By Nate Leveille
Girls Preview
Sprints & Hurdles
This could arguably be the best returning sprint crew in New Hampshire history. It all starts with the state record holder in the 100m and 200m, Grace Saysaw of Concord. She is dominant and has recently added the 400m to her arsenal. Don’t forget about Leiana Cory of Portsmouth, who stormed onto the scene and started posting times we haven’t seen from a freshman in a long time. While those two are on a different level, the rest of the field is still loaded with indoor 55-meter champ Nora Brayall of Pinkerton and Leanne Ortiz-Blanco of Salem.
Victoria Ford of Manchester Memorial is the top returner in the 100m hurdles, followed by Molly Flynn of Portsmouth, Lola Grote of Winnacunnet, and Sydney MacVicar of Exeter. Indoor 55-meter Hurdle Champ Abigail Steinecker of Pinkerton didn’t run the 100m hurdles last year, but she should factor in and be considered the favorite this year. Sienna Metcalf of Portsmouth and Allison Frye of Nashua North are the top returners in the 300m Hurdles. The 300m Hurdles is one of the only events where the top scorers from a year ago have graduated, making it a fairly wide-open race. In the 400m, top returners Angela Cenesca of Manchester Central, Martelle McBride of Exeter, and Rebecca Osanya of Pinkerton are all back. Keep an eye on Kathleen Lynch of Dover, who had an excellent indoor season. There is a strong group of girls which should—and will—be under 60 seconds this spring.
Distance
In the 800m, Mikita Barry of Bedford makes her spring track debut this year. The three-time indoor 1000m champ will immediately change the dynamic of what could be an absolutely loaded event. Returning state champ Rosalie Neveau of Nashua North is back, alongside runner-up Isabelle Bremer and Brianna Paterna of Exeter. Nicole Blake and Sarah Rzasa, both of Pinkerton, are also names to watch here.
The combo-meet schedule this year makes things interesting, allowing the distance runners a little more rest than normal. Alexis Paterna of Exeter is the favorite in both the 3200m and 1600m. Fresh off her 4:42 mile at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, she’s taken her game to a different level. Barry may factor into the 1600m as well with the added rest, along with Brianna Paterna and Eli Cross, both of Exeter, and Shannon Forsyth of Bishop Guertin. In the 3200m, Paterna and Cross are the top returners, followed by Abigail Pinegar of Keene and Mahalie Burdette of Concord. Missing a year ago was Gabby Bedard of Pinkerton, but she’s coming off an excellent indoor season and will be in the mix for both of these events. It will be fascinating to see where all these athletes land, as many of them have the range to compete from the 800m all the way up to the 3200m.
Relays
It’s always difficult to predict relays from the year before, but based on returning athletes, Portsmouth and Pinkerton look to be on a collision course in the 4x100m. Both teams return all four runners from a year ago, and both teams broke the 50-second mark. Similarly, in the 4x400m, Exeter and Portsmouth return all four runners from last year, and both squads ran 4:00 flat. The 4x800m, although exciting this past winter, is usually less about overall time and more about scoring crucial early points since it kicks off the meet.
Jumps
With Timberlane returning to D2 for the spring, the high jump is suddenly wide open. Cassandra Jimeno of Merrimack is the top returning high jumper from a year ago. Aaria Ahdi of Bedford and Isabelle Schreiner of Windham follow her. Schreiner had a very good indoor season and could be one of the favorites. Abigail Azevedo of Nashua North stormed into the picture this past winter as well, clearing 5’2”, and she should also be considered a favorite in what is a very deep event.
Angela Cenesca of Manchester Central is the top returning long jumper from a year ago and the reigning indoor champ. Following her are Sophia Ethier of Keene and Martelle McBride of Exeter. In the pole vault, the top returner is Delaney Paquin of Pinkerton, who cleared 10’0” as a freshman! Behind her are Alexander Bobar of Bedford and Emma Millette of Nashua South. In the triple jump, Sarah Frye of Nashua North is the top returner with a leap of 34’2” at last year’s D1 Championships. Following her are Flynn of Portsmouth and Alexys Rogers of Exeter. Emma Millette and Amalie Ramirez, both of Nashua South, are two to watch, as South consistently develops quality triple jumpers.
