The 2026 R.E.A.L. Londonderry Invitational delivered a full day of elite performances, emerging stars, and deep team battles as many of New Hampshire’s top programs converged at Londonderry High School, the venue for the first ever D1/D2 NH State Championships, this past Saturday. Bedford, Pinkerton, Nashua North, and Nashua South all produced standout performances across the track, while several individuals announced themselves as contenders heading toward championship season.
One of the biggest storylines of the day came in the sprints where Bedford freshman Alaina Beck continued her breakout season in dominant fashion. Beck captured the 100-meter dash title in 12.54 after leading qualifying and then returned to win the 200 meters in 25.81. Pinkerton senior Nora Brayall placed second in the 100 in 12.65 while teammate Courtney Russell finished third in 12.90. In the 200, Merrimack’s Josephine Swisher took second in 26.19 while Nashua North senior Allison Frye was third in 26.46.
The 400 meters featured one of the deepest races of the meet. Pinkerton senior Sarah Rzasa pulled away for the victory in 58.74 ahead of Nashua North’s Rosalie Neveu at 59.21 and Milford’s Rylee Coates at 59.31. Souhegan’s Samantha Swanbon also dipped under 61 seconds with a strong fourth-place finish.
Bedford controlled the middle-distance events behind senior standout Mikita Barry. With a blistering final lap, Barry rolled in the 1600 meters, clocking 5:06.44 for a convincing victory. Pinkerton’s Kalisan Marzolf took second in 5:17.22 while Bishop Guertin freshman Zoe Coler continued her strong season with a third-place finish in 5:18.76. Layer, Barry won the 800 meters in 2:17.78, holding off Pinkerton freshman Naomi Ebhaleme who impressed with a 2:20.74 runner-up finish. Bedford’s Grace Boll completed the top three in 2:23.26.
The 3200 meters featured a major distance showdown, and Pinkerton senior Gabrielle Bedard nearly broke the meet record with a winning time of 11:03.89. Concord’s Mahalie Burdette finished second in 11:41.46 while Hollis-Brookline’s Quinn Hardy earned third in 12:06.80.
The hurdles races were among the most competitive events of the afternoon. Hollis-Brookline senior Grace Dow stormed to victory in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.10 after also leading qualifying. Pelham senior Ava Milley took second in 15.85 while Pinkerton’s Abigail Stienecker placed third in 15.95. Dow later doubled back to finish second in the 300 hurdles in 45.65, but Nashua North senior Allison Frye proved untouchable in the long hurdles with a winning time of 45.47 (great race!). Nashua North freshman Abigail Azevedo placed third in 47.64.
The relays produced several thrilling finishes throughout the meet. Merrimack captured the 4×800 relay title in 10:24.18 with Megan McWhirter, Zosia Yellin, Grace Massey, and Ella Taylor leading the way. Nashua South and Concord rounded out the top three. Pinkerton edged Bedford in the 4×100 relay, 49.50 to 49.60, as Nora Brayall, Courtney Russell, Rachel Osanya, and Abigail Stienecker combined for the win. Londonderry finished third in 51.02 behind the quartet of Shaneda Jackson, Sharon Jackson, Lillian Paris, and Eva Boutwell.
Nashua North dominated the 4×400 relay in 4:04.89 behind Sarah Frye, Charlotte Wilson, Allison Frye, and Rosalie Neveu. Nashua South finished second in 4:14.74 while Alvirne claimed third in 4:19.67.
In the field events, Nashua North freshman Abigail Azevedo delivered one of the top performances of the day by winning the high jump at 5-4. Londonderry’s Eres DeLorey also cleared 5-4 but finished second on misses, while Windham’s Isabella Schreiner took third at 5-0.
Nashua South’s Emma Millette won the pole vault with a clearance of 10-6. Pinkerton’s Delaney Paquin finished second at 10-0 while Keene senior Greta Ruehr claimed third at 9-6.
The boys 4×800 was one of the premier performances of not only the meet but the season. Londonderry and Pinkerton, 2 of the best middle distance team in the state were rumored to be loading up their lineups with hopes of breaking the meet record, possibly with the state record being looked at out of the corner of their collective eyes. Bottom line, these 2 friendly rivalries were set to battle at quite the high level. In the end Londonderry shattered the meet record. The quartet of Finn McDonald, Jack DiBuono, Josh Twomey, and Carson Fitzgerald ran 7:50.48 to break the previous mark of 7:55.84. It came down to order. Both teams decided to keep their ‘studs’ to the 3rd and 4th legs and it was Twomey dropping a 1:54.25 to gain valuable real estate, followed by Fitzgerald who blazed the opening circuit in 3 high and finish with a 1:55. This held off the har charging Joe Gustavson who split a 1:53 and change! Wow! Pinkerton also ran under the old meet record with a 7:52.48 runner-up finish. Both of these performances have to be in the top 5-6 in state history! Congrats!
