Manchester Central junior Angele Cenesca gets some help after finsihing the 800 meter run, her final event in winning the 48th annual Heptathlon at Nashua South's Fran Tate Track. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – They watch each other like hawks at the New Hampshire Heptathlon.

For example, Bow’s Hannah Pawlowski knew that her lead late in the 48th annual version of the event Sunday at Nashua High School South’s Fran Tate Track was tenuous at best.

Finished for the day after the 800 meter run, she held a slim lead over Manchester Central junior Angele Cenesca, and knew that with Cenesca still needing to run the 800, the math didn’t look good.

“Her PR (pesonal record) in the 800 is worth 400 points,” Pawlowski, who just graduated, said.

And that was a time of 2:45. Well, Cenesca did better than than that, coming in with a 2:30.65 good for 685 points, to captured the Heptathlon title with 3,786 points to Pawlowski’s 3, 397.

“I’m really excited with what I’ve done,” Cenesca said. “It really shows my improvement from last year.”

A year ago she finished eighth, and she was shooting for a top three finish yesterday. Cenesca did way better than that. “I knew I could do it,” she said. “The 800, I was not expecting that. Last year I ran it in 2:54.”

“Such maturity and growth from last year’s Heptathlon to this year’s,” Manchester Central girls track coach Tim Morris said. “Really proud of her. Emotionally, she’s taking it a little more seriously, she’s working harder. … I was hoping top five, definitely better than the eighth place finish last year.”

Ironically, Sunday was an adjustment for Cenesca because she hates running in the heat. She laid down with an ice pack on her neck right after the race while others had the same idea.

Cenesca was the leader after the first day and she began the second day in great form by winning the long jump at 5.04 meters. In the javelin, she was 17th (20.00 meters). While Pawlowski won the 800 in 2:25.26 and got the 753 points to go with it, her lead was just under 400 points. Cenesca’s 2:30.65 time gave her 685 points and the win.

Pawlowski finished sixth last year, and said to win it “was my dream.” But she also said after last year, finishing second would still be a great accomplishment. She was waiting all year for the chance. “I just love it,” she said. “I knew I relied on my Day Two events to keep going.”

That’s because she was 15th going into Sunday, making a huge climb.

Meanwhile, the top local finisher was Souhegan’s Mary Howell, ninth at 3,004 – one point ahead of Nashua South’s Sarah Witta, who took 10th. Bishop Guertin’s Bridget Powers finished 17th and South’s Diamond Perry was 21st.

Now next year, all eyes will be on Cenesca, right? Will she come back to defend her title?

“I might have to,” she said, smiling.