Jackie Gaughan breaks 24-year-old record in N.H.

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

MANCHESTER, N.H. – It was a record day for Exeter's Jackie Gaughan Saturday at the New Hampshire Divisional State Cross Country Championships. 

The junior, who has quietly put together a banner season, continued her dominance, winning the Division 1 5,000 meter race at Derryfield Park in a new course record time of 17 minutes, 35.6 seconds. According to seacoastonline.com, her time broke a 24-year-old  NHIAA course record that was held by Danyelle Woos (17:57). Gaughan also set a new Division 1 record as well. 

Bishop Guertin freshmen Caroline Fischer also impressed with a runner-up finish in 17:59.2. 

Pinkerton placed four in the top 10 to claim the first with 62 points.

In the boys divisional 1 battle, Keene senior Jonathan Allard won in 16:13.2. Pinkerton made it a sweep, with all five runners placing in the top 22 to score 60 points and narrowly edge out Concord (64). 

The Divisional II girls' race saw Souhegan senior Madeleine Hunt win in 18:15.4 and help lead her team to a state title with 52 points.

For the boys, Oyster River's Patrick O'Brien put down the fastest time of the day as he won the DII crown in an impressive time of 15:24.3, setting at new DII standard. It was O'Brien's second straight divisional title.

Coe-Brown easily won the team crown with 35 points. Oyster River was second (61).

Sophomore Alice Riley of Belont ran 19:56.9 to claim the Divisional III title. Campbell scored 100 points to win the team title.

For the boys, senior James Elmour of Monadnock clocked 16:36 to win, as two of his teammates also placed in the top 10 to help secure the team title (64 points). Kearsarge was runner-up with 94 points.

Qualifying athletes and teams will now move on to the New Hampshire Meet of Champions on Nov. 5 at Mine Falls in Nashua