It’s safe to say the Bishop Guertin girls indoor track program is a dynasty.
Eight Class L championships in a row should do that, right?
The Cardinals won an eighth consecutive Class L indoor track title on Sunday at Dartmouth College, recording 78 points to finish ahead of Manchester Central (66) and Londonderry (55). Merrimack (52) was fourth and Exeter (41) took fifth. Nashua North (23) tied for sixth and Alvirne (six) came in 11th.
BG’s run is the longest such streak in New Hampshire girls indoor track. In state history, only the Nashua High boys indoor track team has a longer streak of consecutive championships, having won 13 in a row from 1959 to 1971, when there was only one classification.
One other indoor program can match the Cardinals’ stretch – the Londonderry boys won eight straight Class L indoor titles from 1995 to 2002. Hanover’s girls outdoor track program also won eight straight Class I titles from 1986 to 1993, while the Nashua boys (1964 to 1971) and the Londonderry boys (1995 to 2002) also won eight straight Class L outdoor titles.
The Cardinals were led by Cecilia Barowski, who finished first in the 55-meter dash (7.4) and the 600 (1:37.46), and was also third in the 300 (42.06). Barowski also teamed with Mary Holleran, Leslie Mei and Sarah Burke to win the 4×400 relay in 4:05.39, setting a Class L record.
The 4×800 team of Leah Ferrara, Meghan Turner, Kaitlin Allen and Burke also finished first (9:48.27). Burke also finished fifth in the 1,000 (3:13.76) and Allen came in sixth (3:13.15) in the same event.
Beth McKenna finished second in 55 hurdles (8.56) and took fourth in high jump (5-2), while Melissa LaCoste took third in high jump (5-2). Courtney Veilleux was also third in 3,000 (10:51.28).
Hannah Moriarty came in fifth in 3,000 (10:58.87) and Holleran finished fifth in long jump (16-4).
Lauren Calvino led Merrimack, winning the 3,000 (10:27.54) and setting a Class L record, to go with a second-place finish in the 1,500 (5:01.3). Kailey Blain finished second in the 55 (7.45), fourth in 300 (42.38) and was third in long jump (16-5 3/4), while Emily Pollard came in second in the 1,000 (3:08.14).
Pollard, Kailey Blain, Taylor Blain and Lauren Pertty were second in the 4×400 (4:05.79).
Nashua North got a first-place finish in the shot put (38-7) from Ivy Muchuma, who was also fourth in the long jump (16-5 3/4). Jen Gagnon also came in sixth in the shot put (33-7 1/4).
Sandra Van Den Heuvel took fourth in the 1,500 (5:04.44) and Louise Van Den Heuvel finished fifth in the 600 (1:44.02)
Alvirne’s 4×200 relay team of Stacie Nuttall, Kristine Rowe, Amanda Roberts and Kendall Brigham finished third in 1:50.53.