NH Middle School State Championships Meet Hub
On a beautiful fall October day, the Hopkinton Runner’s Society, Hopkinton Middle/High School and Lancer Timing hosted the Division 3 and Division 4 Middle School championships at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds and the weather, along with the racing, was spectacular. As the oldest middle school cross country state championships in the country, that 50+ year history was enhanced by the move to the fairgrounds, which is quickly becoming the center of the NH Cross Country universe. To that point, new this year, the top 3 teams and top 20 individuals in each race qualify for this coming Friday’s Inaugural NH Middle School MEET of CHAMPS!
D4 Boys
The Division IV Boys Middle School Cross Country State Championship delivered one of the closest team battles of Saturday morning at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds, the top 2 teams were separated by only by just six points to capture the state title. Meanwhile, the individual battle was also spectacular as 2 boys went under the 10-minute barrier over the 3-kilometer course posting the fastest times of the day.
The individual championship featured an exciting battle between two eighth graders. Saint Patrick Academy’s Ryan Feeney claimed the title in a blazing 9:55.7, holding off World Academy’s Jake Shepard, who finished just over three seconds behind in 9:59.1. The pair finishing nearly a full minute ahead of the rest of the field.
Deerfield’s Liam Palmer led the chase pack, finishing third in 10:58.4 to spearhead his Deerfield’s championship effort. Fifth grader Darian Goss provided a huge boost with an 11th-place finish in 11:50.7, while Ryder Sanford-Severance (15th, 11:56.8), Leo Ringlein (16th, 12:07.9), and Bentley Selke (21st, 12:34.8) completed Deerfield’s scoring five. With all five runners finishing among the top 21, Deerfield demonstrated the depth needed to win a closely contested state championship.
Heronfield Academy certainly made things interesting, placing three runners among the top seven. Eighth grader Eliot Guerrero Gatto led the way with a fourth-place finish in 11:16.9, followed by teammates Tate Barrett (sixth, 11:19.3) and Ryan Preneta (seventh, 11:29.5). Jude Wehbe (24th, 12:39.5) and Jack Coyle (29th, 12:52.5) completed the scoring as Heronfield came within six points of the championship.
Portsmouth Christian Academy earned the final MOC qualifying slot behind seventh grader Aidan Howard, who finished fifth overall in 11:19.0. Sixth graders Nick Small (19th, 12:21.3) and Abraham Abood (23rd, 12:37.3) joined eighth grader Cameron McKeown (25th, 12:39.7) in giving Portsmouth Christian four runners among the top 25. Owen Maxwell completed the scoring in 41st.
Saint Patrick Academy finished fourth, powered by Feeney’s individual championship and strong performances from Will Faust (12th, 11:54.4) and Daniel Siller (13th, 11:54.4). Nottingham School claimed fifth, led by Orrin Metz (14th, 11:55.3) and fifth grader David Ward (17th, 12:16.2).
Among the other standout individual performances, Rye Junior High fifth grader Bennett Blaudschun finished an impressive eighth in 11:31.4, while South Hampton’s Mason Picard placed ninth in 11:33.0. World Academy’s Elijah Belcourt completed the top ten in 11:36.0, giving World Academy two runners among the race’s ten fastest finishers.
Rye Junior High finished sixth in the team standings with 170 points, just one point ahead of Shaker Road School (171), highlighting another remarkably close battle.
D4 Girls
Congratulations to Heronfield Academy as they put on an impressive display with three runners on the top 5 to capture the Division IV Girls Middle School Cross Country State Championship. Sixth grader Emma Ritchie led the charge with a third-place finish in 12:19.5, followed closely by eighth graders Nell Peters (12:38.6) and Magnolia Vernon (12:49.3), who finished fourth and fifth. The team’s remarkable 3-4-5 finish established an early advantage which proved to be decisive. Zoe McCloskey (33rd, 14:13.4) and Elena Wehbe (52nd, 14:45.0) completed the championship scoring five. They scored 92 points.
Presentation of Mary Academy put together an outstanding team effort to secure the runner-up trophy scoring 107 points. Madeleine Calder led the way with a sixth-place finish in 12:49.8, while Reagan Sheedy (14th, 13:28.3) and Quinn Kelly (15th, 13:31.1) gave the team three runners among the top 15. Kennedy Bean (36th) and Claire Baptista (40th) rounded out the scoring.
Saint Patrick Academy claimed third place and final MOC qualifying spot with 124 points, powered by an impressive pair of fifth graders. Sophia Hasevlat finished seventh in 12:50.1, while teammate Addison Lapp took ninth in 13:12.3. Eighth grader Adalyn Davis added a 22nd-place finish to extend their season.
Nottingham School finished fourth with 142 points, led by individual runner-up Carli Anzelmo and sixth grader Avery Dunnigan, who placed eighth in 12:57.3. Portsmouth Christian Academy rounded out the top five teams with 199 points, led by Samus Lockhardt (16th, 13:31.6) and June Watson (20th, 13:37.8).
Individually, Profile School eighth grader Sylvie Brown delivered a powerful performance winning by more than 30 seconds cruising to the state championship in 11:18.6. To her credit, runner-up Anzelmo also cruised solo of sorts as she finished 35 seconds ahead of 3rd place.
Rounding out the individual top ten was Rye Junior High School sixth grader Ella TenBroek, who finished tenth in 13:16.9.
