The Kearsarge Cougars boys’ track team knew that chasing its third title in four years would be a challenge, especially given the competitive nature of Division III this season. The Cougars had individual wins from Troy Davis in the high jump with a Division III record jump of 6-8 and the triple jump (42-5), Zach Astle in the shot put (52-2), Ian Bready in the 300 hurdles (41.05) and 4×100 relay (45.37). The team demonstrated outstanding depth, returning the crown to Kearsarge after losing to Inter-Lakes by three points last season.
The Cougars (119 points) held off their biggest challenge, Hopkinton (99), which had four individual wins from Nick Fleury in the 100 (11.24), 200 (23.3), 400 (51.43) and long jump (20-10), Dom Repucci in the 3,200 (9:47) and the 4×800 (8:24). Inter-Lakes (75) and Belmont (45), which had a win from Eli Allman in the 110 hurdles (15.75), finished third and fourth, respectively.
Hosts Newfound (27), Winnisquam (20), Prospect Mountain (20), Stevens (20), Bishop Brady (18), Conant (18), Bow (14) and Mascenic (14) rounded out the top 12 team scores. Franklin (3) tied for 21st.
Local athletes dominated the top of the podium with Winnisquam’s Henry Stock (157-8) winning the javelin and Bishop Brady’s Sean Sullivan winning the discus with a toss of 129-01.
But despite the number of victories from their competitors, the Cougars showed depth, scoring in 15 of 18 events (including all three relays).
“This was the hardest (state meet in the last four years). There’s no doubt about it,” Kearsarge Coach Ed Rehor said. “The first (title in 2013) was kind of a surprise. The second year, we knew we could do it. Last year (we had some kids injured), but this year we had great competition with Hopkinton and Inter-Lakes. It was definitely a team effort. Even when the big guns had an off event, (the other athletes) really came through. That was one of my goals was to make sure the team comes together as a team, coaches and kids.”
Rehor gave a lot of credit to the seniors, many of whom were on the team in 2013 that won the first track and field title in school history and continued to work to strengthen the program.
“You’ve got Cam (Webster) and Aidan (Terhune) who have been here all four years and have leadership,” Rehor said.
Seniors Terhune (third triple jump), Webster (third 100), Astle (second discus, third javelin), Davis (second long jump), Bready (third 110 hurdles), Webster, Willio Rehor (15th javelin) and Brandon Thibodeau (member of winning 4×100 with Terhune, Webster and Bready) all made key contributions to the team.
“I was definitely happy with the two personal records I set (in the high jump and triple jump),” Davis said. “I’m very proud of the high jump. It’s the event I worked hardest at. It feels great to accomplish (setting a D-III record).
Tim Cunningham (fifth 3,200), Carl Betz (sixth 800), the second-place 4×800 (Cunningham, Eric Scheuch, Hunter Burns, Betz) and third-place 4×400 (Betz, Bready, Craig Berube, Alex Kalpakgian) also scored. Grant Croft (second pole vault) and John Cunningham (third pole vault) were seeded eighth and ninth in the pole vault at heights of 9-9 and 9-6, respectively, but made huge improvements, clearing 11-0 and 10-6, adding key points.
“I’ve gotta say it was a pretty emotional day,” said Astle, who successfully defended his title in the shot put. “I didn’t realize how big your last state meet is with your team. … I’m very happy. I’m so proud of the team.”
Most of Hopkinton’s points came from Fleury’s four wins, but the senior was supported by Repucci, who also pulled off gutsy second-place finishes in the 800 and 1,600 in addition to a win in the 3,200. Kevin McGrath (second high jump, third long jump) and Aaron Dobe (second 400, sixth 200) and the winning 4×800 of Dobe, Simon Doneski, Aidan Molnar and Tucker Windhurst rounded out the scoring for the Hawks.
“What I love about this sport is that it’s an individual and team sport. My individual events all up to the team, so I focused on my events for the team,” Fleury said. “I just want to commend my team. They’re a great group of guys. I love them to death. I’ll never forget this team.”
Ian Remenar (second 300 hurdles), Kyle Gelinas (third 1,600), Allman (fourth 300 hurdles), Adam Sojka (sixth triple jump), the second-place 4×100 (River Mathieu, Colby Leroux, Marc Forgione and Allman) and second-place 4×400 (Leroux, Gelinas, Nick Randos and Remenar) completed Belmont’s scoring.
Winnisquam’s Scott Hinds (third 400, tied fourth pole vault) and sixth-place 4×400 (Hinds, Jacobs Hinds, Kyle Mann and Tyler Mann), Bishop Brady’s Joe Bell (fourth 400 and triple jump), Bow’s Brian Bushnell (fourth 200, fifth 200), Mike Perry (fifth triple jump) and third-place 4×100 (Bushnell, Chandler Evans, Grady Beaulieu and Dylan Wheeler) and Franklin’s Giovanni Lemon (fifth javelin) and Kyle Adams (sixth pole vault) rounded out the local scorers.
On the girls’ side, Monadnock easily won its fourth straight title, scoring in 17 of 18 events to earn 136 points, topping White Mountains (73) and Bow (55) for second and third.
Bow was led by Dominique Biron, who won the 100 (13.03) and 200 (26.89), took the high jump with a D-III record-tying jump of 5-4 and finished second in the 300 hurdles.
After an already grueling afternoon, Biron won the 200 in her final race of the day with a time of 26.881 seconds in a photo finish, just .006 seconds ahead of White Mountains’ Alex Curtis, who had already bested Biron in the 300 hurdles, breaking her own D-III record in the process.
“I’m so excited. I had amazing competitors to compete against. I’m surprised I won (three events),” Biron said. I was a little surprised about the 100 meters considering my previous best time was 13.23 and today I ran a 13.03. I was wicked tired for the 200, so I was surprised I pulled that out too, but I was thinking ‘I don’t want to let (Curtis) beat me again.”
“There are no words. Her performances speak for themselves,” Bow Coach Jon Uhouse said. “She’s a natural athlete for track.”
Gianna Celenza (fourth 100 and 400), Laura Hoeker (sixth 100) and the second-place 4×100 (Saara Bliss, Celenza, Hoeker and Jenny Ess) were the other scorers for the Falcons.
“They really fired on all cylinders today. We knew going in this week that the potential was there (for a top-three finish) and the girls always rise to the occasion at big meets like this,” Uhouse said.
Campbell (36.33), Fall Mountain (36), Winnisquam (34), Moultonborough (30) and Belmont (23) rounded out the top eight on the girls’ side.
Jaila Remillard won the 400 (1:01.17) and long jump (16-0), finished second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 200 to score all of Winnisquam’s points. Belmont was led by a victory in the 4×800 (10:32) from Alexus Day, Emma Chase, Jessica Hutchinson and Jasmine Syed (sixth 800). Freshman Alice Riley (second 3,200, fourth 1,600) also scored for Belmont.
All of Hopkinton’s 10 points came from Sarah Nadeau’s victory in the 1,600 (5:25). Patricia Jewell (fourth 3,200), the fourth-place 4×100 (Kasey Lipscomb, Avril Prak, Maddie Neilsen and Maggie Lee) and the fifth-place 4×800 (Lee, Jewell, Maddie Cook and Courtney Lauster) scored for Kearsarge.