Neither the Londonderry High girls’ or boys’ indoor track and field squads challenged for titles at the Division I championships at Dartmouth College this past Sunday, Feb. 5. But both contingents had some of their athletes put forth strong performances to recollect on the long ride home.
GIRLS
The Lady Lancers finished fifth in the 16-team field behind the now three-time defending champion Bedford High Lady Bulldogs (83 points) and the runner-up Pinkerton Lady Astros (80). Bishop Guertin of Nashua was third (53), Manchester Central copped fourth (43), with the LHS crew and its score of 29.
Londonderry athletes claimed two first places thanks to the individual work of Lexy Freire in the 55-meter hurdles (time of 8.58 seconds) and Freire and her 4×200 relay teammates Jess Brien, Ellie Goodspeed, and Gretchen McGrath (1 minute, 49.48 seconds).
The Lady Lancers also received a second place from McGrath in the 600-meter run (1:37.67).
BOYS
The Lancer males got to witness a superb battle between Nashua North and Pinkerton for the state crown in their meet, with the Nashuans finally ending the Astros’ five-year run of state titles.
LHS had Chris Zaino snag a second place in the 1,500-meter run (4:11.63), Declan Hotter grab third in the 1,000 (2:43.07), and its 4×800 relay quartet of Hotter, Kyle Freire, Brian Metro, and Jeff Cieslikowski end up fifth overall.