The best high school track and field athletes in New England converge on Noble High School this Saturday for the 79th Annual New England Championships. As always, New Englands is the only regional event of its kind in the country. There are no team scores. Instead, athletes from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will battle for individual and relay glory, with the ultimate goal of reaching the coveted top-six podium and All New England honors.
New Hampshire arrives with one of its strongest contingents in recent memory, led by national-caliber distance runners, elite relay squads, and several athletes ranked among the favorites to bring home New England titles. As always New Englands is a team effort via the State Running Network! We will be there ot livestream, snap pics, conduct some interviews! Ladies are first this year, so we will fashion the preview as such.
4×800 Relays
No event features a stronger New Hampshire favorite than the girls’ 4×800 relay. After blasting another state record by 15 seconds or so, and establishing the #6 time in the nation, Exeter enters as the top seed in the entire meet at 8:53.09. The Paterna sisters, Bremer and Poteet sit more than 19 seconds ahead of the next team and under the current New England record. Connecticut counters with New Canaan, Glastonbury and Mercy who are seeded between 9:12 and 9:17.
On the boys side, Massachusetts power Brookline (7:44.10) and Xavier, Connecticut (7:46.62) enter as the favorites, but Londonderry sits third overall at 7:52.00 and looks like a legitimate title contender. Led by Josh Twomey and Carson Fitzgerald along with Jack Dibuono and Finn McDonald, the Lancers have to have an eye on the existing NH state record of 7:47 and change.
High Hurdles & 100 meters
Natick’s (MA) Emmanuella Edozien is the top seed for the girls at 14.09. New Hampshire’s top three are newly crowned NH State Champ Bristol Shirland of Coe-Brown (14.96), D2 State Champ Grace Dow of Hollis-Brookline (14.99), and Norah Pelletier of Kingswood (15.03). These are the hurdles, so all three enter within striking distance of the podium. Connecticut’s Davian Johnson of East Hartford leads the boy’s field at 13.56 and appears capable of threatening the meet record. New Hampshire’s best hopes are John Child of Pinkerton (14.55), Gavin Edgecomb of Pinkerton (14.97), and Joseph Marcotte of Alvirne (14.97). Reaching the final would put them in position to contend for a medal.
Sharon, Massachusetts star Nina Kyei-Aboagye is the favorite at 11.83 is the very slight favorite in the girls 100 as Methuen’s Lauren Quarm is right with her at 11.84. New Hampshire’s top seeds are NH State Champ Alaina Beck of Bedford (12.35) and Leiana Cory of Portsmouth (12.38). Sean Blaze of Clinton, Massachusetts leads a loaded sprint field at 10.64. New Hampshire’s top seeds are NH State Champ Winston George of Pinkerton (10.85) and D2 State Champ Gavin Buxton of Bow (10.97). George enters ranked seventh overall and has a realistic chance to podium.
1600 Meters
The race features one of the nation’s top milers in Chase Gilbert of Lyme-Old Lyme (4:45.88). With Exeter’s Alexis Paterna (as well as her sister) focusing on relays at New Englands, it looks as if Gilbert’s chief competition will come from 2nd seed Shirley Harper of Manchester, CT. Watch for NH’s top competitor Aria Deeb of Hanover (5:03.82) in this one.
This could be one of the meet’s marquee races. Connecticut’s Sam Leone (4:08.23) and New Canaan’s Ryan Monohan (4:08.56) headline the field writing another chapter in their rivalry, but New Hampshire boasts remarkable depth. Jason Robie of Pinkerton is seeded fourth overall at 4:14.61, followed by Peyton Joslyn of Monadnock (4:14.87) and Ben Groves of Hanover (4:18.07). Keep in mind, Robie ran a 4:10 and change mile a month ago, so this puts him squarely in contention.
4x100s
Bloomfield, Connecticut girls lead the field at 46.89. New Hampshire’s highest-ranked teams are Pinkerton Academy (49.42), Coe-Brown (50.06), and Londonderry (50.20) Pinkerton enters 12th overall and appears to have the strongest podium chances among the New Hampshire quartets. On the boys’ side, Southington, Connecticut (41.44) and East Hartford (41.52) lead the field. New Hampshire’s top squads are Pinkerton Academy (42.18), Spaulding (43.14), and Bishop Guertin (43.29). Pinkerton enters sixth overall and looks like a strong podium threat.
400s & 300 Hurdles
Natick’s Chloe Elder tops the field in the girls 400 at 53.96. New Hampshire’s leading trio consists of Macy Sawyer of Gilford (57.06), Rylee Coates of Milford (59.35), and Josie White of Hanover (59.50). NH champ Charlotte Beaudoin has graduation.
