Since high school indoor track and field returned to New Hampshire following the pandemic in the fall of 2022, only one boys’ team – Coe-Brown Northwood Academy – has hoisted the Division II championship trophy.

Coe-Brown scored 101 points, nearly tripling runner-up Oyster River two years ago, and edged out John Stark by two points (54-52) for the D-II title last season. But if the Bears are going for the threepeat, it’s going to be a very different group that gets them there.

“It is going to be very unlikely, having graduated something like 85% of our points from last year,” said coach Dave Zink, who is in his 17th season at the head of the indoor program.

To be specific, 48 of the 54 points Coe-Brown scored at last year’s D-II championship were accrued by seniors who have since graduated. Jamie Lano, last year’s champion in the 1,500 meters and 3,000, and runner-up in the 1,000, who now competes collegiately for UMass-Lowell, contributed over half of those points himself. But, as the CBNA cross country team showed in the fall, the Bears can rebuild quickly, finishing a competitive second in D-II this past fall after losing Lano and a strong supporting cast.

Many of those runners are on the indoor track team, including senior Luc Kerouac, who finished sixth in the 1,000, and also ran on the fourth-place 4x800-meter relay and fifth-place 4x400 last year. Senior Landon Graveline and junior Blake Spina were also a part of that relay team, while freshmen Ben Larson and Patrick Youngs will make an immediate impact in the distance events after an outstanding rookie cross country season.

Senior Cameron Lee (sixth 55-meter hurdles, sprints and relays), junior Ethan Newick (sprintsS) and senior Bryce Sartin (sprints and jumps) are other top returners for the Bear boys.

Unlike their counterparts, the girls’ team returns all 12 of its points from last year’s 11th-place finish at states. Junior Isabelle Grenier (third shot put), sophomore Bristol Shirland (fourth 55 hurdles), and the fifth-place 4x200 of seniors Delaney Manning (hurdles) and Shannon Ross (jumps), and sophomores Tessa Kouchoukos and Shirland are all back to lead Coe-Brown, with seniors Paige Murdough (distance) and Maggie Escabi (sprints, mid-distance, jumps), and sophomore Annabelle Lovett (mid-distance) also returning.

Sophomores Riley Hawkes (sprints) and Jazzlyn Curry (sprints, jumps) are the top newcomers for the girls.

“The girls should be competitive, but everyone is still chasing Oyster River on the girls’ side,” Zink said, referring to Oyster River winning last year’s title with 100 points. Kearsarge was the runner-up with 36.

Zink expects Gilford, Kingswood, Bow and Kennett to be the top challengers on the girls’ side, while Hollis-Brookline, Monadnock, Pelham and John Stark are who Zink anticipates being near the top of the boys’ standings.

The NHIAA indoor track season kicks off this weekend with meets at the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State and Phillips Exeter Academy.

CONCORD

Division: I

Coach: Zach Procek (1st year)

Last year: Boys: 18th; Girls: 7th.

Top returners: Boys: Deagan Hines, jr.; Tim Fahnbulleh, jr.; Matt Russos, sr; Kai McClary, sr.; Connor McGahan, sr. Girls: Ella Goulas, sr.; Maddie Mueller, sr.; Bakela Massaquoi, jr.; Grace Saysaw, jr.; Quinn Doherty, so.

Top newcomers: Boys: Spencer Clemans, fr.

Outlook: Boys: The Tide boys are especially strong in the sprints and 4x200, with Hines, Fahnbulleh and McGahan all running on the scoring 4x200 last winter. Russos and McClary add experience in the shot put, and McGahan will lead Concord in the hurdles. Girls: Goulas is the defending champion in the high jump, and many of the other returning athletes are coming off very strong spring track and cross country seasons. Doherty should do well in the 1,000 after leading the Tide’s cross country team in the fall, while Saysaw set school records in the 55 (winter) and 100 (spring). Mueller gives Concord a big scoring threat in the long sprints and mid-distance races and Massaquoi will lead the Tide in the hurdles.

