By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

The 2005 Class L Track and Field Championships had several story lines worth exploration. But one stood out among all the rest at Londonderry High School on Saturday, May 28.

West sophomore Julianne Quinn and Central senior Megan Lessard finished one-two in the 800-meter run at the Class L Track and Field Championships in Londonderry on Saturday, May 28. Lessard took first with a time of 2-minutes, 17.75 seconds. Quinn was almost literally on Lessard's heels, finishing in 2:17.88. The duo will duel again at the Meet of Champions on Saturday, June 2, at Salem High School. (Marc Thaler Photo)

The recurring theme dealt with the team. Several athletes said achieving personal goals was exciting, but celebrating accomplishments with their squad was far more fun.

"People like to say that track is an individual sport," said Manchester Memorial senior Doug Trudel of Auburn, a member of four straight city-champion squads. "It's more team-oriented than you think ... You could be the best guy or the worst guy - nobody is above the team. Everybody's equal."

In many instances, athletes admitted the energy that comes with competing is second to the excitement of cheering for teammates.

The prime example: Four young ladies from Manchester West.

Completing their 4 X 800-meter relay race early in the day with a fourth-place finish . the highest among local schools in the event - the quartet of Hooksett's Lauren Williams and Bedford's Carah Heald, Kristin Johnson and Colleen Lehman were more energized for a race they weren't running.

"The most excited I am for this meet is to see Julianne (Quinn of Bedford) run (in the 800-meter race)," said Heald, a junior. "Central's runner (Megan Lessard) is No. 1 and Julianne is ranked second. Plus the schools are close rivals."

"We had a good start to the day," said Johnson, a freshman. "We have nothing else to do the rest of the day except cheer for our team."

According to Williams, a West freshman who ran the first leg of the relay, the support received from her teammates was a tremendous help.

"I was so nervous, so quiet the whole ride here," Williams said with a giant grin after participating in her first high school state meet. "I got so focused, especially for the rest of my team. I had to get a good start for them."

"Lauren absolutely ran it amazing," said Lehman, a junior. "I'm amazed she could keep that pace the whole time, pushing herself for the team."

Dominique Worsley, a Central senior who.ll attend the University of Illinois on a full track scholarship next fall, owns plenty of individual accomplishments.

Still, the Queen City star had a different objective on this day.

"For the state meet, I'm just trying to get points (for Central) today," Worsley said. "That's the coach's main goal for me. And it's my goal.

"I never really thought about (track) in the team aspect until this year," he added. "But it's great running with teammates who are tops in the state, too. It motivates you a lot more."

That brings this story full circle, back to Memorial's Trudel, who said he learned two valuable lessons in his four years of track.

First, there's nothing more satisfying than leaving a meet knowing you gave your best effort while competing against the best athletes.

And second?

"Every kid is a great kid," Trudel said. "They're not just track athletes. They're special kids."

Class L boys results
While Londonderry won the boys. team title with 85 points, two local high schools rounded out the top 10.

Manchester Central finished third with 53 points, and Manchester Memorial took 10th with 27.

Other notables included Bishop Guertin of Nashua with 12.5 points; Goffstown with nine; and Manchester West with two.

In the 100-meter dash finals, Central's Dominique Worsley won with a time of 11.03 seconds. Third and fourth place went to Central's Dave Philistin and Maurice Ellison with 11.50 and 11.61, respectively, followed by Memorial's Wesley Cotnoir, who finished sixth in 11.67.

In the 200-meter dash finals, Worsley placed second at 22.63 and Cotnoir took seventh in 24.07.

In the 400-meter dash, Memorial's Doug Trudel of Auburn earned seventh-place honors with a time of 51.48.

Central's Matt Paulson took second place in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.20. Paulson's teammate, Alex Hall, took eighth at 1:59.28.

In the 1,600-meter run, Central's Dante Vatigliano took ninth with a time of 4:36.28.

In the finals of the 110-meter hurdles, Memorial's Jeff Morin finished seventh at 16:36.

In the 300-meter hurdles, Morin took sixth place with a time of 41.95. Central, West and Memorial finished first, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 4 X 100-meter relay with times of 43:02, 45.04 and 45.51.