Immaculate’s Brenan McCabe enters as the favorite with a blazing 46.34 (what?!?!?!?)! New Hampshire’s leading contenders are of course state champ/record holder Ross Stephens of Con-Val as well as D1 State Champ Ewa Edokpolo of Memorial. They are seeded 5th and 6th respectively, so both have a great chance to podium!
Connecticut athletes hold four of the top five seeds in the girls 300 m hurdles, led by Talia Hagan of Jonathan Law (43.13). New Hampshire’s top contenders are Allison Frye of Nashua North (44.45), Grace Dow of Hollis-Brookline (46.37), and Abigail Azevedo of Nashua North (46.41). Frye is seeded sixth overall and looks poised to contend for a podium finish.
Bloomfield’s Javonni Reynolds leads at 37.01 on the boys’ side. New Hampshire’s top seeds are Wayne Crowell of Keene (38.52), Gavin Edgecomb of Pinkerton (38.93), and Brandon Lurvey of Pembroke Academy (40.05). Crowell and Edgecomb both enter among the top 8 overall and have strong medal potential!!!
800s and 200s
Granite State Champ, Bedford’s Mikita Barry leads the field at 2:10.85. She will be looking to nab another New England title while hoping to better her 2:07 personal record from this year. Keep in mind, the state record is within reach at 2:06.42. Rosalie Neveu of Nashua North (2:16.10) and Naomi Ebhaleme of Pinkerton (2:16.54) should be in the penultimate heat as they are ranked 10th and 11th respectively.
One of the strongest events of the meet has to be the boys 800. Pinkerton’s Joseph Gustavson leads all qualifiers at 1:52.23, narrowly ahead of Connecticut star Ryan Monohan. New Hampshire owns three of the top six seeds thanks to Gustavson, Will Hart of Portsmouth (1:52.73), and Melo Berdecia of Dover (6th seed – 1:54.92). All three are legitimate All-New England candidates and Gustavson enters as the athlete to beat. Incredible seeing the top 3 seeds all in the 1:52 range. Get your popcorn ready for this one.
Manchester, Connecticut’s Samiya Eady enters as the top seed at 24.06 in the girls 200, followed by Maine champion Seneca Haney of Mount Desert Island (24.74). New Hampshire’s top three seeds are Alaina Beck of Bedford (25.19), Leiana Cory of Portsmouth (25.28), and Lilah Fitzpatrick of Coe-Brown (25.82). Beck enters ninth overall and has the best opportunity to reach the final and challenge for a podium position. Cory sits just behind her in 12th.
The boys 200 meters is headed by Reading’s Ryan Pulpi, who enters with a blazing 21.06 after already claiming the top seed in the 400. New Hampshire’s top three seeds are Winston George of Pinkerton, Gavin Buxton of Bow, and Ryan Fitzgerald of Bedford. George, who is also among the favorites in the 100 meters and a key member of Pinkerton’s 4×100 relay, gives New Hampshire its best chance at reaching the final.
3200 Meters
The two-mile features one of the deepest distance fields of the meet. Back to defend her title is the NH State Champ Madeleine Lane of Hopkinton. While she is the top seed at 10:24.00, remember she ran 10:10 earlier this season at Loucks. Lane will not be alone in the heater heat however as Megan Faris of Hanover (10:58.86), Hopkinton’s Maisie Emerson of Hopkinton (10:59.89) and Olivia Kavanagh of Oyster River (11:02.49) can all consider themselves contenders for the top podium. We have all gotten used to names like Faris and Kavanagh being mentioned with New England’s best, but make some room for Emerson. She has had a breakthrough season from 1600 to 5000 meters, she has posted times clearly showing her ascension to the elite of New England.
One of New Hampshire’s strongest events, the Granite State should have 4 in the fast heat with Londonderry’s Carson Fitzgerald and Josh Twomey ranked 4th and 5th along with freshman Samuel Youngs and Pinkerton’s Trainor Mailloux come in at 8th and 11th respectively. With a number of New England’s best opting to rest for nationals, we will have many new faces on the podium. There is potential for 3 or so being from NH. Griswold, CT’s Tycen LaBelle is the top seed at 9:14.
4×400 Relays
The relay field is headed by Newington, Connecticut (3:54.05) and Central Catholic, Massachusetts (3:54.46). New Hampshire’s top teams are Nashua North (3:58.28), followed by several teams clustered close behind. The Titans’ quartet of Sarah Frye, Charlotte Wilson, Allison Frye, and Rosalie Neveu enters fifth overall and appears to be New Hampshire’s best bet for a podium finish. Watch for Exeter to be a major factor in this one.
