Manchester Invitational - 9/24/22

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Derryfield Park, the home of the Divisional Championships at the end of October, hosted the Manchester Invitational on Saturday, the largest cross country meet in New Hampshire and one of the largest in New England. The weather couldn't have been better, with temperatures in the 50’s and a cooling breeze. Our canopy wasn’t a big fan of the breeze, but it lives to shelter us another day thanks to Violet rescuing it at the risk of soaring off to Oz.




“Fast Braids”, a Manchester Tradition

With two girls absent and one on crutches due to a hole at Souhegan’s horse farm, we were able to place all runners in 5k races, the Junior Varsity “B” race and the Varsity race. After a casual course walk with our annual cannon and tower photo shoot, the JV girls lined up. A historic course unchanged since about 1980, this course is the true measuring stick used to compare races through history. And what a race the girls had on this day, highlighted by Emmaleigh’s all-time personal record! She looked strong and determined all the way through and almost slipped into the 25-minute range! Not to be outdone, Keira took over a minute off her PR to throw the gauntlet down at Sydney (racing in the next race), while Nicole and Tessa BOTH broke the big 30 minute barrier for the first time, although there were some fraught moments as the clock ticked ever closer near the end. While Anna didn’t PR she did run her best time of the season, while Taylor survived the EXCELSCIOR (high school) gang and a head cold to finish well.




An hour later it was the varsity girls turn. Knowing from the earlier races that the course was in good shape and times were quick the girls ran with confidence. Sam gave it a go and fought through fatigue to run a brave race as our third finisher - so important for team scoring. Surprising herself by running as MV’s #1 on the day was Lily, who was so concerned for Sam’s whereabouts that she was speaking complete sentences to the coach at the top of the ski hill. Who still has breath enough to talk there? She also PR’d, going well under 24 minutes for the first time. Maddy was next, with her best race of the year and not too far off her PR. She was a little frustrated after, noting that if she had run a little faster then her time would have been a little quicker…because that’s the way that works:) !! Chasing Sam and also running her best race of the season was Kendra, followed by a sneaky fast Victoria (also just a few seconds off her all-time PR). If the course was a hair longer maybe she would have won… Our 6th runner, running in her first varsity race was Sydney, picking up Keira’s gauntlet and tossing it back with almost a THREE MINUTE PR, running in the 25’s and completely skipping the 26’s and 27’s. I’m not sure if anyone ran that last mile as quick as she did - and the determination on her face made it look like she could mow anyone down. Jessi wrapped things up for the team with (I believe) her best race of the year as well. All in all a tremendous day for MVXC racing!

— Coach Irving

Boys Recap

The MV boys went into the Manchester Invitational a little anxious and down 2 teammates to illness.  It was a perfect day temperature wise despite the stiff breeze which at least was a tail wind up the hill from the start.  They started the day with Holden in the Freshmen race.  He’s been battling back from sore knees and ran a solid sub-20 effort that points him at a sub 30 in his next 5k.

Next up was Sam coming back from a very sore knee.  His training has been good with some consistent 2-3 mile days.  He ran the 2.1 mile JV race to be safe and he made the most of it, getting off to such a great start that he was firmly and invisibly in the pack on the first lap of the park.  We found him coming down off the hill and he finished strong in 15:38.  

Silas had the honor of the first boys 5k of the day and he was fabulous.  He got off to a great start.  As he headed up the hill his Derryfield PR looked like it was in trouble.  Coming back up towards the finish tree he looked like he had it, and he finished strong for a 42 second Derryfield PR in a time of 24:47.

The big finale for the boys was the Small School Varsity race.  Marshall, Oliver, Terrence, Mychal and Ben lined up and excited to race at Derryfield.  They got off to a great start with everyone staying vertical in the mud and Oliver even smiling as he went through.  They got to the mile in less than 6 minutes led by Marshal with Mychal, Terrence and Oliver right behind.  When they came down from the hill Mychal had a little gap on his teammates and finished strong in 18:48 for a huge PR.  Marshall followed less than a minute later in 19:40 followed by Oliver in 19:47 and Terrence in 19:47.  Some great pack running.  Ben rounded out the day in 21:12.  Everyone had a seasons best or a PR.

— Coach Reynolds