Manchester Central senior Ceasar Flahn stole the spotlight early in the sprint events. After leading qualifying in the 100 meters, Flahn exploded to a winning time of 10.84 in the final, one of the fastest performances in the state this spring. Souhegan senior Brody Smith took second in 11.03 while Pelham’s Osinachi Nwabueze was third in 11.05.
Smith returned in the 200 meters and delivered one of the top performances of the meet, winning in 21.93. Manchester Memorial’s Ewa Edokpolo, the breakout 400 meter runner of the season, finished just behind in 22.08 while Flahn completed a tremendous sprint double with third place in 22.09. Pinkerton’s Elijah Roberts and Nashua North’s Kobe Perry also ran strong races under 23 seconds.
The 400 meters featured a breakthrough performance from Lebanon sophomore Teeghan Joyner, who stormed to victory in 49.63. Incredible historical note…this broke the Lebanon school record. This school record was 50.34 was set by Donald Burnham back in 1940 (he still has the 800 record in 1:54.6 from 1940)! Keene senior Wade Plaskiewicz finished second in 50.47 while Nashua North’s Gavin Suchecki claimed third in 50.70.
The middle-distance races were among the deepest events of the afternoon. Bedford’s Jack Mortimer continued his breakout season winning a battle in the 1600 meters in 4:27.95. Milford’s Grant Skorupan took second in 4:29.26 while Bedford’s Edwin Bishop completed a strong Bulldogs showing in third at 4:34.11.
Keene senior Gavin Morton captured the 800 meters in 1:59.03 ahead of Nashua South’s Isaiah Rodriguez at 2:00.41 and Bedford’s Mortimer at 2:00.49. Londonderry placed two runners inside the top five with Finn McDonald and Jack DiBuono both running under 2:02.
The 3200 meters became the Josh Twomey show as he won the race in an incredible 9:23.93. Keep in mind, he has not run the 3200 very often – – huge personal record. This was a heckuva race as Salem’s Lucas Gomez finished second in 9:28.12. Keene senior Sullivan Sturtz earned third in 9:32.58, and Londonderry’s Carson Fitzgerald added a fourth-place finish in 9:39.30.
The hurdle races delivered several of the day’s closest finishes. Pinkerton senior John Child edged Alvirne’s Joey Marcotte in the 110 hurdles, winning in 14.78 to Marcotte’s 14.86. Keene’s Wayne Crowell finished right behind in 14.91, giving the event three athletes under 15 seconds.
Crowell bounced back in the 300 hurdles and controlled the race in 39.17. Pinkerton’s Gavin Edgecomb took second in 39.52 while Bedford senior Elijah Todd placed third in 40.69.
The other relay races produced some of the meet’s loudest moments. Milford captured the 4×100 relay title in 43.45 behind Matthew Pettingell, Joshua Pettingell, Ethan Morin, and Ky-Mani Velez-Boggis. Manchester Memorial took second in 43.82 while Merrimack was third in 43.89.
Pinkerton came back to win the 4×400 relay in 3:28.03 with Jason Robie, Caleb Arroyo, Austin Cipriano, and Joe Gustavson leading the Astros to victory. Manchester Memorial placed second in 3:29.66 while Pelham finished third in 3:32.12.
In the field events, Merrimack Valley’s Owen Turner won the high jump at 6-2. Milford’s Ethan Morin finished second at 6-0 while Merrimack’s Kaiden Okowuga also cleared 6-0 for third.
Nashua South senior Preston Bois captured the pole vault title at 13-6, winning on fewer misses over Pinkerton’s Ian Magnan, who also cleared 13-6. Great competition! Windham sophomore Aiden Moreau finished third at 11-6.
Alvirne’s Charles Barrett swept the shot and discus! He threw 46’2″ to win the Shot by 5.5 inches over Merrimack’s Andrew Minichiello. He had a tad more cushion in the disc throwing 154’2″ to Concord’s Travis Dunbar’s 146’1″. Continuing Newport’s javelin tradition, Ayden Hodge took this one with a toss of 165’1″ followed by South’s Sawyer Penny at 161’2″.
Londonderry REAL Invitational once again proved why it has become one of the premier regular-season meets in New Hampshire. State-leading marks, meet records, and emerging underclassmen highlighted a meet that offered an early glimpse into what promises to be an outstanding championship season across the Granite State.
Congrats to all!
