The road to New England runs through Hopkinton this Saturday as New Hampshire’s finest harriers gather for the 2026 NHIAA Cross Country Meet of Champions. Following last weekend’s State Divisional Championships at Derryfield Park, the stage is set for what could be one of the most competitive MOCs in recent memory. With individual stars representing all three divisions and a team championships which appears too close to call, the Hopkinton Fairgrounds will provide plenty of excitement.
Girls Race
The latest New Hampshire Cross Country rankings reflect just how competitive this year’s field has become. Division I champion Exeter and Division II champion Hanover share the state’s top ranking with Oyster River third, Bishop Guertin fourth, and Lebanon fifth. Concord, Pinkerton, Hopkinton, Bedford, and Windham complete the top ten. With the top six teams earning the opportunity to represent New Hampshire at the New England Championships, Saturday’s competition promises to be intense from the opening mile to the finish line.
Exeter enters as the Division I champion after an impressive 41-point performance at Derryfield Park. The Blue Hawks are led by the outstanding sister combination of Alexis Paterna and Brianna Paterna, who finished first and second at D1s. Their ability to finish near the front of virtually any field provides Exeter with a significant advantage. However, Exeter is much more than its two frontrunners. Izzie Bremer, Molly Kells, Ashleigh MacEachern, Austin Williams and Lena McRae gives the Blue Hawks complimentary depth which proves potent in any race scenario.
Hanover, meanwhile, counters with arguably the deepest lineup in the state which captured the Division II championship with just 32 points, placing all five scoring runners among the top ten. Senior Aria Deeb provides the low stick evidenced by he runner-up finish last week while fellow senior Alice Bell placed fourth. Behind those two, Hanover demonstrated remarkable depth and pack running. Freshman Edie Rojansky finished seventh, junior Mia Sverrild ninth, and senior Ari Hirschler tenth all within 20 seconds of each other. Even more impressive, Grace Stewart and Olive Hanissian finished within 46 seconds of Rojansky as Hanover had seven runners among the top 14 finishers in Division II.
While Exeter and Hanover enter as co-favorites, Oyster River has every reason to believe it can challenge for a top-two finish. The Bobcats secured the Division II runner-up trophy with 59 points, led by Olivia Kavanagh, who finished third, Haley Bezanson followed in fifth, and Madelyn Cook placed eighth. These 3 low sticks can translate well in a field like the MOCs. With Corina Sietz and Jillian Williams both continuing to improve, the Bobcats seem to be closing the gap.
Division I runner-up Bishop Guertin also enters with momentum after scoring 99 points at Derryfield. The Cardinals are led by junior Jaylyn Paul and sophomore Zoe Coler who both placed in the top 10 at D1s. If they along with freshman Angelina Rodriguez, junior Annabelle Mason, and junior Shannon Forsyth are firing on all cylinders, BG should punch their ticket.
Lebanon presents another intriguing contender, particularly with freshman sensation Jill Campbell leading the charge. Campbell captured the Division II individual championship in an impressive time of 18:28.9. This figuratively puts her as the 3rd seed and this is valuable. Further considering Leb’s #2 Brooke Nelson did not finish, but is racing this week, Lebanon is certainly a dangerous team which has great potential to outperform their current ranking. A sign of a great team, Carolyn Campbell, Ollie Hanna, Victoria Pomeroy, and Maeve Finnegan all came together to help Lebanon secure third place. This is a demonstration of how over the course of this season the young team have certainly gelled and gained valuable experience so do expect them to bounce back big time.
Behind the leading contenders, the race for the remaining New England qualifying position could be exceptionally close. Concord enters with renewed confidence after finishing third in Division I. As she has done all year, senior Mahalie Burdette delivered an outstanding third-place individual performance, while Quinn Doherty, Corinne Conley, Maeve Durmer, and Grace Henry completed the Crimson Tide’s scoring five.
Pinkerton finished just four points behind Concord at Division I and should be another serious contender. Senior Sookie Folsom finished fourth, with sophomore Naomi Ebhaleme taking tenth and freshman Meghan Mullaney placing 17th. With a strong front three, Pinkerton has the potential to move up considerably if its remaining scorers can close the gap.