“The team looks good. Young, but driven, and looking forward to competition,” Procek said. “This season we are looking to refine the returning talent and build more depth among the new athletes.”

Teams to beat: Pinkerton, Bishop Guertin.

BISHOP BRADY

Division: II

Coach: Diane Morey (15th year)

Last year: Boys: 12th; Girls: DNS.

Top returners: Boys: Jorge Guerra, sr. Girls: Sarah Allen, sr.

Top newcomers: Girls: Camdyn Despres, sr.

Outlook: The Giants are small in numbers, but have some strong individuals looking to qualify for states. Guerra is someone to watch in the distance events, while Allen is hoping to qualify in the sprints and jumps.

BOW

Division: II

Coaches: Amy King (2nd year) and Dan Attorri (4th year).

Last year: Boys: 15th; Girls: tied 6th.

Top returners: Boys: Kody McCranie, sr.; Thomas Sargent, sr.; Jack Noce, sr.; Liam Miller, sr.; Wyatt Worcester, jr. Girls: Hannah Pawlowski, sr.; Emily Fauteux, sr.; Julia Hou, jr.; Camden Wilson, so.

Top newcomers: Boys: Gavin Buxton, jr.; Ian Sandahl, fr. Girls: Vita Flagg, fr.; Autumn Bureau, fr.

Outlook: The Falcons have 34 athletes on their roster, the largest in program history. Their goal is to continue to build on their strength on the track in the running events, while getting more experience and qualifiers in the field events and hurdles. The girls’ team has 20 athletes with a good mix of experience and rookie talent, and has the depth to be competitive in multiple relays. Pawlowski is the defending champion in the 600 meters, while Wilson is coming off a strong spring season, qualifying for New Englands in the high jump. The Falcon boys don’t have the same depth as the girls, but have a strong crew of distance runners and McCranie, a New England qualifier in the 200 last spring.

Teams to beat: Boys: Coe-Brown, Oyster River, Hollis-Brookline, John Stark, Merrimack Valley. Girls: Oyster River, Coe-Brown, Kingswood.

JOHN STARK

Division: II

Coach: Joel Kress (4th year)

Last year: Boys: D-II runner-up; Girls: tied 22nd

Top returners: Boys: Rio Calle, sr.; Joel Douzanis, sr.; Sam Kinsey-Turner, sr. Girls: Ayris Beliveau, sr.; Rylee Barnard, jr.; Kayla Barriere, jr.; Anna Chasse, so.; Elsa Winther, jr.

Top newcomers: Boys: Ethan Veilleux, sr.; Grant Spooner, jr.; Owen Dion, jr. Girls: Katie Lorenz, jr.

Outlook: Boys: The Generals finished just two points behind champions Coe-Brown last season thanks to outstanding performances in the field events. Calle and Douzanis are defending indoor champions in the high jump and shot put, respectively, while Kinsey-Turner won the outdoor high jump title. Spooner and Dion add more strength to the Generals’ throwing contingent, while Veilleux brings a lot of experience from outdoor track to the mid-distance events. Girls: Hurdler Beliveau leads the Stark girls’ squad, while Barnard, Barriere, Chasse and Winther are a formidable 4x800 and could score well in the distance events.

“The boys team looks to continue the momentum from last year’s runner-up team honor,” Kress said. “The girls’ team has seen great numbers join the team (from two girls in 2023 to 17 girls in 2025), with a great mix of seasoned veterans and in coming freshmen.”

Teams to beat: Boys: Coe-Brown, Souhegan. Girls: Oyster River.

KEARSARGE

Division: II

Coach: MaryAnne Morcom (3rd year)

Last year: Boys: tied 18th; Girls: D-II runner-up.

Top returners: Boys: Daniel Dalbec, sr. Girls: Juliet Faria, jr.; Riley Raynes, so.; Ellie Wimer, sr.; Maelle Jacques, jr.

Top newcomers: Boys: Joseph O’Brien, fr. Girls: Javiera Elissetch, fr.; Daphne Henrichsen, fr.; Alexis Shaughnessy, fr.; Jenna Burkett, fr.

