NHIAA Division Championship Meet Hub
By Nate Leveille
Division 1 schools are stepping into uncharted territory at this year’s combined state championship meet. Entering a combined meet without a traditional pre-meet seeding meeting creates plenty of unknowns. Plus, with athletes benefiting from—let’s be honest—a lot more rest, it has been incredibly difficult to predict final event entries and individual workloads. This will be a brand-new experience for the entirety of Division 1.
Fortunately, Londonderry High School is taking on the hosting duties. They have a stellar track record of running excellent, large-scale meets, which is a massive relief because, believe it or not, schools aren’t exactly knocking down the NHIAA’s door to host. It takes an immense amount of responsibility, commitment, and volunteer help to pull off a meet of this scale.
The Team Title Race
The Boys’ Field: Earlier this season, I said the only way Pinkerton loses this meet is if their bus breaks down on the way there—and I stand by that. They score points in almost every discipline and are absolutely loaded with athletes capable of pulling down 8 to 10 points apiece. While they are projected for a massive 140 points on paper, even if they don’t hit that exact haul, they should easily clear 100. Behind them, things get wild. Manchester Memorial and Alvirne are in a dead heat based on seed totals, but Concord, Nashua South, and Keene are lurking right behind. It’s a wide-open race to 50 points for the runner-up trophy.
The Girls’ Field: Exeter and Pinkerton entered the spring as the clear favorites, with Exeter holding the early-season edge. Heading into the weekend, Pinkerton has grabbed a slight advantage on paper, but both squads are projected to score north of 115 points. The wild card? Both Nashua North and Bedford can score over 90 points. This means four powerhouse schools will devour the vast majority of the podium spots, leaving a massive gap to fifth place. For Bedford or North to pull off an upset, they’ll need career days alongside some major slip-ups from the top two.
Sprints & Hurdles
Boys
100m: Pinkerton’s Winston George sat out the open 100m and 200m last week, but his body of work makes him the man to beat. His top challengers are Kobe Perry (Nashua North) and Ceasar Flahn (Manchester Central), the defending champion who looked blistering fast on Londonderry’s track a week ago.
200m: Ewa Edokpolo (Memorial) is the slight favorite over Flahn and George, but good luck predicting the exact podium order on any given day.
110m Hurdles: Joey Marcotte (Alvirne) holds the top seed, but this field has been trading victories all season. Expect a thrilling four-man race to the line between Marcotte, John Child (Pinkerton), Wayne Crowell (Keene), and Oliver Gould (Pinkerton). Child and Crowell finished 1-2 last year.
300m Hurdles: Crowell holds a razor-thin advantage over defending champion Ryan Jamison (Winnacunnet) and Gavin Edgecomb (Pinkerton).
Girls
100m & 200m: Freshman sensation Aliana Beck (Bedford) has stormed to the front of the class this spring, capturing the top seed in both events. However, last year’s double runner-up, Lianna Cory (Portsmouth), sits in the #2 spot and is hungry for a title. Keep an eye on Nora Brayall (Pinkerton) in the 100m and Abigail Azevedo (Nashua North) in the 200m.
100m Hurdles: Indoor 55m hurdle champ Abigail Stienicker (Pinkerton) is the top seed, holding a slim margin over Ganel Gotay (Salem), with Molly Flynn (Portsmouth) rounding out the top three.
300m Hurdles: Stienicker sits as the #2 seed, sandwiched between two Nashua North stars. Allison Frye takes the top seed and is the fastest pure sprinter in the field, while teammate Charlotte Wilson holds the #3 seed.
Middle Distance & Distance
Boys
400m: Ewa Edokpolo (Memorial) is one of the premier athletes of the entire meet. His seed time of 48.25 is more than two seconds clear of the field and already under the Division 1 record of 48.74. If the weather cooperates, a state record attempt is very much on the table. Wade Plaskiewicz (Keene) and Dexter Mariotti are battling for the next spots, seeded at 50.47.
800m: This could be the race of the day. While the state might not officially recognize non-uniform times for seeding, we certainly do for this preview. Joe Gustavson is the favorite after ascending to a whole new level this year, dropping a blistering 1:52.76 at the BSR Elite meet—a time that would shatter the D1 record. He faces a loaded field with seven boys under the 2-minute barrier, including Josh Twomey (Londonderry), Melo Berdecia (Dover), and Will Hart (Portsmouth), who have all run 1:55-change this spring.
1600m: Jason Robie (Pinkerton) is the clear favorite after running a 4:10 at the BSR meet. Because he is doubling back in the 3200m, he’ll likely want to conserve energy. That won’t be easy with Josiah Conley (Concord) chasing his school record all season from the #2 spot, and Carson Fitzgerald (Londonderry) in the #3 seat.
3200m: This is Ethan Fischer’s (Bishop Guertin) race to lose. He has been locked in since the winter and already went sub-9 minutes this spring. He’ll be chasing the D1 record set by his former teammate last year. Jason Robie and Lucas Gomez (Salem) lead the chase pack.
Girls
400m: This event became wide open after a massive wave of 15 scratches. Sarah Rzasa (Pinkerton) takes the top seed fresh off a personal best last week. She is backed by teammate Naomi Ebhaleme, while Exeter counters with the dangerous duo of Martelle McBride and Izzie Bremer. This race carries massive team point implications.
The Distance Triple (800m/1600m/3200m): Spectators are in for an absolute treat as two of the best runners in the country go head-to-head. Alexis Paterna (Exeter) and Mikita Barry (Bedford) have both opted for the grueling distance triple. Both are aggressive frontrunners.
In the 1600m, Paterna boasts a season-best conversion of 4:45, while Barry enters at 4:50—the state record could absolutely fall here. Bri Paterna (Exeter) is the #3 seed, followed by Pinkerton’s Gabby Bedard and Kalisan Marzolf.