Division III champion Hopkinton will also be a team to watch on its home course. They have been ranked in the top 5 most of the season. Led by senior Madeleine Lane, the Hawks once again dominated their divisional championship and bring an experienced lineup into Saturday’s competition. Maisie Emerson provides a strong second runner, while Rose Afflerbach, Hannah Clarner, Ellison Gregory, and the rest of the Hopkinton squad will look to capitalize on their familiarity with the Fairgrounds. Do not sleep on the Hawks as they have qualified in recent years and know how to deliver at the MOCs.
Bedford and Windham, ranked ninth and tenth respectively, cannot be overlooked. Bedford finished fifth in Division I, while Windham followed just 13 points behind. Both teams have demonstrated the ability to compete with quality programs throughout the season and will be looking to produce their best collective performances when it matters most.
Individual Race
This isn’t just another high school race—it is a massive, head-to-head battle between two nationally ranked runners in Exeter High’s Lexi Paterna and Hopkinton’s Maddy Lane.
Those of us that have been around long enough to remember say this matchup has the feels of the legendary 1990s rivalry between John Mortimer (Londonderry) and Andy Downin (Pinkerton Academy) who finished 1-2 at the Footlocker Nationals. Back then, those two athletes traded state titles and pushed each other to become national superstars. Paterna and Lane are on their way to accomplishing similar feats.
Paterna is having a monster season. This fall, she is undefeated and has set meet records at the Manchester Invitational with a blistering 17:57 at Derryfield Park, a 16:54 at the Hopkinton Invitational, and 17:09 At the Catholic Memorial Invitational at Franklin Park, MA. She is also a Brooks Cross Country All-American in 2025. On the track, she owns the New Hampshire overall state record in both the 1600m, 1500m, and 4×800 meter relay. She was a National Champion this past spring anchoring the 4×800 to the win at New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Lane is a historically dominant champion. She recently became just the fourth girl in NHIAA history to win four consecutive individual state cross country titles. She won the premium Bob Day Girls Sweepstakes Race against the best runners on the West Coast out in California. She absolutely dominated the final stretch, clocking a blistering 15:47.6 for the 3-mile course. She also won the Battle of the Border, breaking the course record in 16:46. She’s the defending New England Champion in Cross Country. Last spring, she went on to run a jaw-dropping 16:37.29 for 5,000 meters to take 3rd place at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. The future Harvard runner is also a Nike Cross Nationals finalist in 2025.
When these two race together, the results are legendary. Last year, Lane edged out Paterna by just 0.11 seconds to win the New England Championship in a wild photo finish. A week earlier, Paterna beat Lane at the MOC. They were even named New Hampshire’s Co-Runners of the Year because nobody could separate them. This Saturday’s race at the Fairgrounds is a “must-watch” moment. When the gun goes off this weekend, look closely—because as spectators, we might have to wait another 30 years before we ever see a high school rivalry this good again.
Giving chase certainly will be Lebanon freshman and D2 Champ Jill Campbell, who has emerged as one of the state’s most exciting young runners. Despite being just a freshman, Campbell has already demonstrated remarkable composure and the ability to take control of championship races. Do not sleep on Exeter’s Brianna Paterna as she also belongs in the championship conversation. Her 19:11.1 runner-up performance in Division I was certainly a measured effort. The James Madison bound senior certainly will challenge Campbell which is another reason the MOCs is so exciting!
Expect Hanover’s Aria Deeb to also be a major factor after finishing second in Division II last week. Deeb has consistently demonstrated her ability to compete against quality competition. Another intriguing entrant is Profile eighth-grader Sylvie Brown, who finished second in Division III, just ahead of Hopkinton’s Maisie Emerson. Brown’s performance against older competition demonstrates considerable promise, and both runners be battling for prominent positions on Saturday. Concord’s Mahalie Burdette, Pinkerton’s Sookie Folsom, Oyster River’s Olivia Kavanagh, and Hanover’s Alice Bell are additional contenders who could challenge for top-ten finishes.
