By Pat Scott
Final Results Courtesy of Upstart Timing
As the day campers returned to Nashua South’s expansive field Sunday morning, Conant’s Ben Sawyer, a preview favorite, had a slight points edge on dark-horse icon Luca Kabel of Merrimack. Of course, Mother Nature had to have her say with some obligatory weekend rain, but didn’t dampen the competition in the day 2’s first event: the high hurdles.
As expected, Pelham’s Colby Crear blistered the field to jump into an early points lead by 8:30am. But Crear wasn’t the fastest hurdler of the day. That recognition goes to D3 rival Gavin Lombara of Monadnock who bested the field with what might have been a new PR and 887 points.
The rain may have played a factor here in the day’s second events: the discus. Showers picked up for the first groups in the sectors making the discs and circles slick. Throw’s specialist Zach Heichlinger of Pembroke won the event with a toss of 38.10 meters (~125’). But there was Sawyer in his weathered orange top just behind in second place and reclaiming his points lead.
By the time the discus was over, the sun was back and baking the field. As if the dread of the pole vault weren’t enough, shade and hydration were a top concern. Vault specialist Preston Bois made his home team proud by hoisting the Purple to a mark of 4.41 meters (14’6”ish). Philips Exeter’s Dan Musselman placed second in the event to ‘vault’ him up in the standings. With Musselman having been pretty quiet in the competition so far, it was important for him to challenge for a top spot.
Thomas Sylvain took the javelin competition (49.66) while Sawyer Penny of South took second. Kabel (Merrimack) had a strong throw in the third to buoy his hopes again after a disappointing vault.
All this time Ben Sawyer had been amassing top five places in every event strengthening his hold on the top spot. By the time the 1500m came around, it was basically four victory laps for the senior Oriole. Plymouth’s Tate Hayman had the fastest time for the event for show: 4:24.12. An impressive effort considering the 95 degree heat on the track at the end of two grueling days.
There are a lot of stories on the leaderboard. Crear did well to challenge Sawyer but experience always wins. North’s Gavin Suchecki had a titanic two days and steadily climbed his way to third overall. We’re going to encourage him now to come back next year as a prohibitive favorite. Mussulman seemed to have a rough day 2 which hurt his best events and chances to win this year. Monadnock’s Lombara (6th) was a strong competitor whose only undoing was the jav. And let’s not sleep on Purple Panther Preston Bois (6th). If he can improve in the speed events, he’s going to be a force next year.
In the end, the leader board shows just how dominant Sawyer was over two days. NEVER a place outside the top ten in any event except for his 1500 meter victory laps. Three decathlon championships over four years. Only Ben could hold off Ben (with a tweaked hamstring his junior year) from winning every year of his high school career. Truly dominant.
GIRLS Heptathlon
The girls sauntered in on the second day for a leisurely 10 am jump in the sand. With the sun breaking through, the cooling hose and misting fans already pumping, it looked like a beach day from afar.
Angela Cenesca, our day 1 leader, signaled she was in no mood to relax as she outjumped her nearest competitor by over a foot and increased her lead another 140 points. Martelle McBride (Exeter) and Pearl Marvel (Gilford – and could you have a cooler name?) took second and third respectively.
It was anticipated that Kelly Wright (Windham) would make her mark in the throws and she did not disappoint. Having already won the shot put on day one, Kelly launched the javelin over 35 meters (~115’) to victory number two AND grabbed the points lead. Then SURPRISE! Look who learned how to really throw the Jav. Hannah Pawlowski, whom we didn’t expect to mention until the 800m run, had a great throw (32.58m) for second place AND third place overall heading into her best event.
As we entered the 800m event, Pawlowski hammered both laps with everything she had in the first heat. She finished in 2:25, good for 753 points and the points lead. But would it be enough to hold off Cenesca? Cenesca didn’t have a great javelin throw but would have the last word in heat 4 of the 800m. Cenesca is the current D1 400 meter champion and, despite the heat and long days, showed a flowing stride and determination which ate up the distance to a time of 2:30. This was MORE than enough to secure her the big prize. Seniors Pawlowski and Wright, despite valiant efforts, would have to settle for second and third overall. The Heptathlon top 10 are below.
Looking forward, Cenesca is a junior with a lot more potential. She has to be the favorite for next year and if she can master the throws, she will dominate the event. Bow’s Madison Pfister really snuck up on us for 4th overall. She’s only a sophomore and now has two campaigns of experience to draw on. In fact, 7 of the top ten athletes in the list above are eligible to return. There’s even a freshman up there but I’M not going to give her away!
Whatever the case, there’s going to be fireworks next year.