Throws
Many of the state’s top shot putters return from a year ago. Consuelo Borico of Concord is the defending outdoor and indoor champion. She is the outright favorite and has been inching closer to the 40-foot mark. Following her is Brynn Johnson of Windham, who was the runner-up. After those two, there are a number of names to watch, including Lucielle Beem and Autumn Fabiano of Exeter, Avery Trask of Pinkerton, and Emmie Wentworth of Portsmouth.
We have some different names atop the discus returners. Carolyn Kemp of Bedford is the top returner in the event, followed by Sarah Brown of Keene, Johnson of Windham, and Autumn Yazbek of Londonderry. Sarah Rzasa of Pinkerton is the top returner in the javelin and the only returner with a throw over 100 feet, making this a wide-open event for scoring. Following her are Brown of Keene and Josie Lefebvre of Manchester Central.
Team Race
Last year’s outdoor champion, Concord, graduated the majority of their point scorers, so for the third straight year, we anticipate a new team champion on the girls’ side. Exeter is coming off a dominant indoor championship and finished 3rd last spring with 85 points. They do the majority of their point scoring on the track—specifically in the middle-distance and distance events—and return all their point scorers from a year ago. On paper, they are the preseason favorites.
The indoor runner-up was Pinkerton Academy. They bring back a very solid, well-rounded group and benefit from the added outdoor events, boasting the top returners in the pole vault and javelin. They finished 4th a year ago and will look to knock off Exeter. Other teams in contention for a podium spot are Portsmouth, Bedford, and last year’s runner-up, Nashua North. Those three schools have big-time point scorers and impactful relays. There will be many point scorers making an impact who weren’t present during the winter season, as well as some teams losing winter scorers to other spring sports.
Boys Preview
Sprints & Hurdles
The sprints return the top half of the field from a year ago. Ceasar Flahn of Manchester Central is the returning champ in the 100m. The 400m state record holder, Owen Janetos of Winnacunnet, is the top returner and defending champ in both the 200m and 400m. Lurking behind those two is Winston George of Pinkerton, who is ready for a breakout season. There’s also Kobe Perry of Nashua North and Travis Cavallo of Pinkerton, who can beat anyone on any given day. The 100m and 200m fields are absolutely loaded with talent and depth.
Behind Janetos in the 400m—which was last year’s deepest event—the field is a little more wide open this year. Shane Plumley of Alvirne is the second-fastest returner, followed by Agee Griffith of Exeter and Sergio Lopez of Nashua South. Watch out for Michael Duarte of Pinkerton in this event; he keeps improving and is coming off a massive indoor season.
The hurdles are also loaded with returning talent. Defending 110m hurdle champ John Child is back, along with Wayne Crowell of Keene and Oliver Gould of Pinkerton. They went 1-2-3 last year, and indoors they went 1-3-4, with Joey Marcotte of Alvirne joining the party. Marcotte was primarily a 300m hurdler last spring, finishing 2nd behind state champ and top returner Ryan Jamison of Winnacunnet. Other hurdlers to watch are Gavin Edgecomb of Pinkerton and Preston Bois of Nashua South.
Distance
The event I am most looking forward to is the boys’ 800m. Word is that Joe Gustavson of Pinkerton is hanging up his baseball cleats to run outdoor track. He will immediately be the favorite in the 800m after posting a 1:52 indoors. The state record is 1:50.85 (set by Russell Brown), and we haven’t had anyone knocking on that door in a long time. Let’s not sleep on the other top two returners, Melo Berdecia of Dover and Will Hart of Portsmouth. All three of these guys can and should podium at New Englands.
