Hanover boys cruise to DII track and field state title
Published: 05-28-2024 9:18 AM |
DURHAM, N.H. — The Hanover High boys won two relays, the 1,600-meter run and the javelin to dominate the NHIAA Division II state track and field meet on Friday with a nearly 30-point finish ahead of second-place Coe-Brown, 93-66.
Hanover senior Lucian Gleiser won the 1,600 (4:21) and placed second in the 800 at the 18-school meet held at Oyster River High School. In throwing events, the Bears James Chafouleas was first in the javelin with a throw of 171 feet, 3 inches, and second in the discus. Hanover’s 4x100 relay team of Aidan Bradley, Joaquin Martin, Lional Ndong and Jeff Vidou won in 43.53 seconds, and the 4x400 team of Martin, Vidou, Ben Groves and Liam Kitchel was first in a time of 3:32.
Hanover racked up points in the 400-meter run with Kitchel taking third and Bradley fourth. Also scoring were Andrew Valentino (fourth, 1,600; third, 3,200), Ryan Faris (sixth, 3,200), Aidan Powell (second, 300 hurdles), Nahaniel Solberg (fifth, long jump) and the third-place 4x800 team of Will Parker, Alex Valentino, Groves and Issac Novosad.
The Hanover girls finished fourth among 18 teams in a meet won easily by Oyster River.
Hanover coach Steve McConnell said he was proud of the results from both squads and that the boys were one of the deepest and most talented teams in school history.
“I don’t think we have had a team this complete,” McConnell said. “We scored points in the throws, scored points in the jumps, the relays, hurdles and distance. It is really hard to do that in all areas. And to win states comfortably with no one individual winning more than one event shows the whole team came together.”
McConnell also said all three boys relay teams set school records this year.
For the girls, Hanover sophomore Lea Perreard was third in the 800 and second in the 1,600, and teammate Megan Faris, also a sophomore, finished second in the 3,200. Also scoring in multiple events for Hanover was Josie White, who was third in 200, fourth in the 400 and third in the 4x400 relay with Eva Simpson, Mia Bagnato and Alice Bell. Hanover’s Mary Matter was (sixth, 100 hurdles), Bell (fifth, 800) and Isabel Beckman (fourth, triple jump) also scored points for Hanover, and the 4x800 team of Heidi Davis, Jacklyn Anderson, Ariella Hirschler and Natalie Wainwright was third.
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The girls’ effort was strong against the likes of Oyster River, which everyone knew would win, McConnell said.
“Our girls had a great day and good individual performances with great results,” McConnell said. “It is pretty exciting because we had a lot of points from sophomores and freshmen. They could soon be where the boys are now.”
The Lebanon girls were 10th and the Raider boys were 12th.
Lebanon junior Jenney Lutz had a solid afternoon with a third in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and sixth in the 100 meter dash. Also scoring for Lebanon were Phoebe Ballard (fourth, 100 hurdles), Kristen Higgins (sixth, 100 hurdles), Olivia Cook (sixth shot put) and Aarvike Miroula (fifth, discus).
For the Lebanon boys, points were scored by Oscar Gulledge (fourth, 110 hurdles), Daniel Calderon-Rios (fourth, 300 hurdles), Nicholas Petrucci (third, pole vault), Jonathan Eylander (sixth, discus) and Marco Getchell (sixth, javelin).
McConnell said Hanover will send Gleiser, Bradley, Kitchel, Chafouleas, the three boys relay teams, Perreard, Faris and the girls 4x400 team to the Meet of Champions at UNH on Sunday.
Boys team scores: Hanover 93, Coe-Brown 66, Oyster River 65, John Stark 53, Merrimack Valley 48, Milford 44, ConVal 38, Souhegan 36, Kennett 26, Hollis-Brookline 26, Lebanon 14 (12th).
Girls team scores: Oyster River 137, Coe-Brown 61.5, Hollis-Brookline 53, Hanover 45, Bow 39, Kennett 38, Plymouth 29, Goffstown 26, Kingswood 19, Lebanon 18.