Indoor track facilities are at a premium this time of the year with Dartmouth College, the University of New Hampshire, Norwich University and the University of Vermont dotting the map with training and competing locations across the state. Plymouth State University and Keene State College have emerged as potential future sites, according to Newport athletic director Jeff Miller, which may allow the sport to spread out over three divisions. Until then, teams and athletes are largely forced to train in select locations.
Not that it has stopped the sport from growing. In the Upper Valley, there is no shortage of track talent.
Lebanon and Oxbow remain the powerhouses of New Hampshire and Vermont, respectively, led by female athletes that continue to dominate their events. Corinne Kennedy, of Lebanon, has moved from the 300-meter run to the 600 meters, which she is now the favorite to win, and should have no trouble defending her 55-meter hurdle title, as well. Izzy Giesing also should have no trouble defending her titles in the 1,000- and the 1,600-meter runs for Oxbow.
But boys track has made a resurgence this season as boys teams from Hanover, Lebanon, Windsor and Thetford — which competes as a club team — illustrate signs of depth and talent. Deveon Martin, a transfer from Hartford, gives Hanover its final piece to make a run at New Hampshire’s relay events in D-II. Ryan Sullivan could be the final piece for Lebanon, along with Ryan Milliken and Marcus Roper, to sweep this year’s jumping events. Windsor head coach Patrick Gordon has plenty of praise for sophomore Wyatt Bean, a transfer from Oxbow, saying he has the potential to be one of the best short distance runners in the state.
Individuals should make an impact, as well. Caleb Davidson, a Thetford senior who is bound for Colby-Sawyer College next year, is an early favorite to defend his VPA D-II shot put title. Kath Merchant, of Lebanon, is an early favorite to defend her shot put title in New Hampshire. Hartford’s Abayomi Lowe could be Vermont’s biggest breakout star of the season when all is said and done.
Corrine Kennedy, Lebanon: One of the most prolific runners in New Hampshire, with plenty of hardware already in her trophy case, Kennedy will spend the next few months on a thank-you tour. She’ll try to defend her 55-meter hurdle title and win the 600-meter run for good measure.
Deveon Martin, Hanover: A sophomore transfer from Hartford, Martin is already making an impact on a Marauders team with its eye on NHIAA D-II relay events and in short distances.
Abayomi Lowe, Hartford: Hurricanes head coach Mike Perry is high on his sophomore sprinter, who has already broken three school records including a 300-meter record that Perry thought would never be broken. He and Illeana Sirois, Perry said, are Hartford’s future in track and field.
Izzy Giesing, Oxbow: The Olympians’ junior standout should have no trouble defending her VPA Division II state titles in the 1,000 meter and 1,600 meter, while leading Oxbow to the top of the D-II standings. Whether the girls team has enough depth to get finally pass Rice remains to be seen.
Caleb Davidson, Thetford: It was around this time last year that Davidson took his shot put game to a whole other level. After putting in the work this offseason, Davidson should be the favorite to defend his shot put title and, perhaps, break a state record while he’s at it.
Alexa Goad, Windsor: Goad is a marathon runner by trade. But she also goes to Windsor, which means she has a little Katey Comstock in her. “She was weight training in our gym here couple of weeks ago,” Windsor head coach Patrick Gordon said. “She was out-lifting some of my boys.”
Grace Furlong, Lebanon: Another transfer from Hartford, Furlong — a long distance runner — helps fill a void for the Raiders. If Lebanon will have any hope of finally bringing home a team championship this season, Furlong earning points in New Hampshire distance events will certainly help.
Ryan Sullivan, Lebanon: Raiders head coach Kevin Lozeau has set his sights on this year’s jumping events — high jump, long jump, etc. — for his boys team to dominate. Sophomore jumper Sullivan, teamed up with experienced jumpers Ryan Milliken and Marcus Roper, are early favorites to sweep first, second and third in states.
Noah Stommel, Thetford: A newcomer to the Panthers’ club team, Stommel already holds the top seed in the 600 meters in VPA Division II. Thetford head coach Charlie Buttrey has his eyes on a 600 title with Stommel, and perhaps a state record, to match Caleb Davidson’s likely title in the shot put.
Peter Thibault, Newport: Thibault already has qualified for the NHIAA Division II state meet in the shot put, becoming the first representative from Newport in the last several years, according to coach and Newport athletic director Jeff Miller. Thibault should give Lebanon’s Marcus Roper a run for his money.
Coach: Steve McConnell (2).
League: New Hampshire Division II.
Last Year: Girls placed 14th in N.H., Hannah Wittman placed fourth in girls 1,000 meter and fifth in girls high jump. Hanover’s boys team went unranked in team competition.
