Results Courtesy of Lancer Timing
The 2026 NHIAA Meet of Champions at Oyster River delivered exactly what fans hoped for: elite competition, dramatic finishes, and an astonishing five state records, making it one of the greatest championship meets in New Hampshire history. Held under the threat of potential later afternoon thunderstorms, the 2026 MOCs had to be one of the most efficient TF meets held in year as well as it was completed in under 4 hours! Kudos to host school Oyster River, meet management, state officials and Lancer Timing.
The record-breaking began right off the bat in the very first track event as Exeter’s powerhouse quartet of Alexis Paterna (2:10), Brianna Paterna (2:13), Izzie Bremer (2:14), and Madie Poteet (2:14) shattered the girls 4×800 relay record with an incredible 8:53.09, taking more than 15 seconds off Exeter’s previous state record. Obviously this is the first time a Granite State girls team has run sub 9 minutes and this mark is good for 6th best in the nation. This has to be one of the most dominant and notable relay performances in state history.
The 400s were next to go down. Charlotte Beaudoin of Timberlane blazed to 55.14 in the 400 meters, bettering the previous state mark of 55.42 (Grace Devanney, 2019-Concord). Credit to Gilford’s Macy Sawyer as she certainly pressed Beaudoin crossing in 57.04 for second. The boys 400 meters was one of the best races of the day. Memorial’s Ewa Edokpolo got off to the early lead, but Ross Stephens of Con-Val ran a sensational last half crossing in 47.67, shaving one-hundredth of a second off the year-old state record of 47.68. Hanover sophomore Rhys Jones earned third in 49.36 in a race loaded with talent.
Not to be outdone, Pinkerton’s boys 4×400 relay of Michael Duarte, Caleb Arroyo, Winston George, and Joe Gustavson clocked 3:21.05, eclipsing the state record of 3:21.18. By the way, all 4 legs are back next year! While this was all happening on the track, Concord sophomore Thomas Saysaw produced the jump of the day, soaring 48-10½ to break the boys triple jump state record of 48-3! Only a sophomore!
Beyond the records, the meet showcased the depth of talent heading to next week’s New England Championships.
Consider George of Pinkerton. He ran a 49 second 4×400 leg at the end of quite the successful day. Simply put, the boys sprints belonged to the sophomore sensation Winston George who captured the the 100-meter state title in 10.85 and returned later to win the 200 in 21.82, establishing himself as one of New Hampshire’s brightest young stars. Gavin Buxton of Bow finished second in both races, while Manchester Memorial freshman Joel Elliott took third in the 100 and later nearly won the long jump.
Pinkerton dominated the boys hurdles. John Child captured the 110 hurdles in 14.55, leading a strong contingent which included teammate Oliver Gould and eventual third-place finisher Wayne Crowell of Keene. Crowell returned in the 300 hurdles and nearly grabbed the win before finishing second to Winnacunnet’s Ryan Jamison, 38.47 to 38.52. Pinkerton’s Gavin Edgecomb placed third.
Distance events featured several memorable performances. In the 1600, Pinkerton’s Jason Robie set the hot early pace which left only Monadnock’s Peyton Joslyn still in play. Joslyn actually caught and led with the two kicking neck and neck to the line. It was Robie who won by just .26 seconds, 4:14.61 to 4:14.87. Wow! D2 Champ, Hanover’s Ben Groves placed third in 4:18, and then it was the final 3 qualifiers, Elijah Bodanza (Fall Mountain), Josiah Conley (Concord) and Patrick Youngs (Coe-Brown) were separated by 1 second between 4:20 and 4:21!
In another ‘race of the day’ pre race favorite Pinkerton’s Joe Gustavson claimed the 800 title in 1:52.23 after being pushed to his limit by a very patient but fast closing Portsmouth’s Will Hart who crossed in a big personal record of 1:52.73. Dover’s Melo Berdecia took third in 1:54.92.
The 3200 crown went to Bishop Guertin sophomore Ethan Fischer who strided away to a ‘solo’ win making 9:11.35 look easy. The real racing was behind him as Londonderry’s Josh Twomey was trying to shake off fab freshman Samuel Youngs (Coe-Brown) who latched on and refused to let go. Over the final lap Twomey gained some separation on Youngs only to be edged by his teammate Carson Fitzgerald 9:23.59 to 9:23.60. By the way, Youngs crossed in 9:25.79. Yes you read that correctly.
