The Concord boys’ cross country team set some lofty goals for itself at the beginning of the season. But after Saturday’s Manchester Invitational, the Crimson Tide looks poised to meet those goals, winning the large school event at New Hampshire’s most prestigious cross country race.
Concord’s top five runners all finished the 5k course at Derryfield Park in less than 17 minutes and finished in the top 31. The Tide’s score of 90 was enough to best Division I rivals and some of the best teams from across New England. Vermont’s Champlain Valley, Vt. (97), Rhode Island’s Bishop Hendricken (109), Nashua North (149) and Coe-Brown (150) rounded out the top-five team scores. Concord also finished ahead of Pinkerton (seventh), the three-time defending D-I champion, two-time defending Meet of Champions winner and last year’s New England runner-up.
“It was a golden moment. It was very exciting,” Concord Coach Tristan Black-Ingersoll said. “After last cross country season, I felt it was pretty clear we had the pieces in place and the mentality necessary for us to be the best team in the state. I don’t think a lot of other people saw us that way.”
To make it even more impressive, Concord ran without one if its best, opting to let Ryan Devine run in the freshmen race, where he finished first. Despite strong results so far this season and high expectations, the win at Derryfield came as a surprise.
Jamie Wilkes (16:17) was the Tide’s top runner, finishing fourth overall, defeating D-I’s top individual runners, Alvirne’s Noah Bellomo (fifth) and North’s David Vorbach (eighth). Forest Mackenzie (11th, 16:28), Ollie Spencer (15th, 16:39), Eli Boesch-Dining (30th, 16:59), Alex Duncan (31st, 16:59) and Matt O’Brien (71st, 17:32) were the other Tide runners.
“Ollie stepped up and ran a very strong race to help keep the low score we needed. He sets very high expectations for himself. He ran hard and made some improvements over previous meets,” said Black-Ingersoll, adding that Duncan, who ran a 17:17 at the Nashua North/South Invite on a relatively flat course, improved significantly given the hilly course at Derryfield Park.
Coe-Brown (fifth) was led by Zach Richards (14th, 16:38), Tanner Richards (17th, 16:44), River Groves (38th, 17:04), Evan Tanguay (39th, 17:04) and Davio Deluca (42nd, 17:09).
Merrimack Valley (26th) and Pembroke (34th) also competed in the 38-team field. David Reynolds (36th, 17:03) led MV and Jason Schoeller (143rd, 18:30) led Pembroke.
In the girls’ large school race, Coe-Brown (151) finished second in the 33-team field, losing only to Champlain Valley (101) and topping rivals Pinkerton (third, 173) and Souhegan (fourth, 187).
Alli Pratt (seventh, 18:54), Sarah Dupuis (20th, 20:02), Hannah Daly (38th, 20:22), Elly McDonough (39th, 20:23) and Abigail O’Connor (46th, 20:34) scored for Coe-Brown.
Concord (13th), Merrimack Valley (18th) and Pembroke (30th) also competed. Jennika Mannesto (25th, 20:00) led Concord, Kristie Schoffield (fifth, 18:53) led MV and Avery Gamache (142nd, 23:07) led Pembroke.
Bow (23rd), John Stark (27th), Winnisquam (28th) and Hopkinton (29th) competed in the 32-team boys’ small school race, won by Vermont’s U-32 (Vt).
Robert Ciotti (97th, 18:44) led Bow, Brandon Langdon (61st, 17:58) led John Stark, Kyle Mann (41st, 17:44) led Winnisquam and Aidan Molnar (117th, 19:06) led Hopkinton.
Bow (16th), Hopkinton (17th), John Stark (20th) and Winnisquam (28th) competed in the 28-team girls’ small school race won by Maine’s Greely.
Sohani Demian (52nd, 21:54) led Bow, Emma Rothe (30th, 21:11) led Hopkinton, Hailey Erskine (87th, 22:59) led John Stark and Jasmine Piper (136th, 24:44) led Winnisquam.
Kearsarge first
Key players:Kearsarge – Mason Benedict (6th, 17:30), Andrew Shepherd (9th, 17:35), Tim Cunningham (10th, 17:38); Belmont – Ian Remenar (14th, 18:06), Nick Randos (16th, 18:17)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge (48) placed six runners in the top 13, narrowly beat Kingswood (56) to win the 10-team Waterville Valley Invitational. Belmont (149) finished fifth.
Kearsarge second
Key players:Kearsarge – Maggie Lee (7th, 22:12), Mya Dube (11th, 22:45), Jenna Bears (13th, 22:54); Belmontt – Alice Riley (1st, 20:38), Alexus Day (12th, 22:52)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge (82) finished second in the 10-team Waterville Valley Invitational. Kennett (27) decisively won the meet. Riley’s individual title led Belmont (146) to a fifth-place finish.
Merrimack 55, Concord 20
Key players: Concord – Chris Munnel, Isaac Gladley
Highlights/key moments: Merrimack jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead on its way to a third straight win. Munnell had an interecption return for a touchdown to bring Concord to within 28-14 at halftime. Gladley’s 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown wer the Tide’s only second-half points.
Records: Concord 1-3; Merrimack 3-1
Plymouth 28, Bow 12
Key players: Bow – Nate Alford (7-yard TD catch), Matt Harkins (TD pass), Jack Corriveau (4-yard TD run)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons faced the undefeated Bobcats for the first time in program history and trailed just 7-6 at halftime thanks to a touchdown catch by Alford, but Bow ultimately lost its first game of the season. Corriveau added another score in the third quarter.
