ConVal’s William Simard wins state 5K championship

From left, ConVal’s Whitney Adair, William Simard and Joshua Decker all qualified for the Meet of Champions.

From left, ConVal’s Whitney Adair, William Simard and Joshua Decker all qualified for the Meet of Champions. —COURTESY PHOTO

ConVal’s William Simard competes in the state boys’ Division II championship, which he won.

ConVal’s William Simard competes in the state boys’ Division II championship, which he won. —PHOTO BY MIKE MUNHALL

Published: 10-28-2024 11:47 AM

ConVal High School William Simard won the state Division II boys’ 5,000-meter cross-country championship Saturday at Derryfield Park in Manchester, covering the course in 16 minutes, 49.6 seconds.

His teammate, senior Joshua Decker, finished 24th in a time of 18:26.3. Walter Stephens was 60th in 20:04.5, and Marcus Jordan was 89th in 20:54.3. Vincent Hollenback was 99th in 21:31.1, while Brian Alonso was 102nd in 22:17.1 and Van Stahlin was 106th in 23:05.

ConVal’s boys placed 11th overall.

Simard and Decker qualified for the Meet of Champions Nov. 2 at Alvirne High School in Hudson, as did ConVal’s Whitney Adair by finishing 18th in the girls’ 5K with a time of 22:07.6. Berkley Bates was 82nd in 29:08.4, while Kate Fraley was 92nd in 32:42.

Two other girls ran for ConVal, which finished 12th in the team competition. Norah McNamara was 94th in 33:21.7, and Brianna Bard came in one spot later with a time of 33:30.8.

Mascenic finished second in the boys’ Division III competition, led by Derek Somero, who was 12th in 18:39.7. Other Mascenic finishers were Reino Crawford (19th, 18:59.3), Dylan Buttrick (23rd, 19:20.8), Dylan Callahan (26th, 19:24), Donovan Griffiss (45th, 20:11.2), Logan Vaillancourt (78th, 21:33.7) and Kelson Whitehouse (79th, 21:34.1).

In the girls’ Division III race, Mascenic’s Erin O’Shea was second in 20:33.6, while Kaitlin O’Shea was fourth in 21:16.3.

Paisley Silva of Wilton-Lyndeborough was 59th in 26:13.2, Sydney Beam was 62nd in 26:32 and Lydia Vanderhoof was 139th in 36:43.5.

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The Conant girls finished 14th as a team behind Lily Mormando (42nd, 24:47.8), Amelia Hill (69th, 27:08.5), Sophia Battisti (74th, 27:45.5), Scarlett Griffitt (91st, 29:16) and Elizabeth Crespo (136th, 35:32.1).

The Conant High School boys were ninth in Division III, as Nathan Alajajian led the way with a 15th-place time 18:51.9. Other Conant finishers were Drake Parkerson (25th, 19:22.4), Aaron Graham (68th, 21:08.7), Roland Dumont (86th, 22 minutes), Joshua Demanche (153rd, 25:03.6) and Inaki Abasolo (154th, 25:08.5).

Jaden Ray of Wilton-Lyndeborough was 116th, with a time of 23:07.7.