Division Favorites – Exeter, Hanover, Hopkinton
Individuals to Watch – Alexis Paterna & Brianna Paterna (Exeter), Maddy Lane & Maisie Emerson (Hopkinton), Olivia Kavanagh & Madelyn Cook (Oyster River), Aria Deeb & Alice Bell (Hanover), Samantha Swanbon & Brynn Siska (Souhegan)
Division 3
So I’ve been doing the previews for Division 3 ever since the website has existed, meaning I’ve done this for a long time. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a season where both the boys and the girls teams are, on paper, the big favorite right out of the gate. This year however it looks like Hopkinton is the clear favorite for both genders, both being the only team in the top eight returning their entire squads. Bringing back everyone is usually a good sign, but when your teams finished first and second, and everyone else has lost important contributors, the dye has been cast. Now it’s time to live up to those expectations and it ain’t always that easy.
Hopkinton is the defending champion and defend they should. Returning the top D3 runner, one might say the best in NH, the New England champ, as well as the top NE qualifier to Nike Cross Nationals, Maddy Lane is back for her senior campaign. With very little left she hasn’t accomplished, it’s safe to say she’d like to cap off her senior year with both an individual and team championship. But let’s not get caught up in everything Maddy, the Hawks have a very reputable wing-man in Maisie Emerson, grinding her way to the runner-up spot last year. She’ll have Addison Martin of Pelham to deal with but over the ensuing months Emerson has shown she’s a power within herself for Hopkinton and any thoughts of any type of championship will have to run through her. Toss in the rest of the squad, Rose Afflerbach, Ellison Gregory, Hannah Clarner, Gwyneth Buelte, Lucy Beardmore and the rest of the Hawks squad, plus add in MSer Ella Lundquist and it would be hard to imagine another squad with the firepower to bring these birds down from the thermals.
If any squad were to do it I would have to guess it would be their feathered friends from Portsmouth Christian Academy. The Eagles were led last year by 8th grader Elizabeth Stewart and were 75 points in front of third placer Newmarket. While they only lose one Varsity runner to graduation and group fairly well, Hopkinton has the low stick and is faster man to man. They’ll need Sophie Anderson, Josie Dibiase, Emma Johnson, Hannah McKeen and Lilly Rivard to move ahead collectively if they are to make inroads on last year’s champs but certainly look poised to make some noise. Their meteoric rise last year was a surprise to me, so there is no way I would leave them out of the running this year.
Behind these two the crystal ball is a little bit murky. I’m going to go with these three teams to be in the running for a top five finish based on the fact they finished in the top ten and return five off their Varsity roster and they are #4 Newmarket, #6 Pelham and #9 InterLakes. If you score the athletes that didn’t graduate without taking them out of the final scoring, Pelham sits at 206 to InterLakes 217 and Newmarket’s 240 points. Remove graduates and the difference shrinks even more.
With that said, looking over the rosters I’d have to give the nod to Newmarket, as their pack time is better by a minute over InterLakes and by more than 122 seconds over Pelham. Newmarket returns a young crew without a senior in Rhiannon Lewis, Ella Carvalho, Sahalie Redmond, Ivy Patrick and Brianna Wu, making them dangerous if they can all come together. With Coach Neri helping steer the ship, I suspect they’ll be sniffing out a top three spot come October.
I would have to give the nod between Pelham and InterLakes to the Pythons primarily to the fact that Pelham is the largest school in the division, practically double that of InterLakes, so the likelihood of picking up another athlete that can help with the scoring is much greater. However that being said, you need that athlete to materialize for it to matter. Pelham is fronted by a very able Addison Martin, who was in it for the runner up position until late in the race at Derryfield. If they can move up as a group they might just slither into the top three.
The mystery of InterLakes might be not only did they not have a senior on the team, the scoring five were made up of 9th graders and 8th graders. You can never be sure how a team will develop as the ladies transition from middle schoolers to high schoolers but with a strong core group of young ladies they might be able to make some waves. Sophomore Elsa Bartlett has made big strides during track season and I’d imagine that will continue this cross country season. I can see a bright future for the Lakers.