Other notable athletes to watch include Oyster River’s Haley Bezanson and Madelyn Cook, Bishop Guertin’s Jaylyn Paul, Dover’s Janelle Poulin, Nashua North’s Rosalie Neveu, and Merrimack Valley freshman Isabel Geddes. Each has demonstrated the ability to perform well in championship competition and could emerge as a factor.
Boys Race
Last Saturday’s divisional championships at Derryfield Park provided plenty of excitement, with Bishop Guertin’s Ethan Fischer, Hanover’s Ben Groves, and Fall Mountain’s Elijah Bodanza claiming individual titles. Meanwhile, Pinkerton, Hanover, and Hopkinton emerged as their respective division’s team champions. Now, the three divisions come together for a race that promises outstanding individual battles and a fascinating team championship showdown.
The change of venue from Derryfield Park to the Hopkinton Fairgrounds adds another dimension to the competition. Different type of course favors a different set of skills and adds to the intrigue of this year’s MOCs.
The most anticipated individual matchup features Division I champion Ethan Fischer of Bishop Guertin and Division II champion Ben Groves of Hanover. Both athletes were dominant in their respective divisional championships and enter Saturday as the leading contenders for the overall title. They faced off at the Manchester Invitational where Fischer pulled away in the late stages to win by 7 seconds.
Fischer delivered an impressive performance at Derryfield Park, winning his second consecutive Division I championship in 15:52.4 looking rather comfortable and smiling as he crossed the line. He finished more than 16 seconds ahead of Pinkerton’s Jason Robie, demonstrating his ability to separate himself from an extremely talented field. Fischer has established himself as one of New Englands’s premier distance runners, and his combination of speed, endurance, and championship experience makes him a favorite heading into Saturday.
Looking just as comfortable crossing the finish line last week, Groves has every reason to believe he can challenge for the victory. The Hanover senior captured his second consecutive Division II championship in 15:58.5. Groves has consistently demonstrated his ability to be unflappable when the stakes are highest, often performing in peak condition at the end of seasons. The opportunity to see Groves and Fischer face off again is pretty exciting.
Then we have Pinkerton’s Robie who simply won’t be overlooked. After an early season injury delayed his training, the senior continues to return to form each week. Last week finished runner-up in Division I with a strong 16:09 performance and has been one of the driving forces behind Pinkerton’s success throughout the season. If the leaders remain together deep into the race, Robie has the pedigree (4:10 miler) to steal this one.
Behind that trio, the battle for the remaining top positions could be extremely competitive. Hanover sophomore Dylan Faris enters following his impressive runner-up performance in Division II, while Coe-Brown sophomore Samuel Youngs was just behind him. Hanover junior Isaac McNaughton finished fourth in that very same race at 16:31.9, while Pinkerton’s Oscar D’Amelio ran 16:32 to place third in Division I. Of note, D’Amelio was indeed cruising across the line as he was all alone at the time while the others were racing the entire 5k.
NH is so deep this year, other contenders striving for a top 10 finish begin with Oyster River senior Levi Clapp, who finished fifth in Division II in 16:35. Coe Brown’s Patrick Youngs was right behind Clapp as he outleaned Hanover’s Teddy White both clocking 16:36. Pinkerton’s Joseph Gustavson also deserves serious consideration after placing fourth in Division I at 16:46.1, as does Londonderry’s Patrick Ramsey, who finished fifth in that race in 16:50.7. Exeter’s Logen Poteet, sixth in Division I at 16:53.8, as well as Coe-Brown’s Broden Cox who crossed in 16:55 adds even more depth to an already talented field.
Division III champion Elijah Bodanza of Fall Mountain should also be in the conversation. Bodanza captured his divisional championship in 16:43.9, ahead of Newfound’s Colin Foster, who finished in 16:54.6. Hopkinton’s Max Goupil, third in Division III in 17:05.2, will have the added benefit of racing on his home course. All three have earned the label of contender, but we will say Bodanza ran the easiest 16:43 we saw last Saturday.
With so many runners separated by relatively small margins, the competition for the top ten—and the qualifying positions for New Englands—could be just as exciting as the battle for the individual championship.
