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HERE WE GO!!! The 50th Manchester Invitational! You ready??? We are!!! Loaded races both with number of state ranked teams and some of the best individuals in the nation!
As with every year, Manchester Invitational is a FESTIVAL of XC with teams coming from all over New England to not only race uniforms from other states but to also take on the challenge of Derryfield Park. This usually contributes to some incredible racing and great experiences. Each varsity race has its own story. MI has become very much a border clash if you will between NH and Vermont with top teams from all the other New England states sprinkled in. Even though the season is young, we will do our best to preview each race as accurately.
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Boys Large School @ 1:30
The boys large school race at the Manchester Invitational is often the most competitive meet of the year held in New Hampshire. With some of the best schools from all over New England making the trip, taking the win at Manchester is often a sign that a team has aspirations of being not just a state champion but could even make some noise at the New England Championships in November. Let’s dive into the teams from each state and see who we should keep an eye on.
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It looks likely that our top team this year is coming out of New Hampshire. NH #1 Pinkerton has started the season in dominating fashion with big wins at both the Bobcat Invitational and Nashua North last weekend. Their entire top five was 16:20 or faster at Nashua which is absolutely flying for this part of the season and they had individual race winner Trainor Mailloux, who looked dialed in. #2 Hanover made the leap up to the large school race last year and with their strong squad the move makes sense again this year. Ben Groves is one of the best runners in the state and should compete for the top overall spot. They traveled out to Queensbury and took fourth against some strong NY competition without Groves in the mix. Some quick math has them as the easy winner if he had raced. They also dominated the field at the Souhegan Relays showing their incredible depth in a race that requires nine runners to succeed. #3 Londonderry has had a strong start to their season behind an excellent Carson Fitzgerald who has led the team to second place finishes behind Pinkerton at both Bobcat and Nashua.
It looks likely that Pinkerton is going to give New Hampshire the win but I think Hanover will keep it closer than Pinkerton has experienced so far this season. I’m looking at Champlain Valley to likely take the third spot, but I think they will have an exciting battle with Londonderry where I’m betting it won’t be obvious who’s getting the spot. Don’t count out U32 who should have two low scores to really help them stay competitive in a large field where scores can get high fast.
The individual race should be really exciting and I’ve honestly struggled a bit with who to pick! Josiah Conley from Concord is probably the biggest name and the most likely to win of the runners not mentioned yet. He has had a great start to the season taking Keene’s Sully Sturtz to the line at the Cofrin Classic running a blazing 15:38 and is well known as one of the top runners in New Hampshire. Ethan Fischer from BG is another guy who has had a solid start to his season taking third last weekend at Nashua after battling for the top spot most of the way. Pinkerton has two other runners who have started the season out well in Oscar D’Amelio and Jason Robie. While neither has won a race, they’ve both been hanging out in that top group through the first few invites and you never know when someone is going to break through. Also in that group is Salem’s Lucas Gomez who was in a FAST top ten at Nashua last weekend. Finally, Phillips Exeter’s Bocelli Howland-Vlahakisalso put in a sub 16:00 race this fall running a 15:39 at the Choate Invitational last weekend
