The Alvirne High School boys track and field team placed eighth overall at the NHIAA Division I State Championships on Saturday, May 30, scoring 27-points in the very wet and messy conditions at Londonderry High School.
The Broncos were led by a dominant performance from junior Charles Barrett in the throwing events. Barrett captured the state title in the shot put with a throw of 45 feet, 2 inches, and followed it up with a runner-up finish in the discus at 142 feet, 7 inches, accounting for a major portion of Alvirne’s team score.
On the track, Alvirne made its mark in the hurdle events. Joey Marcotte turned in an impressive performance in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing second overall in 14.69 seconds.
Teammate Jack Zakos also competed in the event, advancing through the preliminaries.
The Broncos also found success in the sprint events. Sam Oquist reached the finals in the 100-meters, placing sixth in 11.58 seconds, while teammate Jeremi Caraballo-Sophos finished eighth in 11.69.
Caraballo-Sophos added a 10th-place finish in the 200 meters (23.98), with Oquist placing 13th (24.28).
In relay action, the Alvirne 4×100 team of Oquist, Jaden Taylor, Aiden O’Leary, and Jeremi Caraballo-Sophos placed ninth overall, while the 4×400 relay squad finished 12th.
Alvirne’s balanced contributions across sprinting, hurdles, and field events allowed the Broncos to edge out Londonderry by a single point in the team standings, underscoring the importance of every placement in a highly competitive championship meet.
GIRLS
The Alvirne girls’ track and field team had several athletes turning in strong performances across both track and field events.
In the middle-distance races, Olivia Cartagena delivered a solid run in the 1,600 meters, finishing in 5:22.43, while Makenna Simpson added a time of 5:31.51.
The Broncos also competed in the 4×800 relay, with Simpson and Sophie Sargent helping lead the team to a competitive finish.
Jane Makoviy represented Alvirne in multiple events, including the 300-meter hurdles (52.17) and as part of the 4×400 relay team, showing versatility and endurance.
In the field events, Ava Tardif turned in one of the team’s top performances, placing fourth in the javelin with a throw of 97 feet, 4 inches. Teammate Norah O’Malley also competed in the event, recording a throw of 87 feet, 11 inches.
Alvirne athletes also contributed in the relays, including appearances in the 4×100 and 4×400, gaining valuable experience against top Division I competition.
While the Broncos did not place among the top teams, their performances highlighted a competitive effort and provided a strong foundation moving forward.
With strong performances from both upperclassmen and underclassmen, Alvirne showcased its depth and competitiveness against the best teams in Division I.
