LHS Lancer Tracksters Collect Runner-Up Hardware

Londonderry High School’s boys’ and girls’ outdoor track and field squads both put forth strong performances at the Division I championships at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton Friday, May 29. And as a result, both talented crews brought home runner-up trophies from the seacoast.

The LHS guys tallied 77 points to finish just four points behind the new D-I champs from Nashua North High. The Lancers ended up 10 points ahead of the rival Pinkerton Academy Astros, who came into Friday’s action as the defending divisional champions.

And the Lady Lancers collected 75 points to finish behind only the new D-I female champions from Bedford High (116.50).

BOYS

Lancers’ senior star Starlin Ortiz showed why he has been one of the most electrifying talents in New Hampshire track and field over the last four years by winning three events and snaring second place in a fourth. And his performances helped lead the LHS guys to their strong team finish.

Ortiz won the 110-meter hurdles (15.10 seconds), the high jump (6 feet, 4 inches), and the triple jump (43’2 3/4″), and placed second in the long jump.

The locals also received victories from Trevor Guay in the 300 hurdles (39.65) and their 4×400 relay quartet, which included Guay, Derek Davies, Keith Perry, and Lukas Charbonneau (3 minutes, 26.78 seconds).

Other point-scoring performances bagged by Lancers came from Eric Fairweather in the 110 hurdles (third) and the high jump (third), the 4×800 relay team (third), and Kyle Foden in the shot put (sixth).

GIRLS

Starlin Ortiz’s younger sister – junior Yorgelis Ortiz – and senior Natalie Howes were the big point-getters for the Lady Lancers as they snared the second team spot impressively.

The younger Ortiz won the 100-meter dash (12.59), the 200 dash (26.22), and the long jump (17’5 1/2″), and Howes proved unbeatable in the javelin (136’7″) and the pole vault (10’6″). And both young women helped their 4×100 relay team to a second-place finish.

“It feels really good to win,” said seasoned veteran Howes of her two early victories, which had the Lady Lancers in the running for the team championship in the initial segments of the meet. “I’ve been working for four years to win here, and it feels really good.”

Along with Howes’ victory in the pole vault, the Lady Lancers snared second and third in that event thanks to the efforts of Jordan Dufresne and Rachel Larkin respectively.

Other point-scoring efforts were delivered by Dufresne in the triple jump (fifth) and the squad’s 4×800 quartet (sixth).

The Londonderry teams will next play host to the state Meet of Champions on their home track this Saturday, June 6.