Coe-Brown Academy edged the Hanover High girls for the NHIAA Division II state track and field title by scoring points in the meet’s last event, the pole vault, which had to be postponed to Sunday because of the weather.
The teams were tied at 103 when the competition ended Saturday.
On Sunday, Coe-Brown had three of the top six finishes in the pole vault, adding 15 points for a total of 118 and the championship. The Hanover boys also placed second among 16 teams.
Hanover coach Steve McConnell said the track events, including the distance races, are what carried the Bears to second place. Several athletes competed in two or more events and were able to score points. These included Aria Deeb, Megan Faris, Millie Larrick, Alice Bell, Mary Westrich, and Josie White.
“The girls were great. We asked a ton from them, and they performed as well as we could imagine,” McConnell said Sunday in a phone interview. “It was a great day, despite the weather.”
For the boys, there were a few multiple-event athletes, including Rhys Jones, Alexander Collins, Isaac McNaughton, and Ben Groves, who was in four races.
“It was a really big ask for him,” McConnell said. “Three and a half miles of racing, so it was a pretty impressive day for Ben.”
Groves, who led Hanover to its third straight D-II cross country title last fall, had a stellar afternoon. He won the 800 and 1,600 meter races, was fourth in the 3,200, and was on the third-place 4 by 800 relay team with Alexander Collins, McNaughton, and Jones.
The girls were again dominant in the distance races, as they had been all spring, with many of the same athletes who led the Bears to the D-II cross country title last fall.
Senior Megan Faris won the 3,200 meters, was second in the 1,600, and Aria Deeb won the 1,600, was second in the 800, and fourth in the 3,200. Millie Larrick won the 800 meters, Alice Bell was fourth in the 1,600, was on the second place 4 by 400 relay team with Josie White, Mary Westrich and Lou Swenson, and the 4 by 800 relay team that finished third with Swenson, Mia Sverrild and Ariella Hirschler.
For the boys, Rhys Jones grabbed second in the 400, Dylan Faris was second in the 3,200, Liam McConnell was second in the pole vault and fifth in the high jump, and Garrett Fournier, Alexander Collins, Oliver Collins, and Rhys Jones were second in the 4 by 400. The first six places in each event score points for the team total.
Others results for Hanover: Girls – White (second, 200 meters, fourth 400 meters) Westrich (fourth 400 meters, fifth 800 meters), Grace Stewart (fifth 3,200), Hirschler (sixth, 3,200), Mary Matter (sixth, 100 meter hurdles), Eila Lahaye (second javelin), Mia Montas Antiqua (sixth shot put) Hayeon Song, Milande Gijsel, Heidi Kauffman, Eowyn Jones (fourth, 4 by 100). Boys – Alexander Collins, Tanner Lahaye (third, fourth 800 meters), Isaac McNaughton (fifth 1,600), Lahaye (fourth, high jump), Garrett Fournier, Grayson Lyall, Harper Smith, Caleb Franklin (sixth 4 by 100).
Lebanon: Boys – Oscar Gulledge (third shot put, fourth 300 meter hurdles, sixth 110 hurdles), Brian Nelson (third discus, fifth javelin), Brent Paige (third pole vault), Owen Tuohy (fifth 800 meters), Ryder Desharnais (sixth shot put. Girls – Ellis Harrington, Carter Breedlove, Rowan Laundry, Banipreet Kaur (fifth 4 by 4 by 400), Maeve Finnegan, Ella Dannehy, Sarah Smith, Julia McGee (fifth 4 by 800), Alice Ball (sixth discus), Harrington (fourth 300 meter hurdles).
Results Girls – Coe-Brown 118, Hanover 103, Oyster River 85, Merrimack Valley 59, Timberland 55, Hollis-Brookline 32, Bow 27, Kingswood 26, Milford 19, Souhegan 13, Lebanon 9. Boys – Coe-Brown 94, Hanover 78, Souhegan 64, Oyster River 60, Con-Val 52, Milford 33, Pembroke 30, Lebanon 26, Bow 24, Kennett 22.
