While track and field competitors participated in cross country and outdoor events during COVID, the indoor track season was cancelled in New Hampshire and was limited in Vermont the last two years. With the pandemic in check, area teams are gearing up the first complete indoor season since 2019-20. For many athletes, this will be their first indoor experience.

Hanover

Coaches: Steve McConnell (eighth season).  

League: NHIAA Division II

Returners: Seniors — Ian Solberg, Luke Welder, Thomas Mosday. Juniors —  Mia Bagnato, Aidan Bradley, Lucian Gleiser, Emma Letendre, Joaquin Martin, Aiden Powell, Eva Simpson, Joshua Warner. Sophomores — Penelope Collins, Rex Gleason, Abraham Healey, Clancy Killebrew, Nathanial Solberg.

Newcomers: Senior — Ellis Besana. Juniors — Ian Aguilar-Hwang, James Chafouleas, Justin Dickson, Rui Zhang. Sophomores — Jacklyn Anderson, Aryaman Bhaskar, Evelyn De Jesus, Oliver Greenway, Taylor Robles, Katherine Tullar. Freshmen — Casper Besana, Nicholas Del Pino, Kyle Morlock, Ethan Welder.

Outlook: During the height of the pandemic, running was all outdoors and the team is now eager to return to the indoor environment, which many on the team have never experienced.

“This season will be full of learning opportunities,” McConnell said. “Senior Ian Solberg returns as the best high jumper in the state and his brother, sophomore Nate Solberg, is an emerging long jumper who could compete at the state level. We have a dual threat in the 300 meters with juniors Aiden Bradley and Joaquin Martin both are capable of being in the final at the state meet. Lucian Gleiser is our top distance runner and newcomer James Chafouleas comes in with a championship pedigree as a thrower. On the girls' side, junior Mia Bagnato could compete in several different events."

Hartford

Coaches: Mike Perry (29th season) Assist Coach Fatimah Shabazz (third season).

League: VPA Division II 

Last year: Boys were seventh and the girls nith at the state meet, which combined divisions I and II.

Returners: Seniors — Sawyer Albrecht, Bella Boeri, Rocco Clough, Gavin Farnsworth, Megan Lang, Nolan McMahon, Alice Piper. Juniors — Jordan Davis, Jack Fournier-Stephens, Gabe Guillette, Joey Knapp, Maxwell Portnoy, Alexander Smith. Sophomores — Macy Bettewieser, Brandon Driver, Bennet Moreno, Dakota Smith, Logan White.

Newcomers: Seniors — Alan Aldrich, John Cassell, Gavin Provost, Everett Winslow. Junior — Payton Bessette. Sophomores — Conner Beland, Cordelia Durand, Geneva Durgin, Harper Fallon, Ayodele Lowe, Sarah Nichols, Nolan Pichtel, Hugh Wendling. Freshmen — Ermek Baker-Niffka, Rowan Dumont, Jason Kelly, Randy Laird, Barrett Ouelette.

Outlook: The Hurricanes have an abundance of experienced talent on the boys’ side, led by Gavin Farnsworth, Jack Fournier-Stephens, Bennett Moreno and Jordan Davis, who can compete in seven events. 

In addition, the throwers are deep with Rocco Clough, Brandon Driver,  AJ Aldrich and newcomers Ermek Baker-Niffka and Randy Laird. Gabe Guillette,  coming off a breakout season in the spring, will lead the sprinters and jumpers.

Megan Lang, Dakota Smith, Macy Bettwieser, Alice Piper, Sarah Nichols, Bella Boeri, Cordelia Durand, Geneva Durgin, Harper Fallon, Rowan Dumont, and Barrett Ouelette makeup the girls team. “I believe all these girls will be strong competitors in their events,” Perry said.

Lebanon

Coaches: Kevin Lozeau (10th season).

Last year: No official indoor track season. Birhanu Harriman ran unattached at Boston University and broke the 3000-meter record.

League: NHIAA Division II

Returners: Seniors — Isaac Ager, Tanner Ames, Joshua Ball, Birhanu Harriman, Carson Jones, Nicholas Lamontagne, Sean Miller, Sam Nichols, Bradlee Smith, Tommy Wolfe, Isabella Hastings,  Morgan Kantor, Vickie Ni. Junior — Ryle Isuga.

Newcomers: Seniors — Jerome Charbono, Azzlyn Arnold, Mary Rainey. Juniors — Christian Cotting, Talan Patkul. Sophomores — Henry Jones, Doyen Kodiweera, Nicholas Petrucci, Caleb Thornton, Rebecca Ball. Freshmen — Annelise Brown, Sarah Smith.

Outlook: After two years of no competition, Lozeau’s team is senior-laden, led by Birhanu Harriman, one of the top distance runners in the state and New England.

“After missing the last two indoor seasons due to COVID, both the boys and girls have lower numbers than in the past, but both teams return a core group of upperclassmen with plenty of outdoor track experience,” Lozeau said. “Tommy Wolfe, like Harriman, is also coming off a great cross country season. Tanner Ames will lead a burgeoning throwing contingent. For the girls, expect Izzy Hastings to score in the distance events and high jump, and senior sprinter Morgan Kantor will look to place high in the long sprints.”

Mascoma

Coach: Rick Currier (first season).

League: NHIAA Division II 

Returners: Senior — Elena Trempe. Juniors — Kara Miller, Josh Park. Sophomores — Ann Buffington, Jenney Lutz, Brody Albanese, Brayden Cilbrith, Gunner Currier, Trevor Maheu.

