Lebanon’s Jill Campbell won the girls small school division and led the Raiders to the team title among 27 schools at Saturday’s Manchester Invitational cross country meet at Derryfield Park.

Campbell, a freshman, crossed the line in the 5,000-meter race in 18 minutes, 36 seconds, more than 50 second ahead of the second-place runner. Fellow freshman Brooke Nelson finished sixth and senior Hannah Oliveira was 15th, with freshmen Carolyn Campbell and Victoria Pomery 18th and 34th, respectively, in the field of 242 runners.

Lebanon’s Jill Campbell leading the race in the first mile at Derryfield Park DAN ATTORRI For the Valley News

The Hanover boys were second in the large school division as the Bears’ Ben Groves took second in the 5K race. Isaac McNaughton took fifth, Dylan Faris was 17th and Edward White ran to 20th among 205 runners. The Hanover girls were fifth among 23 teams in the large school classification, with the Bears’ Aria Deeb finishing sixth in the field of 167 runners.

The Thetford boys were fifth in the small school division, led by Peter Horan (fifth), Zac Amber (seventh) and Ollie Emery (29th) in the field of 263 runners. Lebanon’s Ian Kiefer was 14th and the Raiders finished ninth among 39 teams in the classification from around New England. Mascoma’s Carl Russell was 12th for the Royals’ top finisher.

Woodstock’s Mary Sluka finished 27th in the girls small school race.

Hanover boys cross country team at Manchester Invitational DAN ATTORRI / For the Valley News

Lebanon coach Kevin Lozeau said he was aware of the talent for the incoming freshmen after Lebanon won the middle school state championship last fall.

“We saw this on the horizon, but I am really impressed at how well they have transitioned to the 5K right off the bat,” Lozeau by phone.

Campbell, with the fourth-fastest time on the day among all female runners, was up by about 10 seconds after the first mile and increased her lead from there. “She pretty much ran by herself today,” Lozeau said.

The Raiders’ Brooke Nelson took a tumble in the second mile and banged her knee up, but she still managed to finish strong. “It was really impressive for her to get up and finish sixth,” Lozeau added.

Hanover coach Eric Picconi was pleased with the finish of his teams against some top schools from New England.

2482 – Aria Deeb racing towards the finish line in the final stretch DAN ATTORRI / For the Valley News

“It makes the competition intense,” Picconi said in an email. “Our crew held up to it well in the large school races.”

Picconi said the aggressive pace in the early going by Groves, McNaughton and Faris helped propel Teddy White (20th) Oliver Collins (42nd) and Rohan Novasad (61st) to strong results. “The boys threw caution to the wind and earned themselves the New Hampshire No. 1 mantle for this week by overcoming Pinkerton,” Picconi said.

After Deeb’s sixth-place run, the Hanover girls followed with a cluster of runners finishing within a few places of each other to secure fifth place, second among N.H. schools. Ari Hirschler was 31st, Mia Sverrild took 33rd, Grace Stewart landed in 35th and Olive Hanissian finished 37th.

“The girls had their hands full with so many great teams they will see again if they travel to Maine for the New England Championship,” Picconi said.  “Aria was, and has become, our first strike, followed by a focused pack that continues to irritate other coaches trying to do scoring math in real time.  Ari, Grace, Mia and Olive will happily offer to frustrate them in future weeks as they continue to get stronger.”

Hanover’s Ben Groves (right) on the podium with champion Ethan Fischer from Bishop Guertin (left) DAN ATTORRI / For the Valley News

The Thetford boys were first among Vermont schools and are undefeated in Southern Vermont League meets, coach Joe Deffner said in an email: “We were very happy with how they ran today.”

Other top local finishes:

Lebanon boys: Alistair Smith (48th), Curran Poole (64th), Brent Paige (70th).

Mascoma girls: Paige Reney (74th).

Mascoma boys: Ransom Donigian (55th).

Woodstock girls: Pippa Shaw (78th).

Woodstock boys: Nichlas Cellini (112th).

Girls team scores (small schools): Lebanon 74, Noble and Greenough (Mass.) 96, East Lyme (Conn.) 127, Oyster River 148, Hopkinton 197, Souhegan 202, Coe-Brown 207, Moses Brown (R.I.) 249, St. Paul’s 272, Alvirne 295; Woodstock (17th, 403), Mascoma (25th, 630).

Girls team scores (large schools): Lexington (Mass.) 62, Cumberland (R.I.) 87, Exeter 101, Essex Junction 130, Hanover 137, CVU 218, Phillips Andover 222, Needham (Mass.) 261, U-32 267, Bedford 294.

Boys team scores (large schools): CVU 56, Hanover 78, Pinkerton 109, Lexington (Mass.) 112, Coe-Brown 154, U-32 254, St. Johnsbury 277, Exeter 288, Framingham (Mass.) 348, E.O. Smith (Conn.) 351.

Boys team scores (small schools): Noble and Greenough (Mass.) 98, Oyster River 101, Hopkinton 152, St. Paul’s 173, Thetford 192, Souhegan 249, East Lyme (Conn.) 268, Moses Brown (R.I.) 287, Lebanon 289, Portsmouth Christian 291; Mascoma (23rd, 626), Woodstock (35th, 910).