Boys Returnees: Seniors — Owen Brooks, Charles Chen, Sam Ives, Henry MacKall, Dan Schertzer. Juniors — Morgan Baughman, John Burnham, William Fullteron-Meaney, Duolan Guo, Justin Hybels, Henry Kahl, Michael MacKall, Alexander Margotta, Ben Parrado, Daniel Pinigin, Sam Pych, David Wilson, Jasper Zeng. Sophomores — Quinn Renshaw, William Bender, Adam Blackburn, Dillon Bradley, Spencer Brown, Sam Krimmel, Yajie Lou, Nicolas Mayo-Pushee, Max Patyk-Finkel, Chris Robertson, Jack Robey, Colm Seigne, Tyler Wittman.
Girls Returnees: Seniors — Sylvia Penfield, Leah Tanny. Sophomores — Jasmine Lou.
Boys Newcomers: Sophomores — Deveon Martin. Freshmen — Matthew Bonner, Andrew Chen, Kyle Doucette, Rioghan O’Toole, Gregory Phillips, A.J. Ristino, Dominic Scanlan, Jackson Tolliday.
Girls Newcomers: Freshmen — Christine Aman, Kyla Bouchard, Isabel Bray, Anna Glenn, Lillian Hall, Kate Henggeler, Olivia Peterson, Anna Stafford, Peiper Thomas, Abigail Wilson.
Analysis: Hanover’s brightest individual indoor star last season, Hannah Wittman, is taking her senior indoor season off. She, along with the team’s depth of athletic girls, helped catapult the Marauders’ girls team to 14th place in NHIAA Division II last season. Depth of talent is now with the boys team a year later, highlighted by a group of speedy individual short-distance runners. Head coach Steve McConnell has his sights on the boys 4×200 relay and the boys 4×400 relay.
“It’s usually the last event of any meet,” McConnell said of indoor track’s relay events. “It also usually determines which team will win or lose a meet. We’re a team of sprinter. … With guys like Deveon Martin and Sam Pych, we don’t have that one stud who’s going to win all these individual events. I think we can come together and win as a team. That’s encouraging.”
Coach: Kevin Lozeau (4).
League: New Hampshire Division II.
Last Year: Girls placed third, Corinne Kennedy first in 300, 55 hurdles and second in high jump. Kath and Kim Merchant were first and second in girls shot put. Boys placed eighth. Marcus Roper third in shot put.
Boys Returnees: Seniors — Davis Cole, Ryan Milliken, Spenser Molloy, Julian Stott. Juniors — Edward Bieszczad, Jonathan Brennan, Peter Maslan, Zachary Petrin, Marcus Roper, Donald Willeman. Sophomores — Nathaniel Cole, Calvin Politano, Pierce Susco, William Tanski, Noel Vorachak.
Girls Returnees: Seniors — Mary Felice Avelino, Emily Ball, Corinne Kennedy. Juniors – Alison Duany, Shelby Hanks, Kathleen Merchant, Kimberly Merchant, Sophia Miller, Chloe Wadlinger. Sophomores — Trina Avelino, Sarah Ball, Kaitlyn Merrihew, Laken Mooney, Weati Punni, Annabelle Scott.
Boys Newcomers: Seniors — Tyler Mansfield. Sophomores — Ryan Sullivan, Ryan Hunt. Freshmen — Roneet Arora, Nathaniel Brown, Cody Davis, Keenan Leuthauser, Peter Ogrinc, Aymonie Paul, Michael Weeks.
Girls Newcomers: Juniors — Grace Furlong. Freshmen — Quinn Beek, Anna Bieszczad, Sydney Brochu, Esperanza Daly, Emma Doyle, Emma Herndon, Claudia Simione, Abigail Snow, Irina Stan, Madeline Wolfe
Analysis: Fourth-year head coach Kevin Lozeau is working with his biggest indoor track team since joining the Raiders, giving Lozeau plenty of wiggle room to think about the present and the future of his program.
“I try to put it to the kids,” he said. “Track is such an individual sport, but if you put in the effort you can help the team win. Right now, we’re just hoping kids stay interested so that we can return a lot of next year and stay competitive.”
Corinne Kennedy returns for her senior season one year after taking home state titles in the 300-meter run and the 55-meter hurdles. This season, Kennedy has switched to the less-competitive 600-meter run, though her leadership is still the driving force behind Lebanon’s success.
It won’t help the Raiders’ girls team scores this season with Kim Merchant, who took second behind her sister Kath in shot put last year, out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in the offseason. Lozeau has his eyes on state titles in boys high jump and long jump, as well as a breakout performance from long distance runner, and Hartford transfer, Grace Furlong.