In the 4 X 400-meter relay, Central finished sixth with a time of 3:32.15; Memorial placed 11th in 3:36.19; and Trinity placed 17th in 3:48.24.

Central's time of 8:03.11 earned the boys first place in the 4 X 800-meter relay. Memorial was seventh in 8:43.58; and Trinity was ninth in 8:48.33.

In the high jump, Memorial's Jonathan Harkins took second place with a jump of 6-feet 2 inches. His teammate, Jason Coombs, finished eighth with a jump of 5-10.

In the pole vault, Memorial's Harkins finished fourth with an effort of 12-feet 6 inches.

In the long jump, Central's Chris Mitchell finished 13th with a leap of 18-09.50.

In the triple jump, Memorial's Harkins took fifth with a jump of 40-07.25. Fellow Crusader Sean Beauvais finished ninth with a jump of 39-04.75.

In the shot put, Central's Philistin was ninth with a throw of 44-02.00, and Memorial's Garrett Casey was 10th with a distance of 43-08.25.

In the discus throw, Memorial's David Irving was first with a toss of 146-00.

West's Chris Potter was 14th in the javelin at 128-07.

Class L girls results
On the girls' side, BG took the team title with 97.6 points, followed by four three programs that placed in the top 10.

Central was third with 42.5 points; West was fifth with 38; and Memorial finished 10th with 24.

Trinity of Manchester and Goffstown finished with 14 and seven points, respectively.

In the 100-meter dash finals, West's Shaniece Benson was first with a time of 12.61, followed by Central's Danna Frink in second at 12.74; Trinity's Ashley Zielinski was fifth at 13.07; and Central's Christine Corrallino was eighth in 13.25.

In the 200-meter dash finals, West's Benson was second at 26.70.

In the 400-meter dash, Central's Whitney Fremeau was third at 60.12.

In the 800-meter run, Central's Megan Lessard was first with a time of 2:17.75. She was immediately followed by West's Julianne Quinn, who finished second at 2:17.88. Memorial's Jacquelyn Dussault was 11th in 2:30.52.

In the 1,600-meter run, West's Nicole Wrobel finished second at 5:18.45.

In the 3,200-meter run, Memorial's Holly Banaian was second with a time of 11:32.47; Memorial's Khrysta Brewster was eighth at 11:52.72; and Central's Mary Casinghino was 12th in 12:30.84.

In the finals of the 100-meter hurdles, Central's Frink was first with a time of 15.41, Trinity's Zielinski was fourth in 15.90, and Memorial's Kaley Griffin was seventh at 16.28.

In the 300-meter hurdles, West's Caitlin Ewing was 15th at 50.59 and fellow Blue Knight Erin Willey of Hooksett was 16th in 51.29.

In the 4 X 100-meter relay, Central was sixth at 51.50; West was seventh at 51.57; Trinity was 12th at 52.49; and Memorial was 14th at 52.86.

In the 4 X 400-meter relay, Central was third at 4:07.50; West was eighth in 4:13.04; Memorial was 18th at 4:23.58; and Trinity was 19th at 4:26.88. In the 4 X 800-meter relay, West was fourth at 10:16.10; Central was sixth at 10:22.56; and Memorial was 10th at 10:41.13.

In the high jump, Central's Fremeau and West's Carissa Lewis tied for sixth at 4-10. In the pole vault, Memorial's Christina Bourbeau finished first at 9 feet 6 inches.

In the long jump, Trinity's Esperance Ndombe was 15th at 14-10.25.

In the triple jump, Memorial's Kayla Miele was ninth at 33- 03.50.

In the shot put, Trinity's Stephanie Bianchi was second at 34-10.50; and Memorial's Colleen Dobson was seventh at 32-10.00.

In the discus throw, Memorial's Dobson was fifth at 99 feet, Trinity's Bianchi was 14th at 77-03, and West's Katherine Deloid was 15th at 70-10.

In the javelin throw, Memorial's Dobson was fourth at 105-06.

For a complete list of results, visit www.lancertiming.com.