Behind that it is anyone’s guess. Last year’s #3 Newfound lost five seniors to graduation while #5 Fall Mountain graduated out four seniors on a six person squad. Those teams will need to reload and reload quick if they are to play a part in the challenge for a Meet of Champions berth.
Individually, Lane’s in a class of her own. She was a 1:18 ahead of teammate Emerson who should be battling Pelham’s Martin, Monadnock’s Emma Short, Sanborn’s Sophie Thurlow, Bishop Brady’s Elouise Burns, Moultonborough’s Hailey Watts, PCA’s Stewart, Derryfield’s Fazelat and InterLake’s Bartlett having all run under 22 minutes.
I think the biggest challenge to D3 isn’t going to be about who makes the trip to MOCs but rather how many teams are actually vying for it. Going back through the results I found a few disturbing trends in D3 so I decided to do a bit more digging. Without calculating the 2020 Covid season into the mix, using 2021 through 2025 (five years) and comparing to 2015 through 2019 (five years) we’ve seen a loss on the average nine athletes and three teams competing as a team at Division 3 States. And going back as far as the results list both the number of scoring teams versus teams with entries (2022), this past season was the first time there have been more schools with athletes at the championships but not enough for a scoring team than there have been scoring teams (16 scoring teams, 17 teams without enough athletes to score.)
According to the NHIAA there are 37 D3 schools that contest cross country (or at least have paid the dues to do so) and 33 schools in attendance with 16 having enough bodies to count in team scoring. That means just under 44% of the schools that compete in Division 3 cross country actually fielded complete-ish teams at the championships. Compounding those numbers is of the competing 16 schools, half of them were competing with seven athletes filling out their Varsity roster, meaning the loss of one or two athletes would have meant only 8 teams would have been in contention for the top five spots at MOCs.
I think part of what we’re seeing is the addition of some of the smaller schools adding cross country as part of the educational experience, thus meaning the addition of new schools is on the smaller end of the school size list, meaning lower number of average athletes per team, which makes sense. But the fact that we’ve been adding teams (Holy Family, Canaan, Profile) should also mean we see a rise in overall participation but that’s not the case. I have no ideas why this is the case nor any solutions for making improvements but this is the first time these statistics have sprung to the forefront in the 12 years I’ve been doing the preview. We’ve all seen the pendulum swing, I hope it’s swinging back at this point.
–Mike Smith
Division 2
Last year, Hanover rolled to the Division II championship at Derryfield Park, scoring just 25 points and putting five runners among the first nine finishers. Oyster River was runner-up with 52 points, followed by Coe-Brown at 119, Hollis-Brookline at 125 and Souhegan at 177. But consider graduation as well as potential newcomers to each squad, and we get an intriguing early glimpse at what could be waiting for us this fall.
Hanover still seems to be the preseason favorite with Oyster River and Coe-Brown aren’t far behind. Throw in Souhegan and Hollis-Brookline as your potential top 5. Of course, nobody is handing out trophies in August based on last October’s results. Incoming freshmen, summer development, new runners and athletes who didn’t compete at the 2025 state championship will all change the equation.
Even though names like Faris, Larrick and Muirhead have matriculated, Hanover will simply reload as they return Aria Deeb, Alice Bell, Lila Marchetti and Grace Stewart. All four finished among the top 13 at last year’s championship. Deeb ran 20:04.00 for sixth, Bell was ninth in 20:22.44, Marchetti placed 10th in 20:29.30 and Stewart finished 13th in 20:50.33. They are 2-4-5-8 for returners – that’s 19 points through four runners.
Considering the youth of Marchetti as well as the fact Hanover always seems to get those 1-2 freshman who make large impacts (see Marchetti in 2025), and returning champ Hanover enters 2026 as the team to beat.
If anyone is positioned to challenge Hanover, start with Oyster River and their top runner Olivia Kavanagh. Kavanagh finished second at the 2025 championship in 19:36.86, only 16 seconds behind Faris. With Faris graduating, Kavanagh enters the season as the fastest returning runner from last year’s Division II championship. She won’t have to carry the Bobcats by herself.