Coach: Mike Perry (24).
League: Vermont Division II.
Last Year: Girls ranked sixth, Brooke Hurd qualified for New England meet in shot put, Sarah Jones placed second in girls high jump. Boys ranked fourth, Matthew Phipps won the boys 3,200 meters and Hartford’s 4×800 relay team took second place in states.
Boys Returnees: Juniors — Callum Brittain, Riley Kehoe, Andrew Lamb. Sophomores — Abayomi Lowe, Hunter Noyes, Lucas Benson.
Girls Returnees: Seniors — Brooke Hurd, Sarah Jones. Juniors — Maya Bolger-Chen, Natalie Charron, Clara Posner, Illeana Sirois.
Boys Newcomers: Freshmen – Mason Poirier, Ryan Reed, Nicholas Jones,
Girls Newcomers: Juniors — Sarah Boulanger, Kylee Beaucage. Freshmen — Anne Marie Schneller.
Analysis: Running standouts Matthew Phipps and Deveon Martin are gone; Phipps is running at Grinnell College, Martin has transferred to Hanover. But veteran head coach Mike Perry has his eyes on the future, at least one that he believes will be led by two underclassmen who are only now beginning to come into their own.
“Abayomi Lowe and Illeana Sirois have broken six school records for us so far,” Perry said. “They’re the strength of the team this year. They’ll be the cornerstone of the spring team, as well. We have a good charge of girls this winter, if the numbers fall right we could be right up there in the top three. We’re trying to take the next step.”
Sirois broke a Hartford hurdles record that was in place since 2003. Lowe, only a sophomore, broke a 300-meter record that was in place since 2004, an accomplishment that caught Perry off-guard. Brooke Hurd should compete individually in shot put once again. Perry also said he has hopes for Callum Brittain in the 1,000-meter run, but said his lack of distance runners for the mile and two mile races will keep his team lower on team overall scores which forces the Hurricanes to pick and choose their battles more carefully.
Coach: Jeff Miller (5)
League: New Hampshire Division II
Last Year: Did not have an individual or team qualify for states.
Boys Returnees: Seniors — John Hogan, Dylan McNamara, Cameron Ackerman, Domonic Russell, Tyler Sharron, Joshua Reinhard. Juniors — Ethan Houde, Dylan Palmer, Peter Thibault.
Girls Returnees: Seniors — Bethany Boone, Emma Kibbie. Juniors — Keagan Halleck, Anna Pysz. Sophomores — Selena Coronis, Madison Sanville.
Boys Newcomers: Freshman — John Thibault.
Girls Newcomers: Freshmen — Jordan Ayen, Isabelle Fischer, Nevaeh Griggs, Allison Howald.
Analysis: Peter Thibault already has qualified for the NHIAA D-II state meet in shot put, becoming the first athlete to represent Newport at states in, “the last few years,” according to Tigers track coach and athletic director Jeff Miller.
“That’s big for us,” Miller said. “The standards are tougher in the winter than they are in the spring.”
Thibault should at least make things interesting against the perennial favorite, Lebanon’s Marcus Roper. Miller also has hopes for state qualifications for Dylan McNamara in the 55 meters, Keegan Halleck in the 55-meter hurdles and John Thibault in the 300-meter run.
Coach: Emily Willems (6).
League: Vermont Division II.
Last Year: Girls placed second to Rice, a close race 152-136 team points. Boys placed second to Lyndon.
Boys Returnees: Seniors — Trevor MacAloney, Jon Puffer, Rosten Richard, Jacob Stimson. Juniors — Sully French, Willy Moreno. Sophomores — Calvin Cook, William Douglas, Evan Flaherty, Tim Hodges, Brennan Kimball, Jarret Rock.
Girls Returnees: Seniors — Leanne Burgess, Claire Cook, Cassidy Pryer, Sarah Stevens. Juniors — Emily Carson, Izzy Giesing, Evelyn Mace. Sophomores — Zoe Barton, Schyler Hanzas, Megan Hebb, Lara Jones, Summer Paye, Tyrus Rosten, Izzy Yelle.
Boys Newcomers: Senior — Tyler Longmoore. Freshmen — Aidan Bowles, Harley Wescott.
Girls Newcomers: Senior — Natalie Barton. Junior — Danielle Gordon. Freshmen — Michaela LaCount, Lana Wood.
Analysis: The Olympians are, once again, locked and loaded following second place finishes by its girls and boys teams to traditional powerhouses in VPA Division II. Izzy Giesing will look to defend her state titles in the 1,000- and 1,600-meter runs, as does three-fourths of Oxbow’s state champion 4×800 relay team. But head coach Emily Willems is focusing her attention on making strides with her boys team.
