngs as well as two top of NH’s top freshmen Samuel Youngs and Broden Cox. Don’t sleep on OR’s Levi Clapp though as he is also seeded sub 10.
The 1600 sees a pair of PEA athletes at the top of both the girls and boys seed lists. Senior Julia Malysa and freshman Norah Pratt are seeded at 5:20. Gilford’s Maria Tilley and BG’s Shannon Forsyth should be hot on their heels. For the boys Bocelli Howland-Vlahakis and Will Miller are seeded at 4:20 and 4:25 respectively. Look for Concord’s Josiah Conley and Plymouth’s Tate Hayman to have a say in this outcome.
In the 800m, Exeter, which is current state record holder in the 4×800, predictably has 3 of 4 of the top seeds. Izzie Bremer (Exeter) headlines the girls field with a 2:16 seed with teammates Eli Cross and Danica Caron seeded in the 2:20s. Oyster River’s Madelyn Cook will look to crash the Blue Hawk party. Similar to the girls side, PEA holds 3 of the top 4 seeds in the 800 led by Marcus Kiehl (1:57). Dover’s Melo Berdecia is the 2nd seed along with PEA’s Truman Yee both come in at 1:58.0. Expect these 3 to battle!
Sprints & Hurdles
Hurdle events are loaded with elites. The girls High Hurdles may be one of the most competitive events in the state this season and we are fortunate to have several of them competing on Saturday at Black Bear. Oyster River’s Avery Baumgardt is the top seed at 15.17, but she has company as HB’s Grace Dow is 2nd seed at 15.41 and D2 Indoor Champ CBNA’s Bristol Shirland is 3rd seed at 15.61. Throw in Kingswood’s Norah Pelletier at 15.81 and it should be a pick ’em final.
On the boys side, D2 NH Indoor Champ, CBNA’s Brogan Grzybowski tops the seeds with a 15.49 but should be shadowed by PEA’s Alex Harwich seeded at 15.55.
Host school’s Lilah Fitzpatrick tops the list in the girls 100 with a 12.63 seed. Look for Timberlane’s Charlotte Beaudoin, the 400 stalwart, dropping down in ‘distance’ to challenge as well as D3 force, Belmont’s Ava Lacasse. PEA’s Caden Drobinski and BG’s Jacob Parshay top the 100 seeds, so anticipate a hotly contested final. Don’t sleep on PEA’s Aaron Spence, Mascoma Valley’s Sam Joyce and/or HB’s Andrew Desmarais.
Exeter’s Martelle McBride is the top seed in the 400 at 60.10. She will be pushed by PEA’s Ayana Okuneye, Exeter’s Isabelle Ernst and Hopkinton’s Aisling Madden. The boys’ side sees PEA’s Rhys Cunningham as the top seed at 50.50. He will be chased by CBNA’s Jackson Doran, Pembroke’s Brandon Lurvey, and Spaulding’s Quincee Lewis.
In the hurdles, Elizabeth Carty (Oyster River) stands out in the girls 300m hurdles, but will be challenged by PEA’s Anna Taormina and Monadnock’s Victoria Rivera-Taylor. Ryan Jamison (Winnacunnet) is the heavy favorite on the boys side with a swift 38.16 seed.
The girls 200m is headlined by Beaudoin (Timberlane) and Lacasse (Belmont), both under 26 seconds. PEA’s Okuneye, Hopkinton’s Madden as well as Coe-Brown’s Fitzpatrick and Riley Hawkes will look to challenge. On the boys’ side, Aaron Spence (Phillips Exeter), Andrew Desmarais (Hollis/Brookline)and Mascoma’s Sam Joyce lead a deep field hovering around 23 seconds .
Jumps
Field events are equally competitive.
In the girls high jump, All Everything Danielle Bates (Timberlane) leads the field with a 5-9 clearance, well ahead of the competition. The boys high jump is led by Orlando Wondal (Somersworth) at 6-2, with MV’s Owen Turner hoping to challenge as he has a 6’0″ seed.
The pole vaults sees Bow’s Julia Hou as its top seed with a 10’6″ mark. Host school’s Brooke Bachuber is 2nd seed as BG’s Bridget Powers is 3rd seed. PEA’s Dana Musselman is the boys top seed at an impressive 14’0″. Exeter’s Colby Orleans and PEA’s Nick Limoloi are next at 12′.
The girls long jump features the top 4 seeds over 17′ with Pearl Marvel (Gilford), Emmanuela Folorunso (Phillips Exeter), Norah Pelletier (Kingswood), and Baumgardt. Micah Gedney (Oyster River) leads the boys at over 20’9″. He does have company of 20+ foot jumpers in Timberlane’s Noah Chery and Exeter’s Colton Ray.
OR’s multi-talented Baumgardt is the strong favorite in the Triple with an almost 2 foot cushion over the second seeded Lexie Rogers of Exeter. Concord’s Thomas Saysaw enjoys a similar cushion as he has a 2 foot gap on his teammate Robby Marcelin on the boys side.
Throws
The throws will showcase some of the state’s top power athletes.
In the girls discus, Lucille Beem (Exeter) leads the field at 117-11, with Coe-Brown’s Isabelle Grenier close behind. Watch for Beem’s teammate Sam Gutowksi and MV freshman Genny Blanchette as they are the next 2 seeds over 100′.
The boys discus features a standout mark from Barnaby Diehn (Mascoma Valley) at 175-6, one of the top throws in the region. He is by far the heaviest favorite for this meet with over 25′ separating him and his competitors.
In javelin, Carter Johnson (Phillips Exeter) leads the boys with a massive 184-3 seed with Newport’s Ayden Hodge next best at 175′. Mollie Sexton (Oyster River) tops the girls field with a 113’8″ mark. CBNA’s Elizabeth Joy and Pembroke’s Jasmine Blake are close behind.
Newport’s Calle Dixon tops the shot list with a 35’11” with Grenier and BG freshman Noelle Gauthier sitting at 2nd and 3rd with marks over 33′. Don’t sleep on Beem from Exeter here though, she is just a couple inches behind on paper. Diehn also sports the top seed in the Shot but expect a closer battle here from PEA’s Shaib Abubakar and Concord’s Travis Dunbar.
Weather looks much better than last year! Good luck to all!