Madelyn Cook returns after finishing 11th in 20:43.01, while Haley Bezanson was 17th in 21:16.93. Jillian Williams gives Oyster River a fourth returning scorer after running 22:22.00 as a sophomore. In the four-returning runner rescore, Oyster River goes 1-6-10-16 for 33 points. That’s 14 behind Hanover, but certainly close enough to make things interesting. Especially considering both Bezanson and Cook had great spring campaigns. The Bobcats need to close the gap between their 3rd and 4th, but the program has been consistent with adding runners capable of filling those gaps on an annual basis. They certainly have championships potential.
Then there’s Coe-Brown. The Bears finished third at the 2025 championship with 119 points, just six ahead of Hollis-Brookline. But when the seniors are removed, Coe-Brown suddenly looks like one of Division II’s most intriguing teams. Last year, Hilary Wennberg finished 16th in 21:13.55, Annabelle Lovett placed 20th in 21:52.19, Eloise Hill was 21st in 22:04.74 and freshman Lily Travis finished 23rd in 22:08.32. In the returning-runner rescore, those four occupy positions 9-12-13-14. That puts the Bears 15 behind Oyster River and 29 behind Hanover. But Coe-Brown has one advantage which could make those numbers shrink considerably: its top group is tightly packed. At last year’s state meet, only 54.77 seconds separated their 1 and 4 scorers. And this stat does not consider the spring track improvements for Lovett and Hill as well as Riley Trested and XC newcomer Enah Curry.
Coe-Brown may not enter the season with a true low stick, but the Bears could put a pack of runners across the finish line before other teams get to their fourth or fifth scorer. With a top 7 potentially comprised of 4 sophomores, this group could be a real threat.
Don’t overlook Souhegan as they certainly have a formidable 1-2 punch. At the front they have Samantha Swanbon and Brynn Siska. Swanbon finished seventh at Derryfield last fall in 20:07.00, while Siska was 12th in 20:48.28 as a freshman. They move to third and seventh among the returners. That’s championship-level front running. The Sabers will be looking for names like Dylan Walker, Grace Kennedy, and Jessica Bowers to close the gap to Swanbon and Siska. Further, Souhegan also has a knack of bringing in a freshman or 2 as instant contributors. If they do this again, the Sabers could become much more dangerous.
Graduation also hits Hollis-Brookline hard. The Cavaliers finished just six points behind Coe-Brown at last year’s championship, but graduated 3 major names from that lineup. That leaves Hannah LaPointe as the clear runner to watch for H-B as she finished 18th last fall in 21:23.98. Behind her she does have a group of strong returners with Alina Szczeszynski, Natalie Stern, and Sarah Hoesch.
Laconia, Merrimack Valley and Plymouth look like the best of the rest and could provide some of the biggest surprises of 2026. Laconia moves up considerably in the returning-runner picture, scoring 108 points through four runners. Mariah Ash leads the way after running 22:22.44 as a freshman, with Jazmin LeClerc (23:27.47) and Eden Stokes (24:29.26) also returning. Merrimack Valley is right behind, led by Reagan Jefferson (22:42.19) and Emily Baca (23:02.44). Freshman Brylee Flood ran 24:41.41, giving the Pride another young runner with plenty of upside. Plymouth Regional is right with this pack as well. The Bobcats lose eighth-place finisher Elli Englund, but return Claire Gervez (22:22.77), Acacia Hartley (24:06.80), Madeline Ronci (24:10.64) and Lorelai Fuller (25:40.38).
The individual race may be every bit as entertaining as the team championship.
Kavanagh deserves the preseason No. 1 spot but things are certainly interesting as others had awesome spring track campaigns and should not be slept on! Hanover’s Deeb had a tremendous spring and could be considered a co-favorite, but watch out for other names like Swanbon, Siska, Cook, as well as Deeb’s teammates Bell, Marchetti and Stewart. Do not count out Bezanson. As with every year there will be new names in the top 10 from the freshman ranks as well as returners who make big jumps!