The final event of the day should be one of the meet’s most exciting. New Hampshire’s top 4×400 meter relay is Pinkerton Academy, which enters among the leading contenders behind a lineup of Gustavson, Winston, Michael Duarte and Caleb Arroyo and company. Other New Hampshire teams to watch include Con-Val, who is ranked 10th within a second of Pinkerton as week as Winnacunnet, Spaulding, Hanover and Coe-Brown which will all be in the final 2 heats of the day.
High Jump & Pole Vault
New Hampshire owns the top seed in the High Jump as Danielle Bates of Timberlane enters at 5-8, the only athlete in the field seeded above 5-6. Fellow Granite Staters Camden Wilson of Bow (5-4), Abigail Azevedo of Nashua North (5-4), and Isabella Schreiner of Windham (5-4) also arrive with legitimate scoring aspirations. Bates enters as one of New Hampshire’s best opportunities for an individual championship. In the boys high jump, NH state champ MV’s Owen Turner and runner up Gavin Suchecki of Nashua North enters tied for 12th overall at 6-6, placing him squarely in the hunt for a medal.
Rhode Island’s Amber Shaw leads the field in the pole vault at an impressive 12-9 and will be pressured by Guilford CT’s Kaylin Diglio who is seeded at 12-8. New Hampshire is well represented with Emma Millette of Nashua South is seeded eighth at 11-0, while Julia Hou of Bow (10-6) and Brooke Bachhuber of Coe-Brown (10-0) round out the state’s top entries. Millette enters within striking distance of a podium finish.
The boys’ pole vault is led by Connecticut’s Sean Arms of Daniel Hand at 16-1!!! New Hampshire’s top seed is Preston Bois of Nashua South, who enters third overall at 14-8. That mark places him firmly in championship contention. Other leading Granite State vaulters include Ian Magnan of Pinkerton (13-6) and Colby Orleans of Exeter (12-6).
Long & Triple
Massachusetts standout Lavender Kozaka owns the top seed at 19-10¾. New Hampshire’s top seed is Sarah Witta of Nashua South (17-6½). The boys long jump seed Catholic Memorial’s Amar Skeete leads the field at 24-1, but New Hampshire is represented by several athletes capable of making podium. NH State Champ David Walker of Inter-Lakes enters second overall at 23-6 and is one of New Hampshire’s premier title contenders. He is followed by Joel Eliott of Manchester Memorial (23-1½), who sits eighth overall, Pelham’s Osinachi Nwabueze (22-9) and John Katsel of Souhegan (22-3½). Walker enters with a legitimate chance to win the event, while Eliott appears well-positioned for a podium finish.
The girls triple jump is led by Blake MacNeal of Newton North at 39-8¼. New Hampshire’s top seed is Sarah Frye of Nashua North (36-2½). Grant enters fifth overall and is firmly in the medal hunt.
Another event where New Hampshire could make significant noise is the boys triple jump. NH State Champ, Concord’s Thomas Saysaw enters second overall at 48-10½, trailing only national-caliber jumper Amar Skeete. Nwabueze is the next best NH Triple Jumper and is seeded 13th. Saysaw enters as one of New Hampshire’s top championship hopefuls and could challenge for the New England title with a jump near 50 feet.
Throws
Javelin has long been a New Hampshire specialty and this year is no exception. Morgan Trefrey of Laconia enters tied for fifth overall at 124-2. Trefrey is a serious podium contender and could challenge the leaders with a season-best throw. Connecticut’s Liam McGuire of Oxford leads at 200-8, but New Hampshire’s best hope comes from Ayden Hodge of Newport, who enters 5th at 180-7. The event is extraordinarily deep this year, but New Hampshire athletes have historically risen to the occasion in the javelin. Expect Hodge to equate himself well and not just settle for his seed.
The girls shot put sees NH State Champ Georgia Kondi of Mascoma Valley seeded second overall at 40-3¾ less than 6 inches shy of the top seed. Kondi’s teammate Barnaby Diehn is NH’s top seed on the boys side of Mascoma Valley (51-3½).
Kondi again leads the Granite State contingent in the discus as she enters fourth overall at 124-11. She has legitimate top-three potential if she can produce one of her best throws of the season. NH State champ and record holder Diehn enters third overall at 173-1 and is a serious contender for a podium finish. Diehn will be one of the throwers to watch throughout the competition and could leave Berwick with All-New England honors.
