PELHAM – What a difference a year made for Milford High’s Caden Zalenski.

Last spring, the gifted thrower fouled three straight times in the Division II State Meet, disappointing in the shot put.

Sunday at Pelham High, the Spartan senior dubbed himself as the man to beat in next week’s Meet of Champions with a heave of 52-7.5, capturing the Division II state title in the process. Zalenski, who added a second place in the discus for the second straight year at states, helped the Spartans to a fourth place finish overall in the event won by Coe-Brown Northwood Academy.

Zalenski, the star running back on Milford’s state semifinal football team was by no means the lone local to shine in the field events.

Souhegan senior Will Jacques enjoyed a monster day, not only scoring in all three throws but tossing in a second place in the high jump by clearing 6-2.

Jacques claimed the title, “state champ” with a win in the javelin. His toss of 164-7 was over 10 feet better than the nearest competitor. The Saber was also second behind Zalenski in the shot and third in the discus, helping the Sabers to a third-place finish with 57 points.

Hollis Brookline’s boys claimed sixth place overall, much in part to the work done by John Kottely.

The senior was down to his last chance in the triple jump and the pressure only made him better. Kottely’s final effort of 42-9.25 gave him the win. He added a second place in the 400 meters as well.

On the girls side, Sarah Sawyer of Milford was absolute money in the jumps as the Spartans grabbed fourth place overall with 49 points.

Again, the heat was on. Plymouth’s Katherine Luehrs had posted a 16-2 mark. And Sawyer, at 15-7, was down to her final jump. The senior hit it perfectly, flying 16-5 for the win.

She just missed a similar result in the triple, when she delivered a top effort of 32-7, only to come up 1.25 inches short of a double, settling for second.

Here’s a look at local placers:

BOYS RESULTS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Coe-Brown 84, 3. Souhegan 57, 4. Milford 54, 6. Hollis Brookline 40

100: 3. Nathan Pettingell (M) 11.40

200: 3. Zachary Naun (M) 23.12

400: 2. John Kottely (HB) 51.06

800: 3. Ryan Burgher (HB) 1:59.07

300 hurdles: 2. Adam Holodowski (M) 43.15

4Ö100: 1. Milford (Reggie Hardwick, Naun, Ryan Constable, Pettingell) 43.96; 2. Souhegan (Tony Garrant, Jace Henderson, Finley Raudelunas, Carson Behn) 45.05

4Ö400: 3. Hollis Brookline (Henry Bruneau, Titus Tieman, Burgher, Kotelly) 3:35.78

4Ö800: 2. Souhegan (Dallien Noorda, Jaren Noorda, Owen Stine, Nolan Dickinson) 8:23.26

High Jump: 2. Will Jacques (S) 6-2; 4. Jackson Steckbeck (S) 5-8

Long Jump: 5. Naun (M) 19-3.5; 6. Constable (M) 19-3

Triple Jump: 1. Kotelly (HB) 42-9.25

Shot Put: 1. Caden Zalenski (M) 52-7.5; 2. Jacques (S) 51-1.5; 6. Keagan Hatch (M) 43-10

Discus: 2. Zalenski (M) 157-0; 3. Jacques (S) 147-9; 6. Hatch (M) 104-7

Javelin: 1. Jacques (S) 164-7; 3. Garrant (S) 144-5; 6. Nicholas Giordano (M) 137-3

GIRLS RESULTS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Coe-Brown 109.5, 4. Milford 49, 10. Souhegan 21, 14. Hollis Brookline 12

100: 6. Caitlin Cooper (S) 13.2

800: 2. Amy Pattelena (HB) 2:20.98; 3. Chloe Trudel (S) 2:21.22

1600: 3. Trudel (S) 5:19.83

3200: 4. Trudel (S) 11:59.20

4Ö100: 4. Milford (Annalise Nassy, Elianna Nassy, Sarah Sawyer, Shyanne Gelinas) 52.83

4Ö400: 4. HB (Brianna Buckland, Annika Bergin, Rachel Brackett, Pattelena) 4:26.37

4Ö800: 4. Milford (Jona Velazquez, Victoria Cornaro, Caroline Raiano, Abbey Halloran) 10:43.83

Pole Vault: 3. Halloran (M) 8-6

High Jump: 4. Ashereka Primmer (S) 4-10

Long Jump: 1. Sawyer (M) 16-5; 5. E. Nassy (M) 15-2.5

Triple Jump: 2. Sawyer (M) 32-7

Shot Put: 1. Kylie Allen (M) 34-0.5

Discus: 6. Allen (M) 89-4

Javelin: 5. Sawyer (M) 90-10