Zach Procek has been tasked with helming the Concord track program during a tumultuous time. No home meets, a track that has been deemed unsafe, and a team forced to split training in a way it never had to before.
Regardless of the challenges, the team is pushing ahead. After the girls won the state title last spring, ending a 37-year drought, the Crimson Tide will go for a repeat. On the flip side, the boys will look to improve upon their 11th-place finish last season.
The team has a total of 103 student-athletes this spring, 50 girls and 53 boys, who all compete in different disciplines and will have to move around to accommodate their training now that the Memorial Field track was found to be unsuitable for competition.
“We will practice the field events that we can at that facility, but for our track events and pole vault, we are going to go off-site,” Procek said. “We may occasionally run some lighter workouts on that surface, but anything that is of greater intensity or that may benefit from the use of spikes will need to be relocated.”
He added that the team will use improvised indoor spaces for sprints, hurdles and pole vaults in an attempt to keep training manageable and effective for those athletes.
The girls are returning Consuelo Borico, who had a stellar shot put season last year and is coming off a solid indoor season. She’ll be aiming to break her 39′ 11.75″ record this upcoming spring.
Cross country and Nordic skiing leader Mahalie Burdette is moving back onto the track and will lead the distance runners.
On the boys’ side, sophomore jumper Thomas Saysaw is coming off a New Balance Nationals freshman triple jump appearance and will continue his ascent for the Tide.
Another cross-country and indoor track talent, Josiah Conley, finished in second place in the one-mile at the New England Championship in the winter.
On the boys’ throwing side, Travis Dunbar will anchor the heavers after qualifying for the D1 state championship in shot put over the winter, and he hopes to expand his throwing arsenal while pushing for personal bests.
It will be an interesting season for the Tide, with plenty of change but also returning state meet competitors.
BOW
Division: II
Coach: Ed King (fourth year)
Last year: Boys 15th; Girls seventh.
Top returners: Boys: Gavin Buxton, sr., sprints; Wyatt Worcester, sr., distance; Ian Sandahl, so., distance; Sam Kohl, so., distance; George Kohl, so., distance; Andrew Clough, sr., sprints/hurdles; Asher Wilkening, jr., pole vault; Will Albushies, sr., throws. Girls: Julia Hou, sr., pole vault; Charlotte Larochelle, sr., sprints/jumps; Peyton Vaughn, so., sprints/throws; Madison Pfister, jr., multi; Camden Wilson, jr., jumps/sprints; Gwen Barrieau, jr., sprints/jumps; Emily Hou, sr., multi; Morgan Aubrey, jr., throws; Hannah McLeod, sr., throws.
Top newcomers: With a combined 25 freshmen on the boys’ and girls’ rosters there are several who could potentially make an immediate impact.
Outlook: “After a few seasons in the top seven, the Falcon girls are looking to remain competitive with the top teams in the division. Julia Hou is the defending champion in the pole vault and Wilson is coming off a title-winning, All-New England season in the high jump this winter. Pfister finished fourth in last year’s heptathlon and could score in a couple of different events. Bow also has a good group of sprinters that should provide good depth for relays. The Falcon boys aren’t as experienced as the girls’ team, but returns Buxton who won the D-II 55-meter dash title indoors and is expected to be one of the top sprinters in the division again. Worcester leads a strong group of distance runners. Both squads are looking to continue to gain experience and qualifiers across all disciplines.”
COE-BROWN
Division: II
Coaches: Lucas Fisher (fifth year) and Pete Larson (fourth year)
Last year: Boys D-II runner-up; Girls D-II runner-up.
Top returners: Boys: Jackson Doran, so., sprints, jumps; Gus Glaser, jr., distance; Brogan Grzybowski, jr., hurdles; Ben Jobin, jr., distance; Ben Larson, so., distance; Ethan Newick, sr., sprints; Harrison O’Neal, sr., pole vault; Blake Spina, sr., sprints, javelin; Anthony Szatko, sr., sprints, jumps; Patrick Youngs, so., distance. Girls: Brooke Bachhuber, sr., pole vault; Bianca Brouillard-Smith, jr., jumps; Jazzlyn Curry, jr., sprints, jumps; Lilah Fitzpatrick, so., sprints, jumps; Isabelle Grenier, sr., throws; Riley Hawkes, jr., sprints; Eloise Hill, so., distance; Meredith Kerivan, sr., mid-distance; Tess Kouchoukos, jr., sprints; Elizabeth Joy, so., sprints, throws, jumps; Annabelle Lovett, jr., distance; Brooke Main, jr., pole vault, sprints, jumps; Kayzlee Ruru, so., throws; Bristol Shirland, jr., hurdles.
Top newcomers: Boys: Broden Cox, distance; Mateo Ferguson, distance; Jameson Neal, sprints; Sam Youngs, distance. Girls: Mary Guarino, fr., sprints; Annabel Spead, fr., jumps; Lily Travis, fr., distance; Riley Trested, fr., mid-distance.
