SALEM – Portsmouth High, scoring 97.5 points overall, left little doubt who is tops on the track this spring, winning the 2022 Division I State Meet.

The Nashua North boys carved their own little niche, though, here on Friday night. Consider the second-place Titans “finest in the field.”

North scored every single one of its points in the field – zero points on the track – and still nipped Londonderry (57), who took third.

Jack Sullivan led the way for the Titans, racking up 20 points in the weirdest of ways.

Entered in all three jumps, he only cleared 5-6 in the high jump and took a disappointing 10th. The anguish didn’t last long.

“In long jump, my leg was dead from high jump. I had a really bad day in high jump, but I wanted to bring it back in long jump,” the junior said. “I actually switched my jumping foot. I jumped off my right foot and I PR’d by a foot and four inches!”

Soaring 21-5.5, he beat Dover’s Brady McInnes by three inches for the win.

“In triple jump I was seeded No. 1, and my goal was to win it,” Sullivan said. “I didn’t have my best jump, but I pulled it out.

“(The double win) was unexpected. I’m just happy with how my team and I competed here today.”

Another Titan junior, Toby Brown, snagged a state title as well. Toby Brown unleashed a monster throw of 52-0.25 on his first shot-put attempt, and nobody else came close. The final margin of victory for Brown was nearly five feet. Senior Jack Washam added third in the event with a 45-1.

Nashua South and Alvirne tied for sixth with 34 points.

Senior Eden Damis was the Panther champion, scoring the win in the javelin with a solid throw of 149-8.

Alvirne’s Alvin Thumi made it a clean sweep for Telegraph Country, winning the discus. The senior’s top toss of 138-10 was just four inches better than North’s Washam, who was second.

Merrimack scored 10 points in the form of Samuel Epstein’s pole vault win. The senior cleared 12-feet, the only athlete to do so in the event.

Bishop Guertin also netted 10 points as Nathaneal Fondakowski, fourth in the 3200, was the lone Cardinals’ individual scorer.

•••

LOCAL BOYS RESULTS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Portsmouth 97.5; 2. North 59; 6. (tie) Alvirne, South 34; 14. (tie) Merrimack, BG 10

200: 5. Jack Ashworth (Alv) 22.94

800: 5. John Crawford (Alv) 2:00.87

1600: 5. Nicholas Marcotte (Alv) 4:35.73

3200: 4. Nathaneal Fondakowski (BG) 9:39.14

300 Hurdles: 2. Ashworth (Alv) 40.23; 3. Rory Olsen (South) 40.40

4�–400: 3. Alvirne 3:33.52; 4. South 3:35.86

4�–800: 3. BG 8:23.39; 5. South 8:31.56

High Jump: 2. Sami Witta (South) 6-2

Pole Vault: 1. Samuel Epstein (Merr) 12-0; 4. Aedan Pickett (North) 10-0

Long Jump: 1. Jack Sullivan (North) 21-5.5; 4. Witta (South) 20-9.25

Triple Jump: 1. Sullivan (North) 41-6; 4. Preston Thompson (North) 40-1; 5. Ethan Preston-Texeira (North) 39-3.5

Shot Put: 1. Toby Brown (North) 52-0.25; 3. Jack Washam (North) 45-1; 4. Alvin Thumi (Alv) 45-0.25

Discus: 1. Thumi (Alv) 138-10; 2. Washam (North) 138-6; 4. Brown (North) 131-8; 6. Darius Smith (North) 126-10

Javelin: 1. Eden Damis (South) 149-8

•••

Division I Girls Meet

SALEM – The Titans of Nashua North thought they had done enough. Heck, it was announced that they had repeated as Division I state outdoor track champs.

But when they stepped up for the trophy and were turned away, doubt crept in. The doubt turned to despair about 20 minutes later when the defending champions were announced in third place.

“It was a great day,” said North coach Renee Archer. “We wanted to win. Looking on paper, we thought we could finish second or third. Everyone just delivered.”

North scored 70 points on the day, placing behind new champ Exeter (75) and runner-up Concord (74.5).

North scored big in the field events, and nobody had a better day then Madelyn Novak.

The junior won the shot put (36-3.75) and the javelin (119-8), adding a second place in the discus.

“She just had a great day. We weren’t expecting the shot put win,” said Archer. “We knew she was primed for a good throw in discus. She showed up and delivered. It was awesome.”

The awesomeness was represented in a school record spin of 124-10.

Senior Olivia Mazerolle had the lone other win for the Titans. Clearing 5-foot-2 on her first attempt, Mazerolle took the high jump. Three girls cleared the bar at 5-2, including Alvirne’s Molly O’Donnell, who was third.

The third-place performance is clear proof that the North girls program is truly rolling.