In the 800m, Barry holds the clear edge with a 2:07 clocking from the BSR meet. Paterna is the #2 seed, but defending champion Rosalie Neveau (Nashua North) will be waiting in the wings if the top two burn each other out early. Exeter’s depth (Bremer, Madie Poteet, Eli Cross, and Dani Caron) could overwhelm the team scores here.
The 3200m will come down to who has the most left in their legs. Lexi Paterna is the paper favorite, followed by Barry, Bri Paterna, Bedard, and Zoe Coler (Bishop Guertin).
Field Events: Jumps
Boys
Long Jump: For the first time in recent memory, the top two long jumpers entering the D1 meet are both freshmen. Caleb Plante (Spaulding) leads the field at 21’10”, followed closely by Joel Elliot (Memorial) at 21’7″ and Oliver Gould (Pinkerton) in third.
Triple Jump: Thomas Saysaw (Concord) commands a massive two-foot lead with a 46’11” seed. Preston Bois (Nashua South) and Robby Marcelin (Concord) round out the top three.
Pole Vault: Preston Bois is also the favorite here, having cleared 14’7″ earlier this season. He will be on D1 record watch despite a very busy schedule. Ian Magnan (Pinkerton) and Leo Guarracino (Portsmouth) look to apply pressure.
High Jump: It’s a dead heat at the top between Christopher Guarnaccia (Windham) and Gavin Suchecki (Nashua North). With 11 jumpers clustered within two inches of each other, and Michael Georges (Memorial) sitting at #3, this title is completely up for grabs.
Girls
High Jump: Abigail Azevedo (Nashua North) and Eres Delorey (Londonderry) share the top seed at 5’4″, with Isabelle Schreiner (Windham) in third. With dominant jumpers like Danielle Bates (Timberlane) moving to D2 for the outdoor season, the podium is wide open for these three.
Pole Vault: Emma Millette (Nashua South) has been the undisputed state leader all year. She enters as the favorite by over a foot and sits just 6 inches shy of the D1 record. Delaney Paquin (Pinkerton) and Greta Ruehr (Keene) head up the chase pack.
Long Jump: Angela Cenesca (Manchester Central) is the clear woman to beat, holding a commanding one-foot advantage over the field. Martelle McBride (Exeter) and Katie Coleman (Pinkerton)—who hit a personal best on this runway last week—are right behind.
Triple Jump: Ganel Gotay (Salem) is the top seed, but look out for #2 seed Sarah Frye (Nashua North). Frye was last year’s runner-up and is incredibly consistent, which matters late in the day during a busy meet. Lexy Rogers (Exeter) takes the #3 seed fresh off a lifetime best.
Field Events: Throws
Boys
Shot Put & Discus: Unsurprisingly, the same three throwers dominate the top seeds in both events. In the shot put, Thomas Blaszka (Pinkerton) is the lone athlete over the 50-foot mark, followed by Charles Barrett (Alvirne) and Travis Dunbar (Concord). Flipping to the discus, Barrett claims the top seed, with Blazka at #2 and Dunbar at #3. Expect some chaotic shakeups in the finals as the middle of the pack is incredibly tight.
Javelin: Sawyer Penny (Nashua South) has owned the state’s top mark all year. Seeded at 166′, he holds a comfortable 10-foot cushion over Thomas Sylvain (Windham) and Drake James (Manchester Central).
Girls
Shot Put: Avery Trask (Pinkerton) cleared the field early this season with a 38’11.25″ bomb. However, defending champ Brynn Johnson (Windham) is the most consistent thrower in the circle, and veteran Lucille Beem (Exeter) has the championship experience to pull off a win. With eight girls capable of shuffling the podium in any order, this event is highly unpredictable and crucial for team scores.
Discus: Johnson takes the top seed here with a 118′ mark, followed by Beem and Carolyn Kemp (Bedford). This is another wide-open event featuring eight girls over the 100-foot threshold.
Javelin: Josie Lefebvre (Manchester Central) has controlled the top spot most of the season. She, Skylar Marzolf (Pinkerton), and Ava Tardif (Alvirne) are the only competitors over 100 feet this year, so expect a fierce battle for the lower podium steps.
The Relays
Boys
4x800m: Londonderry might not be in the hunt for the team plaque, but their 4x800m squad is legendary. They dropped a blazing 7:50 last week. The D1 record is toast, and the state record is officially on notice. It’s unclear who Pinkerton will deploy here, but they project as the next best squad, with Portsmouth holding the #3 seed.
4x100m: Pinkerton holds the top seed with a time under the current D1 record, and they’ll be hunting the state record. Memorial and Alvirne will give chase.
4x400m: Pinkerton is the favorite again after threatening the state record earlier this spring. Winnacunnet enters at #2—an incredible feat considering their individual 400m state-record holder has been sidelined with injuries all season. Memorial takes the third spot, and teams will want to ensure they have a gap before Memorial hands off to their dangerous anchor leg.
Girls
4x800m: This one is a puzzle. Exeter is the top seed at 9:16—nearly 30 seconds ahead of Bedford and Pinkerton. However, if teams hold back their “A” lineups to save legs for individual events, expect slower times but a similar finishing order.
4x100m: Bedford and Pinkerton are separated by a razor-thin 0.1 seconds, making this a pure coin flip. Don’t sleep on a surging Portsmouth squad with individual standout Lianna Cory running anchor.
4x400m: Exeter and Bedford put on an absolute clinic with matching 3:57s at the Clipper Relays. Fatigue will definitely be a factor by the end of the meet, which could open the door for fresh legs from Nashua North and Pinkerton to stage a late-meet upset.
