The Cofrin Classic @ NHTI; 9/8/2016 (Videos and Pics Added!)

Bedford (G) and Concord (B) Win!

Vorbach (North) and Salis (Bedford) blaze to individual titles!

Interviews and Race Videos Below!

Results Courtesy of Millennium Running

On a rather hot and humid September day, Bedford Senior Leya Salis looked as though she was on a nice afternoon stroll running unchallenged to win the 2016 Cofrin Classic held at the NHTI campus in Concord. She won with a winning time of 18:38 on the 5k course distancing herself from a pair of Pinkerton runners Maison D’Amelio (2^nd, 20:06) and Ciara April (3^rd, 20:21). They were followed closely by a pack of five runners led by Nashua North’s Arianna Braccio (4^th, 20:29), Bedford’s Caroline Mahoney (5^th,20:31), Pinkerton’s Jordan Vaillancourt (6^th, 20:32), Bedford’s Delaney Flanagan (7^th,20:35) and Concord’s Cassie Shea (8^th, 20:39). Nashua North sophomore Jessica Kaplafka finished (9^th, 21:00).

Senior Elizabeth Mailhot (10^th, 21:22) and Junior Kimberly Fountain (11^th, 21:24) both of Bedford closed out the scoring to seal the deal for Bedford (NH #7) with 34 points in a seemingly upset victory over preseason #1 Pinkerton which scored 42 points. Nashua North placed 3^rd with 85 points just ahead of the host Concord’s (NH #9) 88 points. Spaulding of Rochester 5^th with 114 points completed the team competition.

On the boys side a much anticipated battle of the top three Division 1 teams was a brewing. NH #2 Nashua North, fresh off its victory over 2015 NH State Champion #1 Pinkerton Academy at the Paul Letarte Invitational at Great Glen, was out to stake claim at solidifying the polls for the next NH #1 Ranking. Leading the way for Nashua North was the one-two punch of David Vorbach (1^st,16:06) and Connor Muise (2^nd, 16:19). Pinkerton Academy’s Calvin Graves placed 3^rd in a close 16:23. After an approximate 30 second gap, a trio of Concord runners made their way to the finish comprised of Jamie Wilkes (4^th,16:51), Forest MacKenzie (5^th,16:55) and Oliver Spencer (6^th,17:00). Nashua North’s Max Ireland (7^th) outkicked a pair of Pinkerton runners Joseph Gagnon (8^th,17:10) and teammate Kyle Hajj (9^th,17:14). Last year’s NH Middle School Mile Champion Concord Freshman Ryan Devine made a nice debut race, finishing 10^th in 17:16 just ahead of Ethan Desmarais (11^th, 17:17) of Pinkerton. Alex Duncan was the all-important 5^th man for Concord placing 12^th in 17:22.

In the end NH #5 Concord stacked all five runners in a 31 second burst, and 8 runners in less than a minute, to pull out a nice win to begin their 2016 season. Concord won this hard fought battle with 37 points over Pinkerton Academy (44 points) and Nashua North (45 points). Spaulding edged out Bedford 133-134 to nab 4th.