Francis Hernandez rips 15:25/ Abbey Leonardi- 18:21 fastest girl at 35th Manchester Invitational

Boys Elite

Francis Hernandez (Bishop Guertin) battled with Jake Sienko (Bishop Hendricken) throughout most of the 3.1 course at Manchester, before pulling away on the leadup to finish line. Hernandez powered up the home stretch to capture the elite individual race title in a fast 15:24. Sienko led his Bishop Hendricken team to victory with his 2^nd place finish (15:29). Hanover’s Aaron Watanabe had a strong day to finish 3^rd (15:38). While Bishop Guertin’s Jeff Lacoste held off for 4^th (15:50). Rounding out the top 5 finishers was Chris Pietrocarlo of Pinkerton Academy (16:03).

 

Teamwise Bishop Hendricken showed great depth as they put 5 guys in the top 19 finishers, and helf off a strong Bishop Guertin team that had 3 runners in the top 9, 57-60. Pinkerton Academy had a good day finishing 3^rd with 77 points.

 

 

Girls Elite Race

    Despite not feeling that good, Heidi Caldwell (pictured left) showed great poise and composure in winning the girl’s elite race this afternoon. The plan was to go out in the front with whoever was pushing it, and Caldwell did just that running stride for stride with Alexander Conway.

 

The two would remain close for most of the race, with Caldwell making a move to the front on the big ski hill, only to be past by Alexander on the downhill section. The two would remain together until the run up to the finish, where the experienced Caldwell made her move to drop Conway; she knew she had to keep pushing though as she heard that there was another girl closing fast, that girl being Arianna Valias.

 

 Valias would make it interesting but in the end it was Hanover’s Caldwell taking the win in 18:37 to defeat Manchester Central’s Arianna Valias by 5 seconds (18:42). Manchester Central showed great team strength and depth by taking the next two spots with Alexander Conway (18:50) 3rd and sister Elizabeth Conway (19:03) in 4^th.

 

 

Boys Small Schools Race

   Oyster river sophomore Jack Collopy (pictured right) ran 16:09 to take the top honors in the boy’s small school race at Manchester. Collopy was chased the entire race by Greely senior Logan Price, but was able to pull away going around the tree in far corner before the long climb to the finish.

 

 Price said after the race “I thought I would be able to use my strong kick to catch Collopy but when I tried to go, I knew it wasn’t going to happen.” Price, who had a lifetime best 16:14 in finishing 2^nd was very pleased with his race. “I felt amazing out there, it wasn’t until the 2.5 mile mark that I started feeling the pace.”

 

 Collopy would credit the great conditions and excellent field as the reason he ran so well today. “I had Eric McCann (Coe-Brown) and Price (Greely) right on me the whole race.”  The first mile went out a little slower than I would have expected, “We were 5:14-5:15.” 

 

Eric McCann (Coe-Brown) ran 16:20 to nab 3^rd to lead Coe-Brown Academy, NH to the team title. Coe Brown finished with 71 points; they defeated Greely, ME the defending champion who was the runner-up with 94. Oyster River, NH finished 3^rd with 173

 

Girls Small Schools Race

  Kearsage senior Caroline Forgiel goal coming into the race was to get out fast. The senior did just that taking a minute off her previous best time on the course, as she ran to the win in the girl’s small schools race. What can the improvement be attributed too, well according to Forgiel, she’s always done the high mileage in the past and has done the miles again but “I’m a senior this year, I am more motivated.”

 

  Osyter River’s Marina Slavin finished strong to grab the runner-up spot, while Peggy Lai (Milford) ran well in finishing 3^rd.