In other relay competition earlier Twomey and Fitzgerald helped Londonderry with Finn McDonald and Jack DiBuono become state champs in the 4×800 winning in 7:52. exceptional throughout the day. Pinkerton once again won the 4×100 in 42.18 ahead of Spaulding and Bishop Guertin and yes George was on that team as well with Duarte, Edgecomb, and Ryan Robinson.
In the boys field events, Inter-Lakes senior David Walker nearly matched the state record with a winning long jump of 23-6, edging Manchester Memorial freshman Joel Elliott (23’1.5″)and Pelham’s Osinachi Nwabueze (22’9″). Yes you read that right. Elliott is another freshman phenom. Merrimack Valley’s Owen Turner and Nashua North’s Gavin Suchecki shared the high jump title at 6-6, while Nashua South’s Preston Bois cleared 14-8 to win the pole vault.
In the throws, Mascoma Valley’s Barnaby Diehn continued his dominance sweeping both the shot put and discus. He won the shot with a throw of 51-3½ and the discus with a toss of 173’1″ nearly 24′ further than the competition. Newport’s Ayden Hodge won the javelin by nearly 16 feet as he threw 180’7″.
The girls competition was equally impressive.
Bedford freshman Alaina Beck continued her arrival on the state’s biggest stage by winning the 100 meters in 12.35, narrowly defeating Portsmouth sophomore Leiana Cory. Coe-Brown’s Lilah Fitzpatrick earned third. But it was Timberlane senior Charlotte Beaudoin who became the sprint queen as she followed her state record setting 400 win with another state title in the 200 winning that in an amazing 24.92 over Beck and Cory! Wow!
The high hurdle spotlight has been squarely on the ladies of Division 2 all season long as the top 4, HB’s Grace Dow, Coe-Brown’s Bristol Shirland, Oyster River’s Avery Baumgardt and Kingswood’s Norah Pelletier. It is fair to say they have pushed each other to a collective level and they did not disappoint as they swept the top 4 places at the Meet of Champions separated by only .07 of a second. Thank goodness for Lancer Timing! This week it was CBNA’s Shirland who became the NH State Champion courtesy of a perfectly timed and executed lean breaking the proverbial tape in 14.96, edging the D2 State Champ Dow by just three hundredths of a second as she too went under the 15 second barrier. Baumgardt was 3rd in 15.00 to Pelletier’s 15.03.
Quietly, Nashua North senior Allison Frye captured the 300 hurdles in 44.45, leading a strong Titan showing that also included third-place finisher Abigail Azevedo (46.41). The versatile Dow was 2nd in 46.37 with Pelletier nabbing another 4th in 47.08.
Following her blistering opening leg on her team’s historical 4×800, Exeter junior and current state record holder in the 1600, Alexis Paterna,, won the 1600 in a ‘comfortable’ 4:54.30. The real battle took place behind her as her twin sister Brianna Paterna was doubling back as well, but was able to hold off a gutsy Pinkerton’s Gabrielle Bedard for second 4:58.20 to 4:58.83.
Bedford’s Mikita Barry won the 800 in an impressive solo effort winning gun-to-tape in 2:10.85. Nashua North’s Rosalie Neveu edged Pinkerton’s Naomi Ebhaleme for runner up 2:16.10 to 2:16.54.
Hopkinton’s Maddy Lane controlled the 3200 claiming another state title winning in the easiest looking 10:24.00. The real competition took place behind her as Hanover’s Megan Faris and Hopkinton’s Maisie Emerson both dipped under 11:00 with Faris at 10:58.8 and Emerson at 10:59.89.
In relay action, Pinkerton won the girls 4×100 relay in 49.42 over Coe-Brown and Londonderry, while Nashua North captured the 4×400 in 3:58.28 ahead of Exeter and Bedford.
In the girls field events, Timberlane’s Danielle Bates became a double state champion as she cleared 5-8 to win the high jump and later added the triple jump title. 300 meter hurdle state champ Frye was runner up with a mark of 36’2.5″. Nashua South’s Emma Millette won the pole vault at 11-0. Gilford sophomore Pearl Marvel claimed the long jump title at 17-8¼. South’s Sarah Witte was 2nd, Central’s Angela Cenesca was 3rd and Pelletier made it 3 podiums placing 4th.
Like her teammate Diehn on the boys side, Mascoma’s Georgia Kondi swept the Shot and Discus. She tossed over 40′ to win the shot and won the discus with 124’11”. Pinkerton’s Avery Trask was 2nd in the Shot while MV freshman Genny Blanchette was 2nd in the Discus.
What an incredible day and truly memorable Meet of Champions! Congrats to all and good luck at New Englands next weekend in Berwick, Maine! Let’s go 603!!!