“The boys team should be particularly strong this year,” she said.
Senior Jon Puffer is slated to have a strong showing at pole vault and senior Richard Roston is on track to compete in weight throws. Sophomore Jarret Rock should have a breakout year in short distance.
Coach: Kevin Gish (3).
League: Vermont Division II.
Last Year: Girls and boys team didn’t place. Chris Gish, now at UVM, took home titles in 1,000- and 1,600-meter runs.
Boys Returnee: Junior – Dillon Buttner.
Girls Newcomers: Freshmen — Laila Reimanis, Sophia Chestnut.
Boys Newcomers: Juniors — Joseph Campbell, Aiden Trimble.
Analysis: A team that started with 10 athletes has now shrunk to five. Chris Gish, Sharon’s dominant distance runner, is now a top runner at the University of Vermont. Dillon Buttner remains the lone runner with experience. He placed fifth in boys high jump at D-II states last season.
Coach: Charlie Buttrey (6).
League: Competes as a club team, though individuals compete in Vermont Division II.
Last Year: Caleb Davidson won D-II shot put title. Julio Lopez placed second in boys 600 meters and Chris Parenteau took second in boys 55-meter hurdles. Meaggie Balch placed third in girls 1,600 and second in girls 3,200.
Boys Returnees: Seniors — Caleb Davidson, Justin Duguay, Sage Whitecloud. Juniors — Ian Barker, Clifford Ransom, Malcolm Silver-Van Meter. Sophomores — Max Haehnel, Eli Kaliski, Ian Spelman.
Girls Returnees: Seniors — Hannah Harkins. Juniors — Emma Bauer, Grace Clement, Hannah Davis, Ellenor Koppers, Morgan Lavoy. Sophoomores — Jaime Harkins, Anabel Reining, Hannah Schwarz.
Boys Newcomers: Senior — Noah Stommel.
Girls Newcomers: Freshmen — Morgan Gaffney, Moria Haehnel, Macy Lawson.
Analysis: Though the Panthers do not compete as a team given its club status among VPA Division II’s varsity programs, their success does not get lost on head coach Charlie Buttrey. This season, Thetford’s girls are locked and loaded with a deep, experienced team that Buttrey hopes can represent the Panthers in almost every event.
“Rice is always the dominant team in Division II,” Buttrey said. “They’re very strong on the track. We’re strong in the field events — jumps, throws and pole vault. That’s how we’re going to make a lot of our points.”
Hannah Harkins, Thetford’s lone senior girl, is a multiple threat who has already broken the school record for triple jump and will likely break the school’s pole vault record before the season is out. Buttrey also expects big things from Grace Clement, who has already broken the school record in high jump, and Morgan Lavoy, who broke the school’s long jump record.
Caleb Davidson, D-II’s defending shot put champion bound for Colby-Sawyer next season, returns for his senior year with a new, more advanced throwing motion that Buttrey said will pay dividends once he masters it.
Coach: Patrick Gordon (2).
League: Vermont Division II.
Last Year: Girls placed seventh, led by Katey Comstock, who earned state title in shot put and weight throw. Boys ranked 11th.
Girls Returnees: Senior — Emily Smith.
Boys Newcomers: Senior — Hunter Judd, Allen Fan. Junior — Ethan Rhoad. Sophomore – Justin Smith, Alex Townsend. Freshman — Wyatt Bean, Brayton Bailey.
Girls Newcomers: Senior — Kaitlyn Morris. Juniors — Alexa Goad.
Analysis: A smaller team and the loss of all-state weight throw and shot put powerhouse Katey Comstock forces second-year head coach Patrick Gordon to carefully choose his battles this season, making this year’s team more focused on specific events.
“Really quickly, we’ve become a short distance team with big potential at throwing and some jumping,” Gordon said. “I think we have a little bit more diversity than we had last year. … I lost all my diversity at distance. So we’re focusing on short distance, long jump and throwing. … We’re going to have a hard time competing at the team level. So we’re going to celebrate individual victories.”
Gordon is grooming Emily Smith for a high jump title in her senior season and has high hopes for Alexa Goad, a marathon runner who Gordon thinks can also compete in shot put, and Kaitlyn Morris, a transfer from Idaho that Gordon is excited to groom into an all-state discus thrower.
Football standout Hunter Judd joins Windsor’s indoor track team as a short distance runner. Wyatt Bean, an Oxbow transfer, could be one of the best short-distance runners in Vermont in a couple of years, Gordon said.