Outlook: Boys: “Coming off a team win at the D2 Indoor State Championships, we are incredibly excited for the upcoming Outdoor Track season.” Girls: “Our girls team is young, talented, and has the depth to score at the state meet in almost every event. With only four seniors on our roster, we will be looking for our younger athletes to step up and contribute as we hope to challenge for a state championship.” – Peter Larson.
JOHN STARK
Division: II
Coach: Joel Kress (fifth year) and William Ocker (first year)
Last year: Boys fifth; Girls tied for 15th.
Top returners: Boys: Owen Dion, sr., throws; Austin Patenaude, sr., sprints, jumps; Grant Spooner, sr., throws; Connor McDaniel, so., throws. Girls: Rylee Barnard, sr., distance; Yuliana Chavez, sr., throws; Kate Smith, sr., sprints, jumps; Anna Chasse, jr., distance; Nora Smith, so., distance.
Outlook: “John Stark continues to return top throwers as well as attract young talent. Along with throwers, the girls’ 4x800m relay shows off our thriving distance program, and some seniors show great promise coming from other sports.” – Joel Kress.
MERRIMACK VALLEY
Division: II
Coaches: Bob Mullen (35th year) and Dyrace Maxfield (fourth year)
Last year: Boys third; Girls sixth.
Top returners: Boys: Owen Turner, jr., sprints, jumps; Davian Loiselle, sr.; Chris Bode, jr., sprints, jumps; Ben Geoffroy, jr., distance; Aidan Whitman, sr., hurdles, sprints; Rutger Gilliland, sr., mid-distance; Riley Moore-Jahn, so., sprints; Jacob Lacroix, sr., sprints. Girls: Lily Moser, sr., hurdles, sprints; Sydney Spack, sr., sprints; Jada Lucas, sr., sprints, high jump; Izzy Navoy, sr., jumps, sprints; Hannah Barrington, jr., jumps; Bella Dunlop, so., throws; Emma Geoffroy, so, distance.
Top newcomers: Boys: Brayden Laroche, sr., hurdles; Garrett Clough, fr., distance; Rohan Chevalier, fr., distance; Matthew Lacasse, fr., hurdles, jumps. Girls: Adi Bride, so., throws; Genny Blanchette, fr., throws; Cleo Kwayisi, fr., sprints, jumps; Caylynn Richardson, fr., sprints, jumps.
Outlook: Boys: “The boys team returns a strong core from last year’s 3rd place DII team. Although we graduated a few top performers, the returners have come in from day one ready to work and improve. On the track, junior Ben Geoffroy and Senior Rutger Gilliland lead the distance crew. Chris Bode, Riley Moore-Jahn, and Aidan Whitman are the team’s top returning sprinters and hurdlers. Field events look strong with Owen Turner and Davian Loiselle returning from strong State Meet performances last spring.” – Dyrace Maxfield.
Girls: “The MV girls’ team showed great improvement at last year’s State Meet, finishing in sixth place. Lily Moser (middle distance and hurdles), Jada Lucas, Izzy Navoy, and Hannah Barrington (sprints and jumps) provide a lot of versatility. Sydney Spack and Cleo Kwayisi provide depth in relays and individual events. The throwing crew is stronger this year with the return of Bella Dunlop and Rhianna Cruz, as well as newcomers Adi Bride and Genny Blanchette.” – Dyrace Maxfield.
PEMBROKE
Division: II
Coach: Jared Williams (fourth year)
Last year: Boys 14th; Girls tied for 11th.
Top returners: Boys: Brandon Lurvey, sr., sprints, javelin; Caleb Saturley, sr., sprints; Zachery Heichlinger, sr., sprints, throws; William LeCain, so., distance; Hayden Petersons, sr., mid-distance; Dylan Hawkins, sr., hurdles, jumps; Matthew Palleschi, sr., throws; Jace Michaud, jr., throws. Girls: Avery Kelly, jr., sprints; Caitrin Bergeron, so., distance, jumps; Jasmine Blake, sr., throws.
BELMONT
Division: III
Coaches: Scott Clark (11th year) and Alex Takantjas (first year)
Last year: Boys tied for 17th; Girls D-III runner-up.
Top returners: Boys: Brady Filteau, sr., throws; David Tripp, so., hurdles; Ethan Rivera, sr., throws; Andrew Cryans, sr., sprints. Girls: Mia Ellis, so., hurdles; Hannah Young, sr., jumps.
BISHOP BRADY
Division: III
Coach: Diane Morey (16th year)
Last year: Boys DNS; Girls 17th.
Top returners: Boys: David Cameron, LJ Putnam. Girls: Charlotte Lott, and Cilla Abrahamson.
Top newcomers: Boys: Sebastian Wilcox.
Outlook: “Looking forward to another season. Team has mostly sprinters, so hope to see some speed develop.” – Diane Morey.
FRANKLIN
Division: III
Coach: Jen Schongalla (sixth year)
Last year: Boys DNS; Girls DNS.
Top returners: Boys: David Ranlet, sr., sprints/hurdles; George Sarkis, sr., sprints/hurdles; Cael Stockbridge, sr., sprints/hurdles; Cam Carleton, sr., throws; Kaiden McDonald, sr., throws; Dominick Comcheck, sr., throws. Girls: Payton Cloutier, sr., hurdles/sprints.