D3 Boys
The hometown crowd had plenty to celebrate Saturday morning as Hopkinton Middle School captured the Division III Boys Middle School Cross Country State Championship at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds. Hopkinton’s championship effort was built around team balance, with all five scoring runners finishing among the top 34. Seventh grader Owen Marchand led the Hawks with a seventh-place finish in 11:07.5, followed closely by eighth grader Caleb Taylor, who placed ninth in 11:14.3. Julien French (26th, 12:06.3), Brooks Firth (33rd, 12:20.9), and Nate Dunlap (34th, 12:21.4) completed the scoring five. Hopkinton scored 103 points to edge Barrington Middle School (119)
Barrington Middle School put together an equally impressive performance to claim the runner-up trophy. Eighth grader Rowan Slosser led the way with an eighth-place finish in 11:12.0, while Sonny Townsend (23rd, 12:01.4) and Levi Travis (24th, 12:03.0) provided valuable support. Colin Mazurkiewiecz (32nd, 12:17.5) and Ethan Mowers (40th, 12:28.9) rounded out Barrington’s scoring 5.
The battle for the final team podium position and MOC qualifier was particularly exciting, as South Meadow School edged the Academy for Science and Design by just one point, 143-144. South Meadow was powered by two outstanding front-runners, with Pierce Adams finishing second and seventh grader Dante Adams taking fifth in 10:54.5. Sixth grader Maceo Arnone added a 27th-place finish, while Isaac Ramey (43rd) and Oscar Dunn (77th) completed the scoring.
The Academy for Science and Design nearly stole that third-place position behind seventh grader Owen Fischer, who finished fourth overall in 10:48.3. Fifth grader Jasper Rivinius (29th), sixth grader Daniel Ciardelli (30th), Roberto Marengo (37th), and Garrett Fritz (52nd) helped ASD finish just one point off the podium.
Individually, Three Rivers School eighth grader, SEL champ, Myles Bilodeau delivered an outstanding performance to claim the state title in 10:15.5. Bilodeau finished eight seconds ahead of South Meadow sixth grader Pierce Adams, who crossed the line in 10:23.5. Auburn Village School’s Tyler Storlazzi completed the individual podium with a third-place finish in 10:46.4.
Other notable individual performances came from Monadnock Regional Middle School’s Jackson Royce, who finished sixth in 11:03.2, and Newfound sixth grader Turner Hemingway, who rounded out the top ten in 11:17.9.
D3 Girls
Newmarket Middle School proved that cross country championships are won with teamwork, using an incredibly tight pack to capture the Division III Girls Middle School State Championship. Newmarket scored 93 points as the Mules placed all five scoring runners within just 25 seconds of one another, an extraordinary display of pack running. Eighth grader Caroline Ganly led the charge with a 19th-place finish in 13:09.5, followed by sixth grader Ella Ganly (20th, 13:11.8). Eliza Kersnowski (23rd, 13:18.7), Nora Seavey (24th, 13:27.9), and Eliza Cote (25th, 13:33.6) completed the championship scoring five.
Barrington Middle School earned the runner-up trophy behind an outstanding performance from sixth grader Natalie Drake, who finished sixth overall in 12:28.6. Eighth grader Matilda O’Connor added a 14th-place finish in 12:55.5, while Teagan Iani (22nd, 13:16.2), Graciela Ferguson (44th, 14:04.5), and Millie Maziarz (52nd, 14:14.7) completed Barrington’s scoring lineup.
The battle for third place was one of the closest of the day, with Three Rivers School edging Hopkinton by just two points. Three Rivers was led by sixth grader Havanna Hawkins, who finished ninth in 12:40.5. Murphy Keller (29th, 13:40.9), Grace Petersons (34th, 13:48.6), Evelyn Hamilton (37th, 13:51.7), and Autumn Medina (43rd, 14:04.1) provided the depth needed to secure the final podium position.
Hopkinton placed 4th behind Adeline Lundquist’s individual championship. The Hawks received strong support from Mariela Paquette (28th, 13:38.9), Madeleine Maytum (32nd, 13:46.3), Estella Perez (36th, 13:50.9), and Thea Wells (57th, 14:18.5).
South Meadow School rounded out the top five teams with 153 points, led by sixth grader Charlotte Seitz, who finished 18th in 13:05.5. Newfound Middle School was close behind in sixth with 156 points, powered by runner-up Georgia Sweeney, fifth grader Quinn Masterson (eighth, 12:38.2), and Amelia Cutting (11th, 12:44.5).
Individually, the aforementioned Hopkinton seventh grader Lundquist gave the hometown fans plenty to cheer about, capturing the state championship over the 3-kilometer course in an impressive 11:43.4. Lundquist held off Newfound Middle School’s Georgia Sweeney, who finished a strong second in 11:50.0. Winnisquam’s Kyra Campbell completed the individual podium with a third-place finish in 12:13.0.
Other standout individual performances included Great Brook School’s Marissa Hardwick, who finished fourth in 12:17.1, and Auburn Village School’s Hailey Tousignant, who placed fifth in 12:20.6. Auburn also received an excellent seventh-place finish from sixth grader Bryanna Tousignant (12:34.0). Monadnock’s Shayla Hurd rounded out the individual top ten in 12:41.7.
Congrats to all!
Videos Soon!
