The Monadnock region is home to some of the premier track and field programs in the state, and student-athletes from ConVal, Conant, Mascenic and WLC are looking to bring home some hardware this week as the divisional championships get underway.
ConVal hosted all those local teams for a meet Wednesday, giving fans a preview of what might be in store at the postseason meets.
Conant’s Ethan Vitello might need to make some room in his trophy case following Wednesday’s Division III boys’ championship at Gilford. The speedy junior improved his strength and diversified his repertoire this spring; he’ll compete in the long and triple jumps and the 200M and 400M dashes. Vitello logged the division’s top times in both track events this spring, as well as the third-best distances in both field events.
Garrett Somero spent most of his spring playing first base and pitching for Conant, but he ventured over to the track facility in his free time and managed a championship-qualifying shot put throw of 42-10.5 that places him second in the division going into Wednesday. He’ll also throw the discus.
Regardless of those potential individual wins, Conant will need high places across the board if they’re to contend for the DIII title on which they’ve set their sights. That means the Orioles will need some good races from Austin Poikonen, who’s qualified for both the 110M and 300M hurdles; Matt Bernier in the 1,600M; Michael Brooks in the 400M; Ethan Weinhold in the 800M, and the 4x00M and 4x400M relay teams. Jordan Nagle will also give the high jump a go.
Mascenic doesn’t have team title expectations this spring, but will send some individual talent to Gilford Wednesday. Senior Landen Vaillancourt looks to finish his Mascenic career on a high note in the 800M, where he’s in possession of the division’s best time this spring (2:02.64), just ahead of Monadnock’s Harry Ryan and Mitchell Hill and Gilford’s Patrick Gandini.
Senior Gabe Turner will throw both the shot put and discus; Jimmy Crawford is also in the shot put, and Connor and Drew Traffie will make a run at the 3,200M.
On the girls’ side, Wilton-Lyndeborough’s Sam Boette is the one to watch at Tuesday’s girls’ chanpionship, as the junior recorded the division’s best time in the 100M dash by half a second; she’s also in the 200M, where she’s in possession of the No. 2 time in Division III. Teammate Mairead Brady Markey will throw the javelin.
Conant will send a slew of underclassmen to Gilford Tuesday. Sophomore Kylie Aho will race the 1,600M and 800M; she’ll be joined in the latter by sophomore Adrienne Kennedy.
Sophomore Lainey Holombo is in the 400M and will run a leg of both the 4x400M and 4x800M relays.
Mascenic will send senior Quinn Aldrich, who’ll run the 3,200M for what may be the last time in her strong career. Freshman Emma Schlaumloffel made it into the 1,600M as well.
ConVal’s seedings were not available by press time, as the coaches’ meeting was set for Monday night; the Cougars will compete at the Division II championships at Pelham Saturday.
At Wednesday’s home meet, the Cougars pulled off several event wins and took first in the girls’ team competition. Top finishers for ConVal included:
Tasha McNeil, first, 100M dash, shot put, javelin
Aida Davis, first, 400M run
Ian Post, first, 1,600M run, 3,200M run
Allison Bull, first, 3,200M run
Elise Robbins, first, high jump, pole vault
Grace Shippee, first, discus
Nathan Pimental, first, javelin
Kendall Larson, first, triple jump