We witnessed the raw power of Paul Marchand’s sprint double for Nashua South at the Division I State Indoor Track Meet on Sunday. And when Nashua North’s Rory Curran ripped up the backstretch with two laps to go in the 1500 meters, clinching his distance double, electricity surged through the Leverone Fieldhouse.

But there was a double of a different sort on Sunday, certainly worthy of note.

When North’s Tori Conrad crushed the field in the shot put with her heave of 40-feet, 7-inches, it marked back-to-back state indoor titles for the Titan girls shot put crew and throws coach Rocky LeFort. Remember, he coached Kathrynn Lynn to the championship in 2019.

“He’s been an amazing coach,” said Conrad of LeFort. “He has us on a great lifting program and always has us ready for these meets.”

LeFort draws raves from his fellow coaches in a Titans’ track program that was impressive taking second in both boys and girls.

“The kids put in all the work. They jump right into the lifting program, and they put in all the work,” said LeFort.

Working with Conrad, it’s almost like a sculptor with a piece of clay. Remember, she didn’t even throw indoors last year and this winter has split time between basketball and track.

“I can’t wait to get her back in the spring, focusing on the sport she is dominating at. She threw 42-feet outdoors last year,” said LeFort. “We get her back in the weight room full-time, there’s going to be some fun things happening this spring.”

As for Conrad, the sky is absolutely the limit.

She’ll finish out the basketball season with the Titans, head to New Englands and lift to prepare for spring.

“The goal outdoors is 45 feet and above,” she said.

ONE MORE TRACK NOTE

Remember the name Dantia Braccio. The Titans’ sophomore had heads turning Sunday with her magnificent 1500 meters, in which she demolished a quality field.

Braccio was just the ninth seed coming in with a best time of 5:06.00. She proceed in a runaway to go sub-5:00.

This region has been thick with quality distance runners, boys and girls, for years now.

Braccio joins Souhegan sophomore Chloe Trudel as the next two young guns on the track.

They both should be fun to watch for years to come.

AND FINALLY

For an old man, I consider myself pretty cool, hip, tight or whatever the word is these days.

I was listening to rap before it became in and was renamed hip-hop. By the way, I tell my 19-year-old that hip-hop died with Biggie and I will stand by that. But I digress.

This is about style, namely the explosion of new athletic footwear.

I’m so good with most new kicks. Nikes, LeBrons, Jordans, Durants, even the Kyries. I’m so in.

But the pair of shoes I caught at a recent area game, have just gone too far.

I have no idea what they are, so I will call them the Gatorade collection.

One is neon yellow-lime green and the other is fluorescent orange.

Yes, one (I’m guessing extremely expensive) pair of shoes … two different colors.

Sorry, young folks. This old man is out.

Contact Hector Longo at 594-1253 or hlonho@nashuatelegraph.com.

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