Team Championship
The competition to determine New Hampshire’s top boys team could not even more intriguing. The latest divisional results and season rankings point toward three primary contenders: Hanover, Pinkerton, and Coe-Brown. Oyster River also possesses the talent to challenge, particularly if its entire lineup delivers strong performances.
Hanover enters as the team to beat. They have occupied the top position in the state rankings and backed up that status with their Division II championship performance. Hanover scored just 29 points at Derryfield Park, placing four runners among the first seven finishers. Groves and Faris provide an outstanding one-two punch, while McNaughton gives Hanover a third legitimate top-ten contender. Throw in their most impressive development of 2026 which has been the emergence of freshman Teddy White who can also finish right with McNaughton and company. Their 5th scorer from Divisionals, junior Alexander Collins completed Hanover’s scoring last week and only seems to be improving giving Hanover tremendous potential.
Pinkerton, however, presents a similar challenge. The Astros dominated the Division I championship, placing four runners among the first seven finishers. Robie, D’Amelio, and Gustavson finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, while sophomore Demitri Rufo added a seventh-place finish. Pinkerton’s strength at the front of the race could create problems for every team in the field. With three runners capable of placing among the overall leaders and Rufo not far behind, the Astros could establish an extremely low score through four runners. The performances of Marcus Sowa, Leighton Klug, and Owen Boucher will be critical to Pinkerton’s championship aspirations. If the Astros can close the gap between their fourth and fifth scorers, they could challenge Hanover for the top spot.
Then there is D2 runner-ups Coe-Brown. The Black Bears placed 3 in the top 10 and all 5 in the top 14 finishers at last week’s D2 Championships. Most years this would be plenty to win. Led by Youngs brothers, Samuel and Patrick, Coe-Brown has a formidable front-running combination as they placed 3rd and 6th respectively last week. Cox is a great linchpin if-you-will, as his consistency in the middle of the scoring lineup pulls along their 4th and 5th scorers in Mateo Ferguson (13th) and Gus Glaser (14th). These 5 finished within 48 seconds of one another. In a larger Meet of Champions field, that ability to pack runners together could prove extremely dangerous. Throw in the additional fact that their 6th and 7th runners Ben Jobin and Ben Larson are not too far behind, their depth may also become a factor.
Oyster River should not be overlooked. The Bobcats finished third in Division II with 64 points, led by Clapp’s fifth-place performance. Senior Brendan Banafato emerged to place an impressive eighth, while Oliver Lehman finished 12th. With Ryker Andersen and Siddharth Sanjay completing the scoring group, Oyster River possesses the combination of front-running talent and depth necessary to compete for a top-four finish.
Right behind the Bobcats on the merge is Behind the leading four, Keene and they are dangerous thanks to their state’s best and insane 14 second pack time! Keene finished second in Division I behind Pinkerton, with Cooper Tiani, Gus Cusimano, Sawyer Kress, Aiden O’Donnell, and Tristan Woodbury. Exeter is another legit contender for a New Englands berth. They finished third in Division I, led by Poteet and Colby Orleans. If their 3-4-5 scorers, can bridge the gap to Orleans, the Blue Hawks should be punching their ticket to Belfast.
Next on the merge is the Hopkinton Hawks which enter with momentum after capturing the Division III title. Goupil and Lavers lead a talented group which includes Michael Crosby, Finnegan Kovar, Jax Marshall, Jacques McCrillis, and Liam Tripod. Racing at the Fairgrounds should provide an added measure of confidence for the Hawks, who will be looking to challenge the larger programs and they have a legit shot to extend their season.
Souhegan, Dover, Bedford, Portsmouth and Londonderry also enter with aspirations of strong team finishes. Souhegan features the talented duo of Aaron Coleman and Jacob Spencer, who finished tenth and eleventh in Division II, while Dover features Zach LeFebvre and Nils Anderson. Bedford is led by Luke Parker, Myles Cole and Hobie Matulis while Portsmouth is led by Gavin Leader and Nicky Biedleman. Of this group of teams, Londonderry has the lowest stick with Patrick Ramsey who should be a top 15 candidate.
Good luck to all!
