Maybe competing within the friendly confines of her own track was exactly what Kaitlyn Covell needed to get her groove back.
Taking part in the 17th annual Merrimack Valley Track & Field Invitational on Saturday, the junior was a big reason for the Pride’s success across the board in the non-scoring meet, proving why she’s capable of being one of the best hurdlers the area has to offer.
Covell couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon. Facing off against athletes from more than 30 teams, she breezed to first-place finishes in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdles, accounting for two of Merrimack Valley’s seven first-place overall finishes in the meet.
“(Covell’s) been a kid who is just starting to get her confidence back,” Merrimack Valley Coach Bob Mullen said. “She’s a strong hurdler and a talented sprinter and now she’s got the three-step down all the way and is easily stepping all the 300 hurdles, which is phenomenal. … A lot of that is just getting in good shape and her work was tremendous and she is starting to get her rhythm back, which is terrific.”
Covell, though, surely wasn’t alone in finding her rhythm.
Brandon Wood broke a meet record during his first-place, 40.04-second finish in the 300 hurdles and continued to excel in the 110 hurdles, where he and teammate Joey Baylus finished second and third, respectively; Kristie Schoffield won the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:06.80 – nearly five seconds faster than Con-Val’s Clare Veverka; and the MV boys’ 4×400 relay team, along with the girls’ 4×400 and 4×800 teams, all ran to top finishes.
“It was great to defend our home turf today in the events we thought we could be strong in,” Mullen said. “But I’m also pleased with the kids you saw pick up third, fourth, fifths because those are the kids we know we can develop and get ready for the state meet down the road.”
Mullen was quick to point out contributors like freshman Addie Hodge (third in pole vault; sixth in triple jump), Asia Grace Hanson (second in javelin) and Matthew and David Reynolds, who both provided solid finishes in the distance running events.
“It really gives you a chance to check your depth and find out who’s coming along and who can step up to that level,” Mullen said. “We use our invitational as a chance to be strong where we can be strong and also looking for depth and who can step up and perform in pressure.”
A look at some of the top local finishers:
Belmont – Marc Forgione Jr. (sixth in 100), Ian Remenar (3rd in 300 hurdles), Sana Syed (third in 300 hurdles; fourth in 110 hurdles), Alexus Day (fifth in 800)
Bishop Brady – Sean Sullivan (third in discus throw; fifth in shot put), Chase Draus (11th in shot put), Emily Finnegan (24th in triple jump)
Coe-Brown – Isaiah Allen (second in shot put), Evan Tanguay (second in 3200), Sarah Dupuis (second in 3200), Kathleen Collins (second in discus), boys’ 4×800 relay team (first), Zach Richards (third in 1600), Eleanor McDonough (third in 1600)
Gilford – Marina Baer (first in javelin), Michael Wernig (fifth in discus), Connor Leggett (eighth in 300 hurdles), Lauren Dean (fifth in 400)
Hopkinton – Simon Doneski (sixth in 3200), Emma Rothe (seventh in 3200)
Inter-Lakes – Emma Wheeler (first in triple jump; second in 100 hurdles), Alison Haight (second in pole vault), Ian Daly (first in 800), Drew Schriewer (first in pole vault; fourth in discus)
John Stark – Joseph Wegman (ninth in high jump), Patrick Kalob (fourth in triple jump), Ashley Audet (eighth in javelin), Warren Quinton (sixth in high jump)
Kearsarge – John Cunningham (second in pole vault), Hunter Burns (fourth in 1,600), Carl Betz (fifth in 800)
Winnisquam – Gabrielle Isabelle (seventh in 200; ninth in shot put), Scott Hinds (second in 400)
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3371, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)
BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD
Key players: Concord – Dalton Mutz (second in 200), Jamie Wilkes (third in 1600), Ryan Devine (second in 1,600), Jacob Nichol (sixth in 110 hurdles)
Highlights/key moments: Competing at the Nashua North Invitational with 19 other Division I teams, Concord used Saturday’s meet as a measuring stick. The 4×100 relay team placed third and both Ryan Devine and David Cook posted personal records in the mile run.
Coach’s quote: “Ryan and David had solid personal records today and the future looks bright for those races.” – Concord’s Hayden Daly
GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD
Key players: Concord – Jennika Mannesto (first in 3200), Grace Devanny (second in 100; second in 200), Allison Silverstein (second in 1600), Yelena Beausoleil (sixth in discus throw)
Highlights/key moments: Devanny looked like she was in midseason form at the Nashua North Invitational, racing her way to a pair of second-place finishes. Mannesto added to an already strong day for the Tide with the lone first-place finish.
Coach’s quote: “This was a great chance to see how we stack up against most of the Division I schools. We still have a lot of work to do but I did see a ton of potential.” – Concord’s Hayden Daly
SOFTBALL
Prospect Mountain 13, Gilford 11
Key players: Gilford – Lexi Boisvert (4-for-5, HR, 5 RBI), Brooke Beaudet (2 hits, HR), Stevie Orton (2 RBI), Taryn Breton (2 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: In an offensive slugfest, Gilford led 9-2 in the third inning thanks to a barrage of hits, but the Timberwolves rallied all the way back to tie the game at 11-all in the seventh and win it in the eighth.
Coach’s quote: “Our offense is keeping us in ball games. … Our defense made two double plays but we had some costly errors.” – Gilford’s Joan Forge
Records: Gilford 2-3; Prospect Mountain 3-1
BASEBALL
Newfound 3, Inter-Lakes 1
Key players: Newfound – Logan Rouille (7 IP, 3 H, 5 K, 1 ER; one hit), Jarod Fairbank (hit), Matt Mickewicz (hit), Ryan Coughlin (hit)
Highlights/key moments: After falling behind by one in the first inning after an error, the Bears took the lead for good with a three-run fourth and held onto it for their second win.
Records: Newfound 2-1; Inter-Lakes 1-3