By Nate Leveille
Top teams from D1, D2, and D3 collide at Exeter High School to decide the Seacoast Championships. This meet provides excellent pre-state meet competition with a true team-title feel. The last five boys’ team champions have all been different!
This year’s pre-meet favorites have to be the D2 powerhouse Coe-Brown on the boys’ side. They possess the depth across all track and field disciplines to score points in many events. Their boys’ team secured the Freshman/Sophomore Seacoast Championship earlier this month. If they are challenged, it may come from Spaulding High School and their talented sprinter/jumper combo. Winnacunnet has a number of boys who could finish high in their events, and the home team, Exeter, will look to use their depth in numbers to challenge for the team title.
On the girls’ side, powerhouse Exeter High School will look to make it seven championships in the past eight years. As one of the favorites in D1, they have it all between the jumps, throws, sprints, and distance. D2 powers Oyster River and Coe-Brown will be their main challengers. Portsmouth High School and Timberlane should round out the top five teams. Coe-Brown and Oyster River likely won’t want to tip their hands too much, as they are the D2 favorites heading into the state meet next week.
10 Things to Watch for on the Girls’ Side
Charlotte Beaudoin (Timberlane) in the 400m: We are going to start with Charlotte Beaudoin, who is the favorite in the 400m following her 56.96 at the Loucks Games. This puts her in the ballpark of breaking the meet record held by arguably the most dominant middle-distance runner in NH history, Hannah Parker (56.91).
Leiana Cory (Portsmouth) in the Sprints: Leiana Cory is one of the most dominant sprinters in the state and should run away with the 100m title. After that, though, she and Beaudoin will match up in the 200m, which could be the race of the day. Both Beaudoin and Cory have the wheels to take down the title and the meet record of 25.44, held by Dominique Twombley of Oyster River.
The Paterna Twin Duo: Half of the state-record 4x800m relay team, twin sisters Brianna and Alexis Paterna, will battle it out in the open 800m. Alexis has run 4:47 in the mile and Brianna 4:55. How low will they go in their tune-up for D1s next week?
Olivia Kavanaugh (Oyster River) in the 1600m: Olivia Kavanaugh has “made the leap” this season and established herself as one of the best distance runners in the state. She continues to go lower and lower in the 1600m. She is the top seed at 5:09—can she get a little closer to the 5-minute barrier?
Avery Baumguardt (Oyster River) in Hurdles and Jumps: Avery Baumguardt joined an elite crew of sub-15-second hurdlers last week. She enters as the top seed in the 100m hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. The meet record of 14.85 is not completely out of reach, especially if she is pushed by a solid field behind her.
Danielle Bates (Timberlane) in the High Jump: Danielle Bates is the top seed and current meet record holder in the high jump. Her meet record of 5’3” is a very good jump, but by her standards, it should go down, as she regularly clears 5’8”. If you have a chance to get over to watch the high jump, you should.
The Coe-Brown Pole Vaulters: Brooke Bachhuber and Brooke Main, both of Coe-Brown, are the top seeds in the girls’ pole vault. Both will look to clear 10’ for the first time this season.
Lucille Beem (Exeter) in Throws: Lucille Beem seems like she has been placing in this meet for a long time, and that’s because she has. The senior enters as the top seed in both the shot put (34’9.75”) and the discus (117’11”).
Mollie Sexton (Oyster River) in the Javelin: Mollie Sexton enters with a commanding seed of 110’3” in the javelin. She boasts more than a 15’ advantage over the rest of the field.
Record-Breaking Relays: The Exeter 4x400m relay enters with a 3:57.68, which would shatter the current meet record of 4:04.71 set by Portsmouth. Meanwhile, the Portsmouth girls’ 4x100m is seeded at 49.96, which would break the current meet record of 50.06 set by Oyster River.
10 Things to Watch for on the Boys’ Side
The Spaulding Sprinters: The best freshman in the state might just be Caleb Plante of Spaulding. He enters as the top seed in both the 100m (11.10) and the long jump (21’9”). He is a slim three inches off the meet record in the long jump (22’0.75”) set by Phillip Antonio. Teammate Aaron Geldart of Spaulding is the top seed in the 200m with a blistering 22.67.
Jake Vance (Portsmouth) in the 400m: If you’re familiar with the D1 Battlenotes, you have probably noticed that Jake Vance of Portsmouth has gotten better and better as the season has progressed. Now, he finds himself as the top seed in the 400m and on the brink of breaking 50 seconds.
The Open 800m Battle: The race of the day on the boys’ side will be the open 800m. Melo Berdecia of Dover and Will Hart of Portsmouth both ran 1:55 unattached at the BSR meet last week. Both should have a lot more space to operate as they look to improve their seed times for D1. Jamie Lano holds the meet record of 1:55.09.
Oliver Lehman (Oyster River) in the 1600m: Oliver Lehman has been dominant in the distance events. He enters as the top seed in the 1600m (4:25.69) by more than 10 seconds.
Brogan Grzybowski (Coe-Brown) in the 110m High Hurdles: Brogan enters as a dominant number-one seed in the 110m high hurdles with a 14.86 seed time.
Ryan Jamison (Winnacunnet) in the 300m Hurdles: Ryan Jamison is the top seed in the 300m hurdles. He enters with a 39.34, which is just off Billy Powers’s meet record of 39.32. Whenever you are in the conversation about taking down a Billy Powers record, you are doing something right.
Spaulding’s 4x100m Relay: Spaulding’s 4x100m enters with a 43.56 seed time, which would take down the current meet record of 43.83 held by Winnacunnet. Spaulding athletes currently hold no meet records, so this could be their first.
Winnacunnet’s 4x400m Relay: The Winnacunnet boys’ 4x400m enters with a 3:23.93 seed time, which would destroy the meet record set by Exeter just last year (3:27.96). Spaulding also enters under 3:30, so they may provide Winnacunnet with enough of a push to break it.
Colby Orleans (Exeter) in the Pole Vault: Colby Orleans has cleared 13’0” in the pole vault. Competing on his home runway, he could make a run at the 13’10” meet record held by Wyatt Patterson of Winnacunnet.
Dominant Throwers: Connor Lazarz of Dover is the top seed in the discus at 142’11”. He has a big gap on the rest of the field, and you will be able to see these throws from the infield. Additionally, Ray Labelle of Somersworth will look to continue the long line of Somersworth javelin champs, entering with the top throw of 153’0”.
