By Nate Leveille
Seacoast Championships Meet Hub
After a cold and rainy spring season, the Seacoast Championships bring you… more cold—and maybe a little rain as well. Always one of the biggest and best meets of the season, this year’s edition promises not to disappoint, as some of the top athletes from New Hampshire and New England are set to compete.
Girls Team Title
Last year, the Portsmouth girls ran away with the team title and carried that momentum to a runner-up finish at the Division I Championships. Portsmouth will be in the mix again for a top-three finish along with Coe-Brown, which brings strong performances in both field events and on the track. The team title, however, appears to be a battle between Oyster River and host Exeter High School. Ironically, both Exeter and Oyster River are built similarly, with powerhouse distance programs. Expect a close and exciting finish.
Girls Sprints/Hurdles
Ninth-grade sensation Leianna Cory of Portsmouth is the top seed in the 100m (12.49). While it may be a year early for her to challenge the meet record, she is the clear favorite ahead of Lilah Fitzpatrick (Coe-Brown) and Elizabeth Carty (Oyster River). In the 200m, Charlotte Beaudoin of Timberlane leads the field with a 26.21, followed by Fitzpatrick and Sophie West of Spaulding.
In the 100m hurdles, Bristol Shirland (Coe-Brown) holds the top seed at 15.53, with Avery Baumgardt (Oyster River) and Zoe Kirk (Dover) close behind. In the 300m hurdles, Maitri Clifford (Winnacunnet) is the top seed at 47.62, followed by Sienna Metcalf (Portsmouth) and Carty (Oyster River).
Middle Distance
The 400m is led by Beaudoin of Timberlane (58.00), followed by Martelle McBride and Madeline Poteet, both of Exeter. In the 800m, Anique Poulin of Dover will make her season debut in the open race. She is followed by Izzy Bremer (Exeter, 2:18.78) and her teammate Bri Paterna.
Distance
The girls’ race of the day may be the 1600m. Lexi Paterna (Exeter) is the top seed at 4:51.35, just off the meet record. She’ll be challenged by Mackenzie Cook (Oyster River), who has also broken five minutes this season. Eli Cross (Exeter) enters as the third seed.
In the 3200m, Haley Kavanagh (Oyster River) will look to defend her title from a year ago. She has more than a one-minute edge on the field. Eloise Hill (Coe-Brown) and Madeline Ralabate (Exeter) are seeded second and third, respectively.
Jumps
Indoor All-American Danielle Bates (Timberlane) is the top seed in the high jump and is expected to easily eclipse the current meet record of 5’1”. She leads a trio of jumpers entering at 5’.
Jazzlyn Curry (Coe-Brown) leads the long jump at 16’7.5″, followed by Kathleen Lynch (Dover) and Martelle McBride (Exeter). Bates is also the top seed in the triple jump at 35’6.25″, with Avery Baumgardt (Oyster River) and Sya McKay (Somersworth) close behind.
Shannon Elizabeth (Coe-Brown) leads the pole vault at 9’8″, followed by her teammate Brooke Bachhuber and Brooke Kelly (Dover).
Throws
Madelyn Donohue (Raymond) is the top seed in the shot put (34’3″), followed by Skyla Hall (Somersworth) and Isabelle Grenier (Coe-Brown). In the discus, Grenier leads with 112’3″, trailed by Autumn Fabiano and Lucille Beem, both of Exeter.
Sya McKay (Somersworth) is the top seed in the javelin at 113’8″, followed by Brooke Kelly (Dover) and Donohue (Raymond).
Relays
Exeter leads the 4x800m with a time 20 seconds under the meet record—but may not run their A-team. They’re followed by Portsmouth and St. Thomas. In the 4x100m, Portsmouth is half a second under the meet record heading in. Oyster River and Coe-Brown are the second and third seeds.
The meet will close with the 4x400m, where another record could fall. Exeter enters as the top seed at 4:03.11, followed by Portsmouth (4:06.50) and Oyster River.
Boys Team Race
Defending champions Winnacunnet will look to repeat, and they certainly have the firepower to win multiple events. However, the pre-meet favorite may be Portsmouth, with top-three seeds spread across numerous events. Oyster River should also be in the mix, especially with strong performances expected on the track.
Boys Sprints/Hurdles
Talon Ouellette (Oyster River) leads the 100m field with a 10.95. With a bit of tailwind, the meet record is in play. His teammate Max Scopel is the second seed, with Breyden Sanchez (Sanborn) third.
Ouellette is also the top seed in the 200m (22.11), followed by Owen Janetos (Winnacunnet) and Catino Biggs (Portsmouth). In the 110m hurdles, Josh Kelly (Portsmouth) leads at 15.11, with Brogan Grzybowski (Coe-Brown) and Ryan Jamison (Winnacunnet) next. In the 300m hurdles, Cameron Lee (Coe-Brown) is top seed at 40.25, followed by Kelly and Jamison.
Middle Distance
The boys’ 400m may be the race of the day. Janetos (Winnacunnet) leads at 49.86, followed by Ouellette and Theo Beattie (Portsmouth). All of the top seven seeds have run under 51 seconds, and the winner will likely set a new meet record.
In the 800m, two of the state’s best will face off: top seed Ryan Zumbach (Winnacunnet, 1:54.57) and Will Hart (Portsmouth). Their battle could also rewrite the record books.
Distance
Zumbach leads the 1600m (4:24.78), and New Hampshire TF announcer Tyler Sheedy will be nervously watching to see if his 4:22 meet record survives. Luc Kerouac (Coe-Brown) is the second seed, and Oliver Lehman (Oyster River) is third.
In the 3200m, Nolan Peters (Portsmouth) leads with 9:40.76, followed by Logan Poteet (Exeter) and Oliver Schartner (St. Thomas).
Jumps
Dennis Glidden (Raymond) leads the long jump at 20’10.5″, followed by Bryce Sartin and Jackson Doran (both of Coe-Brown). Abraham Siegel (Portsmouth) tops the triple jump at 41’3″, ahead of teammate Kelly and Colby Orleans (Exeter).
Glidden also leads the high jump at 6’0″, followed by Anatole Harvell (Portsmouth) and Asher Bartel (Exeter). Leo Guarracino (Portsmouth) is the top seed in the pole vault at 13’0″, followed by Orleans and Thomas Eastwood (both of Exeter).
Throws
Kellen Bateman (Exeter) leads the shot put by over eight feet with a throw of 47’3.5″, followed by Dillon Lassard (St. Thomas) and Declan Crocco (Oyster River). Connor Lazarz (Dover) is the top seed in the discus (137’4″), ahead of Scopel and Aadit Noble (Portsmouth). In the javelin, Jason Biggs (Sanborn) leads, followed by Kenji Chase (Exeter) and Seth Korzak (Portsmouth).
Relays
Coe-Brown holds the top time in the 4x100m (44.45), followed closely by Portsmouth (44.76) and Exeter. In the 4x800m, Portsmouth leads (8:35.21), followed by Oyster River and St. Thomas.
The meet will conclude with a bang as the newly minted state record holders, Winnacunnet (3:22.95), aim to crush the meet record by a wide margin. They’ll be challenged by Exeter (3:25.05) and Portsmouth (3:27.37).