Outlook: Last season the Cougars finished as the D-II runner-up with only six girls competing. Four of them are back, including Jacques, the defending champion in the high jump. Despite being one of the smaller D-II indoor track teams (Kearsarge competes in D-III in spring track), the Cougars will aim to be competitive again. For the boys, Dalbec finished third in the 1,500 last winter and is one of the top distance runners in the division.

“Over half the team is made up of freshmen and sophomores,” Morcom said. “We are looking forward to building the team for the spring.”

MERRIMACK VALLEY

Division: II

Coaches: Bob Mullen (boys, 34th) and Dyrace Maxfield (girls, 1st)

Last year: Boys: tied 13th; Girls: 25th.

Top returners: Boys: Mychal Reynolds, sr.; Beckett Rose, sr.; Jed Duquette, sr.; Brayden Laroche, jr. Girls: Maddison Geddes, sr.; Sydney Spack, jr.; Reagan Jefferson, so.

Top newcomers: Boys: Nic Oglesby, sr.; Aiden Paquette, sr.; Owen Turner, so.; Davian Loiselle, jr. Girls: Kendra Davidson, sr.; Hannah Barrington, so.; Gianna Panza, jr.; Bella Dunlop, fr.; Ellie Smith, sr.

Outlook: Boys: The Pride returns Reynolds (defending indoor 600 champion and outdoor 300-meter hurdle champion), MV’s top point scorer from last season, and have the addition of Oglesby (third in D-II in the long jump) and Paquette (D-II runner-up in triple jump) from the spring track team. Returners Duquette (throws) and Rose (sprints) should add to the depth. Newcomer Turner could make an impact as well, as MV looks to improve on last year’s 13th-place finish. Girls: The Pride has doubled its roster size and is working hard to improve on last year’s finish. Geddes, Spack and Jefferson return as a strong middle-distance group. While newcomers Barrington, Dunlop and Panza look to strengthen sprints and the field events.

Teams to beat: Boys: Coe-Brown, John Stark, Souhegan, Monadnock. Girls: Oyster River, Bow, Kearsarge, Coe-Brown.

PEMBROKE

Division: II

Coach: Jared Williams (1st year)

Last year: Boys: DNS; Girls: DNS.

Top returners: Boys: Zachery Heichlinger, jr.; Brandon Lurvey, jr. Girls: Jasmine Blake, jr.; Avery Kelly, so.

Top newcomers: Boys: Will LeClain, fr. Girls: Catrin Bergeron, fr.

Outlook: Pembroke didn’t score any points at last year’s state championship, but had a few qualifiers and are especially skilled in the field events.

This year’s Spartan team is “Small, young and mighty,” according to Williams, who is taking over as head coach after previously serving as an assistant. “From all aspects of this team, it’s a collaboration of characters that allows for a fun season. A team full of charisma to build a winning culture within Pembroke Academy.”

Teams to beat: Merrimack Valley.

WINNISQUAM

Division: II

Coach: Patti Malone (3rd year)

Last year: Boys: DNS; Girls: DNS

Top returners: Boys: Brendan Goodwin, sr. Girls: Kaiden Robb, jr.; Zariah Moore, jr.; Denessa Williams, jr.; Emily Tripple, jr.

Top newcomers: Boys: Nolan Abbott, fr.; Cullen Desroches, fr. Girls: Danica Weymouth, so.

Outlook: “This is the largest indoor program we’ve had since I’ve been coaching, so it’s exciting,” Malone said. “There’s some extremely strong potential in the freshmen boys, particularly in the mid-distance races. I have some very strong leadership from my juniors and seniors this winter, too, which is great because I have a lot of first-time winter track athletes who are learning the ropes. They’ve been working hard and I’m feeling good going into our first meet.”

The Bears return both qualifiers from last years, Goodwin in the boys’ 600 and the entire girls’ 4x200 relay.

Teams to beat: Gilford, Belmont.