The 2025 Black Bear Invitational is shaping up to be a wet and soggy affair, but still with potential for a thrilling showcase of New Hampshire’s finest high school track and field talent. With the season still relatively young, the stories of the season are still being drafted. As always, we will be there to livestream, snap pics, interview
Girls
Sprints & Hurdles
In the 100m dash, Grace Saysaw of Concord leads all entries with a blazing seed time of 12.25, followed by Lilah Fitzpatrick of Coe-Brown (12.70) and Ella Hartson of Alvirne (13.04). In the 200m, Saysaw again tops the list (24.63), with Phillips Exeter’s dynamic duo Gianna Phipps (25.18) and Jannah Maguire (25.20) close behind. Look for North’s Tiana Brown to make her presence known as well.
Over 400m, the race could be another Phillips Exeter showcase as Jannah Maguire (56.62) and Gianna Phipps (56.95) are seeded well ahead of the field, with Charlotte Beaudoin from Timberlane (58.89) the only other under a minute.
In the 100m hurdles, Grace Dow (15.85) of Hollis/Brookline will face stiff competition from Brown (16.01, Nashua North) and Molly Flynn (16.03, Portsmouth). Dow also leads the 300m hurdles with a time of 48.83, followed again by Brown (49.09) and Maitri Clifford of Winnacunnet (49.11).
Distance
Rosalie Neveu of Nashua North is favored in the 800m at 2:20.91, but Madelyn Cook (Oyster River, 2:22.85) and Brianna Paterna (Exeter, 2:23.00) are close contenders. In the 1600m, Brown University-bound Haley Kavanagh (Oyster River, 4:50.18) is once again a heavy favorite. Look for a great race for runner up between Laura White (Nashua North, 5:11.40) and Eli Cross (Exeter, 5:13.00).
The 3200m sees a similar Oyster River story as Syracuse-bound Mackenzie Cook (Oyster River) with a national-level seed of 10:36.50. She’ll be pursued by Alexis Paterna of Exeter (11:02.43) and Ava Bullock (Phillips Exeter, 11:10.00). Don’t be surprised if Concord’s Shelly Smith or Merrimack’s Melanie Bedard are factors as well.
Jumps
High Jump should be a close battle at 5’1″, shared by Amelia Hebert (Milford), Steph Handte (Phillips Exeter), and Savanna Comeau (Somersworth). In the Pole Vault, Julia Hou of Bow leads at 9’7″, followed by Madeline Muller (Concord, 9’0″). Watch for a group at 8’6″ with Bow’s Mackenzie Szczepanik as well as Coe-Brown’s Brooke Bachhuber, Brooke Main, and Shannon Elizabeth.
Long Jump is headlined by Martelle McBride (Exeter, 17-4.25), with Jazzlyn Curry (Coe-Brown), Avery Baumgardt (Oyster River), and Somersworth’s Savanna Comeau (16’5″) in pursuit. In the Triple Jump, Ella Goulas (Concord) has a monster mark of 38-2, ahead of Baumgardt (35-11) and Molly Flynn (Portsmouth) seeded with a 34’0″.
Throws
In Shot Put, Lucille Beem (Exeter) tops the field at 35-2.5, chased by Brynn Johnson (Windham) and Isabelle Grenier (Coe-Brown). Grenier flips the order in Discus, leading with 112-3, ahead of Beem (101-5) and Emmie Wentworth (Portsmouth, 95-1). The javelin sees PEA’s Melani Dowling as the top seed at 113’1″ with Portsmouth’s Maggie Pataki 2nd seed at 107’06” and Windham’s Kelly Wright at 102’2″.
Boys
Sprints & Hurdles
The 100m sprint crown will be a tight battle, led by Kendrick Edwards of Con-Val, who brings the fastest seed time of 10.84. Talon Ouellette of Oyster River (10.95) and Samuel Bruneau from Hollis/Brookline (11.06) are the top three sprinters to watch. Bruneau is the top seed in the 200 BUT by only .03 over Ouellette and .05 in front of Milford’s Avery Wilson. Ouellette takes his turn as the top seed in the 400, but will have Con-Val’s Ross Stephens nipping at his heels with both seeded in the 49s. Even better, Alvirne’s Shane Plumley, Souhegan’s Brody Smith and Profile’s Wyatt Lawton are all seeded in the 50 second range. Yep, get your popcorn ready for the sprints!!
The High Hurdles sees Josh Kelly of Portsmouth leading with a swift 15.31, followed closely by Brogan Grzybowski of Coe-Brown (15.47) and Brady McCammack from Hollis/Brookline (15.88). In the 300 meter hurdle race, Cameron Lee of Coe-Brown is the man to beat with a 40.77 seed, while McCammack (again) is in the mix with 41.58.
Distance
The 3200m kicks things off and promises fireworks as Bocelli Howland-Vlahakis and Pearce Covert from Phillips Exeter both enter with 9:20 seeds. William Simard of Con-Val (9:29.01) is close behind as the 3 seed. These times put them among the best in New England. The mile sees Winnacunnet’s half miler standout Ryan Zumbach moving up in distance as the top seed at 4:22.60. On paper he has a 10 second buffer on 2nd seed Luc Kerouac with Portsmouth’s Nolan Peters the 3rd seed.
In the 800, two Phillips Exeter standouts headline the field: Marcus Kiehl (1:56) and Truman Yee (1:57), chased by Josh Twomey of Londonderry (1:57.73). A tactical battle could unfold depending on the pacing. Further, don’t sleep on Milford’s Logan Korthals and Will Whitley either.
Jumps
A tight contest looms in the high jump at 6’2″ with four athletes sharing that top mark: Nicolas Oglesby (Merrimack Valley), Rio Calle (John Stark), Ethan Morin (Milford), and Owen Turner (Merrimack Valley). Potential for a jump-off here. Expect big things from Colby Nyhan of Concord in the pole vault as he is seeded at 14’0″, with Leo Guarracino (Portsmouth, 13’0″) and Nicholas Petrucci (Lebanon, 12’6″) in close pursuit.
Another very tight battle awaits in the long jump. Calle (John Stark) is the top seed at 21’10.5″, just ahead of Oglesby (21’2.5″), Bryce Sartin from Coe-Brown (21’2.25″) and Con-Val’s Kendrick Edwards. Merrimack Valley dominates the top three seeds in the triple jump: Aiden Paquette (43’11.25″), Oglesby (43’7″), and Logan Vong (41’6.75″) all represent the same school and could sweep the podium.
Throws
Darius Smith (Nashua North) enters in familiar territory as the clear favorite in the shot put with a monster seed of 55’3″. Teammate Noah Pasterczyk is second at 52’3″, while Shawn Boudreau (Alvirne) rounds out the top three at 50’4.75″. John Stark’s Joel Douzanis is the other 50’+ seed. Smith also is the top seed in the discus with a 157’8″ toss. Shawn Boudreau is the close 2nd seed at 157’5″, and Thomas Hoey (Phillips Exeter) is third with 152’10″—all three over 150 feet. The javelin sees potential meet record breakers with PEA’s Isaiah Reese and Carter Johnson seeded at 190′ and 185′. MV’s Davian Loiselle is the 3rd seed at 151’8″.
Good luck to all! Have fun! Stay dry!