“I have great senior leadership The girls on this team have taken care of everyone underneath them, especially Nat Burgess in the throws,” said Archer of the senior who was fourth in shot put and fifth in discus. “She’s really created a new culture over there, work hard, get your job done. These kids all have each other’s backs. They’ve just done a phenomenal job of looking out for each other.”

Runner-up a year ago with a handful of impact seniors, Nashua South clearly showed the rebuilding job is well under way, scoring 32 points to tie for seventh.

“Our girls came, they conquered,” said South coach Catrina Lougee. “They did what they were expected to do and so much more. We actually saw, across the board, some lifetime bests from key girls, and we also saw some freshmen step up big time today.

“That shows a year of growth, a year of development, and I cannot wait to see what’s going to happen.”

Sprinter Soraya Ross had a supreme day for South, taking wins in the 100 and 200. Her 12.19 clocking was a Division I meet record. Her winning time in the 200 was 25.79.

The sophomore also ran the anchor leg in the winning 4�–100 team, along with Iyana Braswell, Emily Ostrowski and Mia Cruz.

“I was so proud of those girls,” said Lougee, “to go undefeated all year and then to PR here.”

Merrimack placed fifth with 42 points, led by Alexis Best who took second in the 100 behind Ross, third in the 200 and second in the triple jump.

Alvirne’s O’Donnell would not be denied her title. She won the long jump at 17-8.25, helping Alvirne to a ninth place finish.

Bishop Guertin was next in 10th as Fiona Doherty represented the Cardinals brilliantly with her win in the 1600 (5:12.62).

•••

LOCAL GIRLS RESULTS

Team Scores: 1. Exeter 75; 2. Concord 74.5; 3. North 70; 5. Merrimack 42; 7. South 32; 9. Alvirne 26: 10. BG 24

100: 1. Soraya Ross (South) 12.19; 2. Alexis Best (Merr) 12.37; 4. Jhanelle Thomas (North) 12.50; 5. Iyana Braswell (South) 12.68

200: 1. Ross (South) 25.79; 3. Best (Merr) 25.95; 5. Thomas (North) 26.12

400: 4. Thomas (North) 61.20

800: 3. Dantia Braccio (North) 2:23.96l 4. Paige Boudreau (Alv) 2:25.29

1600: 1. Fiona Doherty (BG) 5:12.62; 4. Braccio (North) 5:21.19

3200: 4. Mary-Kate Finn (BG) 11:52.04

100 Hurdles: 5. Petrina Ofori (Alv) 16.29

300 Hurdles: 2. Kailey Dillon (Merr) 46.43; 4. Isabella DiVernieri (North) 48.43; 6. Olivia Mazerolle (North) 48.50

4�–100: 1. South (Braswell, Emily Ostrowski, Mia Cruz, Ross) 49.29; 2. Merrimack 49.65

4�–400: 6. North 4:15.90

4�–800: 2. BG 9:49.74; 4. Alvirne 9:58.10

High Jump: 1. Mazerolle (North) 5-2; 3. Molly O’Donnell (Alv) 5-2; 6. Kailey Dillon (Merr) 5-0

Long Jump: 1. O’Donnell (Alv) 17-8.25; 5. Dillon (Merr) 16-10.25

Triple Jump: 2. Best (Merr) 33-11.75; 6. Lilly Farrell (Merr) 33-0.25

Shot Put: 1. Madelyn Novak (North) 36-3.75; 4. Natalie Burgess (North) 34-10

Discus: 2. Novak (North) 124-10; 5.Burgess (North) 97-7

Javelin: 1. Novak (North) 119-8; 5. Marissa Parshley (BG) 102-10

•••

DIVISION II MEETS

PELHAM – What a difference a year made for Milford High’s Caden Zalenski.

Last spring, the gifted thrower fouled three straight times in the Division II State Meet, disappointing in the shot put.

Sunday at Pelham High, the Spartan senior dubbed himself as the man to beat in next week’s Meet of Champions with a heave of 52-7.5, capturing the Division II state title in the process.

Zalenski, who added a second place in the discus for the second straight year at states, helped the Spartans to a fourth place finish overall in the event won by Coe-Brown Northwood Academy.

Zalenski, the star running back on Milford’s state semifinal football team was by no means the lone local to shine in the field events.

Souhegan senior Will Jacques enjoyed a monster day, not only scoring in all three throws but tossing in a second place in the high jump by clearing 6-2.

Jacques claimed the title, “state champ” with a win in the javelin. His toss of 164-7 was over 10 feet better than the nearest competitor. The Saber was also second behind Zalenski in the shot and third in the discus, helping the Sabers to a third-place finish with 57 points.

Hollis Brookline’s boys claimed sixth place overall, much in part to the work done by John Kottely.

The senior was down to his last chance in the triple jump and the pressure only made him better. Kottely’s final effort of 42-9.25 gave him the win. He added a second place in the 400 meters as well.

