Bishop Guertin Boys Gets Past Coe-Brown for MOC Title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The Bishop Guertin boys used an sixth-man tiebreaker to get past Coe-Brown and win the New Hampshire Meet of Champions. After tying with 78 points, the Division 1 state champion edged the Division 2 champ thanks to a 40-51 advantage at runner No. 6.

As has been the case much of the season, Coe-Brown Academy needed to find an extra gear. Led by junior Aidan Cox, who has been battling an injury most of the fall, Coe-Brown used a team effort to match Bishop Guertin's score.

“Essentially on their home course, they took it to us the first mile,” Coe Brown co-head coach Tim Cox said. “But our guys certainly fought back and raced the entire 5K.”

Cox, who set the course record at Mines Falls Park in Nashua last season, running 14:58.7, won the 5,000-meter race easily in 15:01.45. Tim said his son is just starting to return to form as he’s dealt with a glute strain (compensating for sore knees due to growth spurt), which masked overall exhaustion.

“It definitely feels a little sweeter this year getting the win not only individually but doing that well as a team after losing such a strong senior class last year,” Cox said. “I am pretty happy with where I am at right now despite the challenges that I have had this year and I am super excited to compete at New Englands next week.”

“Hats off to our fifth, Gavin Demas, who had never broken 18 minutes prior to this season and dropped to 16:47,” Tim Cox said. “Most of our guys PR’d, so we just have to tip our cap and prepare for New Englands next week!” 

Individually, Keene’s Torin Kindopp was runner-up in 15:25.29. Concord was third as a team with 117 points. 

In the girls race, Dover claimed the team title with 107 points. Oyster River was second with 123 and Keene was third (124). Dover placed all five runners in the top 50. 

Portsmouth Christian junior Brianna Malone won the race in 18:03.77. 

Team Champions

Coe-Brown/Bishop Guertin boys 78 points; Dover girls 107 points  

Divisional Champions, Oct. 30

Division 1 - Bishop Guertin boys 58 points, Keene girls 75 points 

Division 2 - Coe-Brown boys 43 points, Oyster River girls 47 points 

Division 3 - Mascenic Regional boys 94 points, Hopkinton girls 40 points