HILLSBORO-DEERING
Division: III
Coach: Makayla Savoy (fifth year) and James MacCabe (first year)
Last year: Boys tied for 25th; Girls DNS.
Top returners: Boys: Braden Savoy, sr., hurdles, jumps, throws; Noah Welch, so., sprints; Dilon Noiles, so., sprints. Girls: Lilyana Valley, so., sprints, hurdles; Nathalie Proulx, jr., hurdles, sprints.
Top newcomers: Boys: Oscar Poland, fr., distance, throws; Owen Gosselin, jr., sprints; Grayson Ainslie, so., throws. Girls: Sarah McGranaghan, jr., distance.
Outlook: “With over 40 student athletes, we have our biggest roster since around 2012. We are hopeful to bring some athletes to states as well as break some of Hillsboro-Deering’s school track and field records this season.” – Makayla Savoy.
HOPKINTON
Division: III
Coaches: George Sabol (second year as head coach, fifth overall) and Mark Roskamp (first year)
Last year: Boys tied for 17th; Girls D-III champs 2025 and 2024.
Top returners: Boys: Max Goupil, so., distance; Finn Kovar, so., distance; Kristof Cauley, sr., throws, jumps; Hunter Eckner-Taylor, sr., throws; Nico Sala, jr., sprints; William Shepard, jr., distance. Girls: Maddy Lane, jr., distance; Charlotte Tanuvasa, jr., javelin; Zoe Bishop, sr., throws, discus; Annie Hofe, sr., jumps; Aisling Madden, sr., sprints; Savannah Smith, sr., hurdles, jumps; Sofia Upton, sr., sprints; Maisie Emerson, so., distance.
Top newcomers: Boys: Nick Goddard, jr., throws; Liam Tripod, fr., distance; Michael Crosby, so., distance. Girls: Gemma Gudagno, so., distance; Hannah Clarner, fr., sprints; Sydney Mark, fr., sprints.
Outlook: Boys: “Our boys team will be lead by our Distance Boys and Throwers and Jumpers, Max, Finn, Michael and Liam will rack up some major points in the distance events, while Kristoff, Hunter and Nick should have a solid season in the throws and jump, Our sprint team has shown some solid speed on our dirt track, only time will tell. We have a possibility to contend.” – George Sabol.
Girls: “We have a big bullseye on our back, they will be going for a three-peat and it will be hard to do. We lost some key players to graduation, but there is a bunch of young talent coming on board this year. We should score major points in the Sprints, Distance and Throws. Key players are Maddy, Maisie, Gemma in distance, Aisling, Hannah, Sydney in sprints, and Zoe in all three throwing events. We all know on paper that we have a great opportunity, but we will need to perform on the track.” – George Sabol.
KEARSARGE
Division: III
Coaches: Justin Garzia (third year)
Last year: Boys 15th; Girls 23rd.
Top returners: Boys: Mason Christensen, sr., sprints; Jacob Dunn, sr., hurdles, high jump. Girls: Juliet Faria, sr., sprints; Riley Raynes, jr., sprints; Ainsley Frankiewich, sr., jumps.
Top newcomers: Boys: Tanner Stafford, fr., mid-distance.
Outlook: “With a good mix of returns and newcomers, we hope to build on the successes from last season in the jumping and sprint events. We have seen growth in the Throws program this season and hope to see improvements in our competitiveness this season.” Justin Garzia.
WINNISQUAM
Division: III
Coach: Patti Malone (5th year)
Last year: Boys 15th; Girls 23rd.
Top returners: Boys: Taber Haggett, sr., multi-event; Dylan Griffin, sr., multi-event; Nolan Abbott, so., sprints, distance; Dayton Brigante, so., pole vault, javelin; Andrew Field, so., throws; Kyle Douglas, sprints, jumps; Kyren Whitmore, so., hurdles. Girls: Kaiden Robb, sr., sprints; Emily Tripple, sr., sprints; Denessa Williams, sr., sprints; Lexi Myers, so., sprints; Anna Drinkwine, sr., javelin; Carly Drew, sr., pole vault; Zariah Moore, sr., sprints, jumps; Phoebe Timmons, sr., shot put.
Top newcomers: Boys: Simon Ahlgren, fr., mid-distance; Solomon Shartar-Howe, fr., mid-distance; JT Treamer, fr., jumps, sprints; Cullen Desrochers, so., distance. Girls: Eloise Abbott, fr., mid-distance, jumps; Milan Pham, fr., jumps; Eliza Allen, fr., sprints.
Outlook: “We’re looking to continue to perform well at Wilderness, and are confident that we’ll send a decent-sized contingent to the DIII Meet, and hopefully beyond. There’s a lot of depth to work with, especially with the numbers we have this year, and we’re hoping to be strategic about competition choices. Individually, we have a few athletes with their eyes on big prizes this year. Dylan Griffin is working hard, with his sights set firmly on the school pole vault record (12’0”). He’s got Dayton Brigante right behind him, though, and it’s become a fun competition between the two of them.” – Patti Malone.