Manchester Invitational
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A perfect early fall day presented itself for the largest race of the year, and the only NH race older than Capital Area - the Manchester Invitational. With every New England state plus New York represented it was an early opportunity to race the historic Derryfield Park course, home of the Division championships in a month.
After a very tough block of training the girls took a couple easy days following the Newfound Invitational and approached the race well-rested and ready to race. Our course walk included the traditional visit to the cannons and the team tower photo shoot, and a surprise visit from the local turkey flock. Once back Kendra worked the muscles on her fingers out with one dutch (NOT french Coach Irving!) braid after another, although brand-new braider Lily shouldered some of the load. And while the TP supply could have used some help, the porta-potties were out in full force, easing pre-race line-waiting stress.
Our first race of the day was the Girls B race (the freshman and C race each only run 2.1 miles, which is why we try to avoid those). We of course got our usual “random” line assignment of “way the heck down at the bottom of the hill in the mud and don’t complain”, but the girls were unfazed. In fact, once the gun fired it became apparent that this race marked a giant step forward for the team - everyone was running so well! Reagan started off the PR’s, with a HUGE (5 minute?) PR of 27:26. She discovered in the process that it is HARD to run that fast and took a while to catch her breath, but now you know you can do it! Next up with a massive best time was Emily, almost breaking 28 minutes in the process. Nicole also zipped under 30 for the first time this year, only a few seconds back in 28:45. That all-time PR is in reach! Eliza and Lydia each also ran season-best times and took steps towards the ever elusive 30 minute mark.
The girls Small School Varsity was our next race, one hour later. Hair braided, shoes tied and tucked, the team just LOOKED fast. There was something in the air. Lily got the race going with a 6:51 mile. 20 seconds back Maddy and Sydney ran through, with Keira and Kendra close to each other with a mile time just under 8 minutes. Over the next two miles Lily stayed solid in about the same place, while Maddy absolutely crushed the final miles (and the hills) to finish within 10 seconds of Lily.
Sydney couldn’t quite match Maddy’s hill climbs or the final mile push, but still finished over two minutes faster than last year. In the end, Lily ran an all-time PR of 21:50, a time that would have qualified her for the Meet of Champions last fall (but 25th of 25 places, don’t get complacent!). Maddy just missed the 21’s but still threw down her all-time PR with a 22:00, while Sydney ran a 23:02, a season best and only a few seconds from her all-time best. Keira, with perhaps the race of the day, skipped the 26th and 25th minutes all together, and powered across in a HUGE PR of 24:36. Kendra had the unfortunate role of keeping us grounded and reminding us that off-days happen; while her time wasn’t terrible it wasn’t what she would have liked. Take a lesson from her positive spirit after though, and her new-quit attitude during the race. Just a speedbump, we’ll push the accelerator down on Thursday! Tessa wrapped up the PR’s with her first trip into the 26’s, continuing her stellar season and making up for Wednesday’s glitch, when it was her turn to be mortal.
Team-wise we were a very solid 15th of 28 full teams (and quite a few incomplete teams) and despite graduating our top runner from a year ago managed a one minute team average improvement.
So to sum it up, we had 3 season-best runs and 7 (SEVEN!) all-time PR’s, and it’s only mid-September. I don’t want to say it’s the long runs…but they don’t seem to be hurting. Running fast doesn’t happen by accident and it’s so great to see the fruit of this team’s labor so soon! Let’s keep taking these leaps and bounds, the season is still young!
The boys had a near perfect day at Manchester. Near perfect weather and some really solid training over the last 3 weeks came together for the boys to have their best team performance since 2018. Manchester is a great mid-season checkpoint. We still have 3-4 weeks of work to do, but we finally got to see where we are this season on the Derryfield course where we go for the D2 meet. First however, was the Newfound Invitational.
At Newfound we had team goals to run as a pack and get some PR's for our fast improving second six. Despite the very tough course we had near PR's from Sam Jensen and Cooper. Overcoming the course were Jonathan and Sam Bush with Jonathan getting a 26 second best and Sam taking almost 90 seconds off his time and getting under 30 for the first time.
Those performances were just a taste of what was coming at Manchester.
The boys spent the morning checking out the loop at the top of the hill, the cannons, and the mud at the bottom while getting ready to go. Sam Bush got the day started in the JV C 2.1 mile race, trying not to overdo it after his 5k pr at Newfound. Sam was hoping to be under 19 but set the tone for the day finishing in 17:53 which projects to around a 26:30 5k. Next up was the JV race featuring Sam J, Westin, Jonathan, Silas and Cooper. Sam and Silas led the way starting off with sub 7 minute miles, followed closely by Westin and Jonathan up the hill. Cooper ran his fastest mile ever before taking on the hill heading up at 8:03. All 5 powered down to the ski area and back to get the PR parade started. Sam J led the way with a 106 second PR of 20:47. Westin came next getting credit for a PR of less than a second, but it counts, finishing 21:59.0. 15 seconds later Silas sprinted in with a time of 22:14. It was an all time PR by a minute and Derryfield PR by 2 and half minutes. After Silas came a red hot Jonathan. After a big PR at Newfound he improved by almost 2 minutes again finishing in 22:14. Rounding out the JV was Cooper getting comfortable under 28 with a time of 27:31.
The varsity boys finally got their turn and made the most of it. Derryfield spoke up on the first loop of the park with Nate getting flat tired either by another athlete or the mud, it wasn't clear which. They boys powered through and Mychal led the way through the mile in 5:40 (wearing an invisibility cloak, I still haven't seen him on the race video). Next through the mile are Ben G and Nate with his heel still out on the right side in 6 flat followed by Ben N and Tony at 6:16 and Chris right there in 6:32. On the way up the hill Nate flips off his shoe and can be seen carrying it over the top before stopping to put it back on. They made the return trip to the lower park with all shoes on and running fast. Mychal finished strong with 50 second all time and Derryfield PR of 17:45. Ben G and Nate reconnected after Nate put his shoe back on and battled to the line with Nate winning on a lean and both getting times of 19:01. Ben G notched a 12 second PR and set a solid Derryfield baseline. Nate set a 30 second PR and a 90 second best on the Derryfield course. Ben Newton and Tony were next pushing hard to the line in 19:35 and 19:36. The first time under 20 for Tony and a season's best for Ben just 6 seconds off his all time and Derryfield PR. Chris closed out the day with an all time PR by almost a minute finishing in 20:58 also setting a great Derryfield baseline.
What a day. The boys had 10 out of 12 season's best, with 9 of them being all time PR's.
As a team the boys finished 16th of 37 teams and a bunch of incomplete teams. They had a top 5 average of 18:59 which was 53 seconds better than last year. It was the best team avg since the 2018 team (18:36).