Division 1
The road to the 2026 Division One Championship once again cuts through the grueling hills of Derryfield Park. Known as a notoriously difficult course that routinely pushes athletes to their absolute physical limits, Derryfield will serve as the ultimate proving ground once again this fall. With the top three teams earning automatic qualification and the next best overall squads fighting for the nine wildcard spots, the margin for error is razor-thin. Here is how the field shapes up for the 2026 season.
Exeter enters the season as the overwhelming, easy favorite to capture their first state title since 1978. After barely missing it last fall, returning their powerhouse lineup they look nearly impossible to beat. They are led by the formidable Paterna sisters, Alexis (12) and Brianna (12), who return as the top two runners in the division, and two of the top girls from the entire state and maybe even New England. Backed by Molly Kells (12), Izzie Bremer (12), and Ashleigh MacEachem (11), Exeter has the potential to place their entire scoring front five inside the individual top 20. With this strong senior leadership, they could be fighting for a top spot on the New England stage as well.
While Exeter commands the spotlight, a fierce, point-for-point battle is brewing for the runner-up spot on the podium. Four teams are separated by a handful of points early season, meaning any standard year-to-year progression and all important incoming freshmen could completely reshuffle the standings.
Holding perhaps the highest upside of the chasing pack, Windham returns its entire varsity nucleus intact. The front five of Hazel Perks (11), Ally Hartmann (11), Devyn Viens (10), Atia Mutai (10), and Alexa Luippold (10) will attempt to leverage their depth to close the gap on Exeter. With potentially two in the top 15 (maybe top 10) that gives them the strength up front. Add their depth to support that pack and it makes them a strong contender.
Despite graduating 3 of the top four from last year’s roster, Pinkerton is anchored by frontrunner Sookie Folsom (12) and proven varsity scorers Naomi Ebhaleme (10) and Charlotte Boyington (11). Add to that JV standout Abigail Stienecker (12) and incoming freshmen that always are factors for the Astros, they are in contention for a podium position once again.
Projecting neck-and-neck with Pinkerton and Windham, Keene relies heavily on a tight pack. Abigail Pinegar (12) and Aubrie Desroches (10) provide heavy low-stick scoring potential, while Gemma Drew (12) heads the supporting cast. Having only graduated one from their 6th place finishing team last year, they are right in the mix.
Bedford lost substantial senior talent to graduation, but their culture of success remains. Grace Boll (12), Nora Buxton (11) and Julia Malnar (12) are strong returning varsity runners. JV standouts Abrielle Summers (11) and Helena Shaheen (11) lead a resilient returning core alongside rising underclassman.
Returning nearly its entire roster, Nashua North stands out as the ultimate sleeper team in the division and a strong candidate to disrupt the top five. Led by top five contender (2026 XC all-stater) Rosalie Neveau (12), the Titans could surprise some people.
Frontrunners Jaylyn Paul (11) and Zoe Coler (10) gives Bishop Guertin an elite presence at the front of races, though the team will need developing varsity runners to step up after losing major senior contributors if they want to compete for a top 3 position.
Concord, Alvirne, Dover and Londonderry are programs that round out a solid midpack, however will need to show the depth required to comfortably challenge for an at-large postseason berth.
Individually, the Paterna sisters should go 1-2. Bishop Guertin’s Coler and Pinkerton’s Folsom will be right on their tail looking to break them up. Keene’s Pinegar, Concord’s Mahalie Burdette, Nashua North’s Neveau and Exeter’s Kells won’t be far off that far pack looking for a top five position. Rounding out the remaining top ten spots will come from Keene’s Desroches, Exeter’s Bremer, Winnacunnet’s Sofia Parisi or Windham’s Perks. The fight for the prestigious top ten should be a battle and will be fought with those that had the best summer training and can stay healthy.
-Amy Sanborn
MOCs!
