Telegraph file photo It may be tough for Souhegan to repeat last year's Division II girls cross country title, but Saber Chloe Trudel, center, certainly has a shot at the individual crown today.

The Division boys and girls Cross Country championships are today at Manchester’s Derryfield Park, and it’s tough handicapping the field even for the coaches.

Why? There were no invitationals this fall due to the pandemic, including the usual late September Manchester Invitational, always a barometer.

Also, no spectators are allowed for the races but they will be live streamed at www.newhampshirecrosscountry.com.

“It has been a very different season with no invitationals, but instead just small, primarily local competition, so speculating about teams that we have not seen is challenging,” said Souhegan coach Jeff Wilson, whose girls won it last year led by individual champion Chloe Trudel.

The meets will be one of the main high school post-season events for Saturday, as there have been a lot of re-schedulings due to the snow on Friday.

Let’s start with a look at today’s meets:

CROSS COUNTRY

The Division I girls begin at 9 a.m., followed by the boys at 9:50 a.m. The Divison II boys start at 12:15 p.m. (girls) and 1:05 (boys). Division III will be at 3:30 (girls) and 4:20 (boys).

In Division I, Concord will be looking for its fourth straight crown with Londonderry and Keene challenging.

Speaking of challenges, the races are starting in waves to spread things out due to the pandemic.

“Starting waves, this is a bigger challenge,” Nashua North boys coach Art Kobs said.

Concord is also one of the favorites for the girls race, with Exeter being another. One of those teams will likely have the individual champion, some coaches feel.

Expect local teams like Nashua North and South, Bishop Guertin, etc. to make some noise.

“The North girls are feeling good,” Titans coach Renee Archer said, “coming off some pretty strong performances at Londonderry last week. The competition is tough, and we’re looking to improve on our 10th place finish last year.”

Local teams will be vying to qualify for next week’s Meet of Champions at Nashua South. In Division I, it’s the top six teams plus the first five finishers not on qualifying teams.

“We will be in hunt to make it to MOC ,” Kobs said, “but with no big gun the kids have to work together”

In Division II, Coe-Brown is a heavy favorite in both the boys and girls races.

Nelson feels Souhegan may be able to grab the fifth and final MOC qualifying spot in the boys race with a young team.

“However, on paper, there are five strong teams ahead of them,” Nelson said.

The Saber girls will have only Trudel back from last year’s title team, but freshman Stephanie Svendsen could help.

“The key for us to be among the top few teams will be having a reasonable gap between our top two and our pack,” Nelson said.

The MOC qualifying: Top five teams, plus first five finishers not on qualifying team.

In Division III, the top four teams and first five finishers not on qualifying teams move on to the MOC.

Locally Campbell has always been in the mix as teams try to dethrone defending champs Kearsarge (boys) and Mascenic (girls).

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

DIVISION III QUARTERS

CAMPELL 3, MILFORD 2

The Cougars advanced to the semis with a nailbiting rally, taking a15-13 final set win after the Spartans had taken the first two sets 25-9, 25-23. Campbell evened it up 26-24, 25-18.

Chloe Steiniger led the way with nine aces, nine kills, 11 digs and 19 assists. Morgan Bruner (two aces, four digs, 11 assists), Elayna Montenero (three aces, one kill, 25 digs and Tori Allen (nine kills) also helped out.

The Spartans, though, certainly had their standouts: Izzy Unsworth (15 kills, 19 digs, four aces), Sophie Palmer (27 digs, one ace), Madison Murphy (17 assists, 13 digs) and Emma Tronkowski (23 assists, nine digs, three kills).

But it’s the Cougars who move on to the semis next Thursday, opponent, location, etc. to be determined.

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE CHANGES

Two games involving local teams have been moved due to the snow and one was cancelled, the latter moving a team right into the semis.

Tonight’s Nashua South at Merrimack game has been moved to Sunday at 12 p.m. at MHS’ Student Memorial Field, to give the field time to recover and be worked on.

Also, Alvirne at Salem set for last night was postponed to today at 4 p.m. at Salem. Hollis Brookline-Milford at HB’s new turf field is still on for today at 2 p.m.

Ah, but in Division III, the Campbell-Pelham quarterfinal will not be played at all, evidently due to virus concerns on the Pelham end, and the Pythons have opted out. That means, as long as good health continues, Campbell will face the winner of last night’s scheduled Trinity at Monadnock quarterfinal.

BOYS SOCCER CHANGES

The Nashua South at Merrimack quarterfinal is still today, but has been moved from MHS to 7 p.m. at the Bedford GPS Fields, which have field turf.

In Division II, the Souhegan at Hollis Brookline quarterfinal set for this morning is now Sunday at 10 a.m.at HB.

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