On the girls side, Sarah Sawyer of Milford was absolute money in the jumps as the Spartans grabbed fourth place overall with 49 points.

Again, the heat was on. Plymouth’s Katherine Luehrs had posted a 16-2 mark. And Sawyer, at 15-7, was down to her final jump. The senior hit it perfectly, flying 16-5 for the win.

She just missed a similar result in the triple, when she delivered a top effort of 32-7, only to come up 1.25 inches short of a double, settling for second.

•••

LOCAL BOYS RESULTS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Coe-Brown 84, 3. Souhegan 57, 4. Milford 54, 6. Hollis Brookline 40

100: 3. Nathan Pettingell (M) 11.40

200: 3. Zachary Naun (M) 23.12

400: 2. John Kottely (HB) 51.06

800: 3. Ryan Burgher (HB) 1:59.07

300 hurdles: 2. Adam Holodowski (M) 43.15

4�–100: 1. Milford (Reggie Hardwick, Naun, Ryan Constable, Pettingell) 43.96; 2. Souhegan (Tony Garrant, Jace Henderson, Finley Raudelunas, Carson Behn) 45.05

4�–400: 3. Hollis Brookline (Henry Bruneau, Titus Tieman, Burgher, Kotelly) 3:35.78

4�–800: 2. Souhegan (Dallien Noorda, Jaren Noorda, Owen Stine, Nolan Dickinson) 8:23.26

High Jump: 2. Will Jacques (S) 6-2; 4. Jackson Steckbeck (S) 5-8

Long Jump: 5. Naun (M) 19-3.5; 6. Constable (M) 19-3

Triple Jump: 1. Kotelly (HB) 42-9.25

Shot Put: 1. Caden Zalenski (M) 52-7.5; 2. Jacques (S) 51-1.5; 6. Keagan Hatch (M) 43-10

Discus: 2. Zalenski (M) 157-0; 3. Jacques (S) 147-9; 6. Hatch (M) 104-7

Javelin: 1. Jacques (S) 164-7; 3. Garrant (S) 144-5; 6. Nicholas Giordano (M) 137-3

LOCAL GIRLS RESULTS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Coe-Brown 109.5, 4. Milford 49, 10. Souhegan 21, 14. Hollis Brookline 12

100: 6. Caitlin Cooper (S) 13.2

800: 2. Amy Pattelena (HB) 2:20.98; 3. Chloe Trudel (S) 2:21.22

1600: 3. Trudel (S) 5:19.83

3200: 4. Trudel (S) 11:59.20

4�–100: 4. Milford (Annalise Nassy, Elianna Nassy, Sarah Sawyer, Shyanne Gelinas) 52.83

4�–400: 4. HB (Brianna Buckland, Annika Bergin, Rachel Brackett, Pattelena) 4:26.37

4�–800: 4. Milford (Jona Velazquez, Victoria Cornaro, Caroline Raiano, Abbey Halloran) 10:43.83

Pole Vault: 3. Halloran (M) 8-6

High Jump: 4. Ashereka Primmer (S) 4-10

Long Jump: 1. Sawyer (M) 16-5; 5. E. Nassy (M) 15-2.5

Triple Jump: 2. Sawyer (M) 32-7

Shot Put: 1. Kylie Allen (M) 34-0.5

Discus: 6. Allen (M) 89-4

Javelin: 5. Sawyer (M) 90-10

•••

DIVISION III MEETS

Both Cougar teams finished fifth in the Division III track championships at Pelham High School.

The Cougar girls actually tied for fifth with Belmont, each having 26 points, while the boys totaled 33.5 points, finishing a half a point behind fourth place Trinity.

But neither were near the meet champions.

Newfound Regional won the girls meet with 112 points, well ahead of Newmarket (80), Hopkinton (57) and fourth place Newport (38).

Locally, Wilton-Lyndeborough was 10th with 18 points.

The boys meet was much closer, with Conant edging Gilford 81-78.

Highlights in the boys meet for the Cougars were D.J. Chaudhry finishing second in the 400 (51.58) and Justin Edmonds taking second in the javelin (1489-7).

The Cougar foursome of Dominic Picone, Ethan Wallenmaer, Andrew Robert and Chaudhry took fourth in the 4�–400 relay (3:39.04).

Cougar Austin McHugh was third in the long jump (19-5.5) fifth in the high jump (5-8), while Keegan Reynolds took third in the pole vault (10-0).

In the girls meet, Wilton-Lyndeborough’s Sam Boette had a great day, finishing first in the 200 in 26.63 seconds and was second in the 100 meters in 12.98.

For Campbell, Ava Houle was second in the triple jump (34-3.5),while Dasia Kham was fifth in the 400 (1:04.74).

The 4�–800 relay team of Kendall Reynolds, Amanda Silver, Soule, and Brooke Sullvan took fifth in 10:59.15.