Coach’s quote: “It was a hard-fought battle. We had some inconsistencies on both sides of the ball … Unfortunately our opponents were able to capitalize on our mistakes more than we were able to capitalize on theirs.” – Bow’s Paul Cohen
Records: Plymouth 4-0; Bow 3-1
Hollis-Brookline 34, MV 18
Key players: MV – Evan Martin (162 passing yards, TD pass, 117 rush yards, TD run), Ryan Neylon (128 receiving yards, TD catch), Cam Tillman (24-yard TD run), Mike Smith (11 tackles), Jacob Johnston (2 fumble recoveries), Josh Farmer (fumble recovery), Max Lacy (fumble recover)
Highlights/key moments: The Cavaliers used precise passing routes to keep the Pride secondary on its heals early on and MV couldn’t recover.
Coach’s quote: “It’s a game of turnovers in the end. They were able to capitalize on ours and we couldn’t on theirs. And a scoop and score by H-B killed the momentum we were starting to build. I’m disappointed in the score, obviously, but not in our players or staff. There is no quit here, and our hard work will ultimately pay off.” – MV’s Jim Coll
Records: H-B 3-1; MV 0-4
Kearsarge 4, Merrimack Valley 0
Key players:Kearsarge – Leland Heckel (2 goals), Gunner Nurme (goal), Michael Geary (goal), Levi Wilson (shutout), Craig Berube (2 assists); MV – Caleb Willett, Chase Mercier
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars took an early lead and maintained possession of the ball to secure the win.
Coach’s quote: “We played high-pressure and high-intensity soccer for the whole game. It was great for the boys to get their first win of the season, they really deserved it. They have put in a lot of hard work this season, and it’s starting to pay off.” – Kearsarge’s Matt Burch
Records: Kearsarge 1-6-1; MV 1-7-1
Belmont 1, Gilford 1, 2OT
Key players: Belmont – Doug Price (goal), Logan Wilder (assist), Corey Deroiser (defense), Caleb Burke (defense), Tyler Fleming (defense), Derek Stevens (defense), Johnny LeClair (4 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Red Raiders struck first with Price’s goal in the eighth minute but Gilford tied things 1-1 with a goal in the 28th minute. The second half and two overtime periods yielded no more scoring as both teams ramped up on defense.
Coach’s quote: “It was just a back-and-forth game. We had great ball movement and a very strong defensive game. We created a lot of chances, there just wasn’t a lot of scoring.” – Belmont’s Michael Foley
Records: Belmont 7-1-1; Gilford 7-1-1
Newmarket 2, Pittsfield 1
Key players: Pittsfield – Cam Darrah (goal), Casey Clark (assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Panthers allowed a goal off a free kick in the 18th minute and a goal off a penalty kick early in the second half to trail, 2-0. Darrah scored in the 70th minute to cut the deficit in half.
Records: Newmarket 4-2-1; Pittsfield 6-2-1
Merrimack Valley 1, Kearsarge 1
Key players:MV – Emily Knouse (goal); Kearsarge – Izabella Von Beren (goal)
Highlights/key moments: After a scoreless match for the first 72 minutes, Von Beren scored to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead, but Knouse scored with two and a half minutes left to force extra time. Both teams had chances to score in overtime, but neither team found the back of the net.
Coaches’ quotes: “I’m proud of my girls. They fought hard and pressured throughout the game.” – MV’s Jeff Richard
“I thought the girls fought hard. The wind was a factor today. Both teams snuck away with a point, but it could have gone either way.” – Kearsarge’s Travis Dezotell
Records: Kearsarge 6-1-1; MV 1-7-1
Hopkinton 8, Laconia 0
Key players: Hopkinton – Brianna Curley (3 goals), Grace Clark (goal), Maura Zankel (goal), Taylor Signor (goal), Aaliyah Curley (goal), Catherine O’Keefe (goal), Lilias Whitehead (2 assists), Amelia Fitzgerald (assist), Ellie Morrall (assist), Caitlin Ball (assist), Amelia Bassett (3 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks peppered the Sachems’ net, taking 18 shots and getting 12 on goal, helping Hopkinton take a 6-0 halftime lead, while some strong defense by Ellie Owen, and O’Keefe and some clutch saves by Bassett kept Laconia off the board.
Records: Hopkinton 6-2; Laconia 0-9
Merrimack Valley 2, Kearsarge 0
Key players: MV – Grace Montgomery (2 goals), Grace Blecharzyk (assist), Hannah Benson (assist), Kylee Warren (shutout)
Highlights/key moments: After a scoreless first half, the Pride scored a pair of goals midway through the second.
Coach’s quote: “I am glad we got the win. I credit Kearsarge with playing hard the entire game and never giving up.” – MV’s Kim Kenney
Records: MV 3-5; Kearsarge 2-6
Volleyball
Prospect Mountain 3, H-D 0
Key players: Hillsboro-Deering – Kristina Stevens (4 digs, 4 aces, block), Kayleigh Sigman (3 digs)
Highlights/key moments: The Hillcats suffered their fourth straight defeat on Friday night.
Coach’s quote: “After a slow start in the first set, (we) came out in the second set with more determination and better communication. Although (we) fell short, (we) played hard throughout all three sets.” – H-D’s Shannon Synan
Records: Prospect Mountain. 3-4; H-D 1-7