Newcomers: Senior — Logan Gilmore. Sophomores — Kaleigh Dinsmore, Braelyn Stone, Avery McDermott. Freshmen — Brayden Bashaw, Carter Nadeau.

Outlook:The Royals enter their first year as a varsity sport — after three years as a club sport — with some experienced talent.    

Sophomore Gunner Currier was a top finisher in the state cross country meet in the fall and in last year’s 3,200 meter race in the outdoor state track championship. Also finishing strong last spring were Logan Gilmore in the 200 meters and Jenney Lutz in the 100 meters.

“We’re excited to be competing in our first year as a varsity sport,” Rick Currier said. “We should get standout performances from Gunner Currier (distance and middle distance), Brody Albanese (middle distance), Jenney Lutz, Ann Buffington, Logan Gilmore, and Carter Nadeau (sprints), Elena Trempe (hurdles), and Kara Miller (shot put). Others will provide us further depth in all those events as well, giving us a team that should surprise some in our first year.”

Newport

Coach: Jeff Miller (sixth season).

Division: NHIAA Division II.

Returners: Senior Tim Fratzel is the only member who participated in the pre-COVID season of 2019-20.   

Newcomers: Seniors — Jess McGuire, Christian Padova, Maddy Norris, Eric Wilkinson. Juniors — Kyle Ashley, Emma O’Connor, Katie Sharron. Sophomores — Cameryn Simpson, Maddox Lovely, Taylor Fellows.

Outlook: Fratzel, who specializes n the 600 and 1000 meters as well as the 4x400 meter relay, leads a team with some solid experience outdoors.

“We’re looking forward to getting back into competition after a two-year hiatus,” Miller said. “(Kyle) Ashley competed in the New Englands in the javelin this past spring as did (Maddox) Lovely in the hurdles. Both have high hopes to make the indoor state meet and possibly the New Englands.”

Oxbow

Coach: John Fields (first season).

Last year: Boys were 15th at the state meet.

League: VPA Division II

Returners: Senior — Calvin Carbee. Sophomores — Shane Morse, Andrew Barrett, Cooper Brunet, Liam O'Connell.

Newcomers: Seniors — Mackenzie Clogston, Xavier Beaudin. Juniors — Maisa Cook, Tessa Cook. Sophomores — Moses Andrews, Rueben Keefe, Chase Fischer, Isaac Craig, Alexander Daigle. Freshmen — Kevin Page, Lilly Benjamin, Eliza Benware, Casey Wiedric.

Sharon

Coach: Blake Fabrikant (second season).

League: VPA Division IV.

Returners: Seniors — Phoebe Quackenbos, Avery Swett.

Newcomers: Senior — Freya Abbey. Juniors — Esme Krauthamer, Zabrien McGee. Sophomores — Abby Chase, Elsa Skarsten, Hayden Hewitt, Luke Miller. Freshman — Raiden Danford.

Outlook: “This is a small, but committed group,” Fabrikant said. “Our focus isn't on scoring points at meets, but instead using indoor track as a springboard to the outdoor season; focusing on proper running form, explosiveness and technique so that when the outdoor season commences this spring, we'll have built a solid foundation.”

Thetford

Coaches: Charlie Buttrey (12th season), Joel Breakstone (12th season), Cole Chapman (first season), Caleb Davidson (first season).

League: VPA Division II.

Returnees: Senior Abby Egner is the only athlete on the current roster who competed in the 2019-2020 season.

Newcomers: Seniors — Max Leibon, Jada Rich, Luca Trage. Juniors — Mary Bosco, Chase LeFevre, Ceci Luce, Ben Mattern, Ben Perron, Zurael Star, Maddy Thaxton. Sophomores — Ava Hayden, Uly Junker-Boyce. Freshmen: Daniel Mann, Wyatt Polletta, Calvin Powers, David Thaxton, Henry Trage.

Outlook: When they last competed indoors, the Panther boys were the 2020 Division II champions and the girls were runners-up. After a two-year hiatus, Thetford will have a team with many who have track experience, if not indoors.

“The indoor track program always benefits from the strong coaching and the winning traditions that TA has had for years in its cross-country and spring track programs,” Buttrey said. “Many of these athletes have competed on state championship teams in cross country or track, so the foundation is there. This is a pretty young group, but they are enthusiastic and energetic. It's great to be back.”

White River Valley

Coaches: David Mattern (12th season) and Nalani Sutton (first season).

Last year: Amara Calhum-Flowers placed ninth in the 600 meters and seventh in high jump. Eleanor Prestridge was ninth in shot put.

League: VPA Division II.

Returners: Seniors — Eleanor Prestridge, Zack Armstrong. Juniors — Sadie Kinsley, Amara Calhum-Flowers. Sophomores — Norah Harwood, Madelyn Gibson.

Newcomers: Seniors — Amya Roussel, Rachel Poupolo. Sophomore — Hayden Mabey. Freshmen — Bennett Hanson, Isaac Wimett, Matt Bangerter, Addison Isham.

Outlook: “We’re looking forward to continue building the indoor program,” Mattern said. “We have gained both girls and boys this season, which will allow our boys team to compete in relays. We expect our returning juniors and seniors to continue to be competitive this year especially if they don’t combine divisions as they had done last year. We have a great group of kids and it’ll be a fun season.”

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