Last year the Meet of Champions was dominated by Hanover, which scored 40 points with three seniors among its first four finishers. Exeter was third with 101 points, just one behind Oyster River and one ahead of Pinkerton. As mentioned, Hanover graduated 3 major names, but return 4 others. With some quality newcomers expected to join the squad, Hanover certainly will be a force by MOCs time, perhaps the favorites by then. But now, as we try to forecast the season, Exeter does return their entire top 5 with 2 in the overall top 5 potentially. So at this point, do we have co-favorites with Exeter and Hanover??
Let’s break this down shall we? Exeter is certainly the track powerhouse led by the Paterna sisters and indicated by their national championship 4×800 as well as their All American Distance Medley Relay. Pit this track resume v. the XC tradition of Hanover. Hanover always seems collectively at their strongest in the fall over the hills and trails.
The Blue Hawks’ advantage begins with Alexis Paterna, the defending Meet of Champions winner. Paterna ran a spectacular 17:05.13 as a junior, while younger sister Brianna Paterna finished fourth overall in 18:21.74. Then comes the depth. Molly Kells ran 19:48.65 and Izzie Bremer 20:02.62 at MOCs.
But Hanover isn’t going anywhere. Aria Deeb leads their exceptional returning group after running 18:33.73. Alice Bell was at 18:59.99, while freshman Lila Marchetti ran 19:33.16 and Grace Stewart followed in 19:35.20. Throw in the newcomers and Hanover may be the solo favorite come November.
That could be the defining team battle of 2026.
Don’t forget Oyster River as they should be a solid pick for top 3, especially with Olivia Kavanagh as the low-stick. Add in strong veteran harriers with Madelyn Cook and Haley Bezanson and the Bobcats sport a top 3 which can compete with any squad in the state.
Look For Hopkinton to be another strong candidate for top 3 as well. Obviously they have Maddy Lane, the defending D3 and New England Champ at the helm, but Maisie Emerson has emerged as a statewide threat as well. When you have 2 low sticks and a strong supporting cast (Afflerbach, Gregory et.al.), expect strong championship performances not only within our state but also at New Englands.
After the top four, the competition gets incredibly tight among several teams. Windham may have the most intriguing pack of the group. Hazel Perks ran 20:13.20, Ally Hartmann 20:27.76, Devyn Viens 20:39.94 and Atia Mutai 20:42.12. Throw in their strong supporting cast and do we have a rising pack powerhouse?
Concord was right behind Windham last year and Mahalie Burdette and Quinn Doherty give the Crimson Tide a strong front two after running 19:19.03 and 19:33.77. Gianna Gualtieri and freshman Grace Henry complete the projected four.
Keene was right there are led by Abigail Pinegar, who ran 19:12.62, followed by freshman Aubrie Desroches, Gemma Drew and Runa Nelson. Then comes Coe-Brown who was knocking on the door last year with their 40 second or so pack time similar to Windham. If that entire group moves forward together, the Bears could climb several positions.
A couple of teams looking to crack the New Englands qualifying ranks have strong front running will be BG and Souhegan. If they can bring their supporting cast up the ranks, they both could be punching their ticket to Maine.
The Individual Championship
2026 should round 2 in the Lane v L. Paterna friendly rivalry. As XC racing fans we were treated to witnessing incredible seasons by these 2 last year culminating in their legendary war at Thetford, VT’s New England Championship. No one will ever forget that to-the-line battle on one of our sport’s largest stages. We constantly pasted, “…and they are only juniors” all of last year in anticipationg of this year. Expect a continuation of excellance and incredible racing as we saw in 2025.
Those we should see in the chase pack should include names like Brianna Paterna of Exeter (18:21.74), Olivia Kavanagh of Oyster River (18:29.35), Aria Deeb of Hanover (18:33.73), Samantha Swanbon of Souhegan (18:51.49), Alice Bell of Hanover (18:59.99), Brynn Siska of Souhegan (19:01.33), Sookie Folsom of Pinkerton (19:03.03) and Maisie Emerson of Hopkinton (19:08.61). And as with every year, we will see surprises in that top 10 from the freshmen ranks as well as returners.
Good luck to all!