The 1600m features top returner and defending champ Carson Fitzgerald of Londonderry. Fitzgerald is coming off a strong indoor season of his own. Jason Robie of Pinkerton is the second-fastest returner; he’s coming off a monster indoor campaign which saw him win both the 3K and 1500m, making him the presumptive favorite in both distance events. Ethan Fischer of Bishop Guertin was 3rd a year ago in the 3200m. He is on an entirely different level this year after dropping a 14:43 in the 5K at New Balance Indoor Nationals. He will be incredibly dangerous in the 3200m and has shown the ability to run very fast in the 1600m as well, following his 4:20 mile at Indoor Nationals. Others to watch in the two distance events include Trainor Mailloux of Pinkerton and Josiah Connolly of Concord.
Relays
Runner-up a year ago, Pinkerton, was dominant in the 4x800m this indoor season. They return their entire squad from last year and add the fastest 800m runner in the state. The state record of 7:47.39 is very much in play. Londonderry and Nashua North also return highly solid 4x800m squads from a year ago and ran very fast indoors.
In the 4x400m, state record holders Winnacunnet return 3/4 of their team from last year. Having the fastest 400m runner in state history on the anchor can only help. Aside from them, keep an eye on Pinkerton Academy and Nashua North, who went 1-2 indoors. The 4x100m always seems to go through Pinkerton, as they return 3/4 of their state record team from a year ago and were the 4x200m champions this winter. Alvirne will be a squad to watch in this event after a strong winter season, as well as Concord, who returns all four guys from last year.
Jumps
Gavin Suchecki of Nashua North is the defending champ in the high jump. Over the past few years, he has been the most consistent athlete over 6’2” in the state. Behind him are Sam Woodard of Bishop Guertin and Kaiden Okowuga of Merrimack. Okowuga may be the slight favorite, as he is the indoor champion after clearing 6’4”. Others to watch in this event are Gabe Texiera of Bedford and Wayne Crowell of Keene.
In the pole vault, Leo Guarracino of Portsmouth is the top returner, having cleared 13’0” last year. Behind him are Preston Bois of Nashua South, Colby Orleans of Exeter, and Thomas Eastwood of Exeter.
In the long jump, Gould of Pinkerton is the defending outdoor champ, but Ceasar Flahn is the defending indoor champ. That should be a great battle. After those two, Leighton Freytag of Pinkerton and Trevor Gray of Manchester Central are the other top returners. Don’t sleep on Joey Marcotte in this event, although between hurdles and relays, he may simply run out of events this spring. Thomas Saysaw of Concord is the top returner in the triple jump, leaping 42’11” as just a ninth grader! Behind him are Bois of Nashua South and Kyle Severence of Pinkerton.
Throws
Raymond Karuru of Nashua South is the top returner from a year ago. Following him are Jose Marcano of Nashua North and Antonio Herbert of Goffstown. A name to watch in the shot put is Thomas Blaszka of Pinkerton; he is the defending indoor champion and is looking to carry that momentum into the spring.
The discus is completely wide open, with the top seven boys from a year ago all graduating. The top returner is Connor Lazarz of Dover. Following him are Jacob Wallace of Keene and Herbert of Goffstown. In the javelin, Sawyer Penny of Nashua South is the top returning athlete, having thrown over 170 feet a year ago. Behind him are Vincent Ventura of Pinkerton and Sam Woodard of Bishop Guertin.
Teams
Pinkerton is the defending champion and coming off an indoor season in which they broke the meet record for total points scored. Unless the team bus breaks down, I don’t see anyone challenging them for the title this spring. They simply have too much depth and top-end talent. If they run away with it similarly to last year, it will make the race for second place incredibly interesting. It may only take 50-60 points to finish on the podium. Teams like Winnacunnet that can outright win 3-4 events can easily jump right into the scoring picture. Nashua South returns a number of point scorers as well. Nashua North is well-balanced and always dangerous in the field events and relays. Indoor runner-up Alvirne also has some big-time point scorers to rely on.
