By Nate Leveille
1 Month to Go!
10 Early Season D1 Standout Performances!
GIRLS
- Teams: Pinkerton and Exeter have separated from the pack. Pinkerton holds top seeds in many different events, while Exeter is loaded in the middle and long distances. It looks like a two-horse race at this point.
- Danielle Bates (Timberlane): She was mentioned in the preview as having a shot at the state record (5’10”), and she has done nothing to temper those expectations, clearing 5’8” at USM—without spikes!
- Grace Saysaw (Concord) and Leanny Ortiz-Blanco (Salem): These two are on a collision course in the 55m dash. The D1 record of 7.21 is in trouble.
- Abigail Stienecker (Pinkerton): She is leading the 1-2-3 Pinkerton seeds in the hurdles and is getting close to the 9-second barrier.
- Mikita Barry (Bedford): A sub-3 in the 1000m, sub-5 in the 1500m, and solid times in both the 600m and 3000m.
- Angela Cenesca (Manchester Central): A 42-low in the 300m and a 17-high in the long jump are impressive early-season marks.
- Consuelo Borico (Concord): Posted an early season 39’1.25” in the shot put. She is looking to join the 40-foot club soon.
- Distance Depth: Sometimes overshadowed by the depth of distance talent in D1, Gabby Bedard (Pinkerton) posted a great early season mark in the 3000m (10:30.64), and Brianna Paterna (Exeter) currently holds a 4:47.99 1500m conversion.
- Alexis Paterna (Exeter): Opened her season with a 4:36.66 in the 1500m, coming fresh off a 2:10 split in the 4x800m.
- Exeter Girls 4x800m: They dropped a 9:30.99, just off the state record set a few years ago. With the new state meet schedule, how fast can they go at UNH on Feb 1st?
BOYS
- Teams: The Pinkerton boys are actually better than expected—and I already expected them to be darn good in the preview! It looks like a race for second place, with Nashua North and Alvirne quietly putting together very solid squads.
- George Winston (Pinkerton): He has taken his track game to the next level, dropping a 6.53 in the 55m dash and a 35.97 in the 300m.
- The 300m Field: Speaking of the 300m, Winston—joined by Owen Janetos (Winnacunnet) and Ceasar Flahn (Manchester Central)—is setting up one of the fastest races in state history. Expect all three to be on the podium at New Englands.
- Ethan Fischer (BG): Already way under 9 minutes with an 8:39.59 in Boston last month.
- Melo Berdecia (Dover): Posted an early season sub-2:40 with a 2:37.70.
- Londonderry Distance: Teammates Carson Fitzgerald and Josh Twomey posted 4:08s in the 1500m; both have gone sub-9 in the 3000m as well.
- Joey Marcotte (Alvirne): He’s over 21 feet in the long jump and under 8 seconds in the hurdles; both would be major point-scoring marks at States.
- John Child (Pinkerton): Holds the top mark in the hurdles with a blistering 7.85.
- Gavin Succhecki (Nashua North): Clearing 6’4”, he holds the top seed in a deep high jump field that already features six boys over 6 feet.
- Pinkerton Relay: We knew Pinkerton was going to have a fast 4x160m based on their returning athletes, but their early-season 4×200 converts to a 1:13.22, which is just insane. They are the current state record holders dating back to 1998 with a 1:31.05 in the 4x200m—and they are just a few tenths off that mark.
- Thomas Blazka (Pinkerton): Has come out of nowhere to take the top mark in the shot put, closing in on the 50-foot mark with a throw of 49’3”.
