Legacy of track and field at LHS lives on through its athletes, coaches

LACONIA — The track and field team at Laconia High School has a long history of success — there’s a mural painted on a wall there depicting an iconic runner, Larry Stinson, who shattered records as a Sachem decades ago. 

Stinson, class of 1977, who was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2021, died following his sophomore year. He was widely believed to be the greatest prep prospect in track and field of his era, and the city had high hopes for his future success.

His legacy lives on — this year’s track and field team is massive, and there are numerous impressive athletes, several of whom credit the school’s legacy with providing them inspiration in their own campaigns.

Senior Albert D’Almeida, a team captain, holds the second fastest 100 meter time for outdoor track and field in Laconia’s history. He’s also competitive in the 200 meter dash.

“My PR for the 100 is an 11.56 and my PR for long jump is 18’ 11.75”,” he said. “I’ve been doing track since seventh grade, I just felt like doing a new sport and I figured I was pretty good at it.”

D’Almeida said he’s glad the turnout for their team was so large this year and he’s hopeful for a successful season.

“It’s pretty fun during practice, not everybody gets to participate in the meet, I kind of feel bad for them, but just keep practicing and you’ll make it,” he said. “For the 100, I’m planning on going at least sub-11.40 and hopefully make it past states for the relay teams.”

He said the legacy at Laconia motivates him to achieve. 

“I think it’s pretty impressive, looking at when the records were set and all that stuff, I think it’s pretty cool and I strive to break some more records. I broke some during indoors, so now I’m planning on breaking some more.”

Senior thrower De’Mornay Cooper, who competes in shot put and javelin and is also a team captain, said having so many young athletes join their team this year speaks to the legacy of the sport in Laconia. 

“A lot of the freshmen, I saw them last year and they did track and most of them were pretty good with the other school and so they joined the team,” Cooper said. “I’ve been doing track for three years now, I really enjoy talking to the people, like at other schools, and I like being with the team and helping them to get better.”

Cooper said she has her eye set on competing in the meet which could send her to the state championships. 

“I hope I make it to Wilderness and I hope that all these people, like on the team, I hope they all know that we’re all with them and I hope they do better next year, even when I’m gone,” she said.

Coach Pan Pradachith said he’s been excited by the amount of interest in track and field among his students. 

“A lot of different sports and their after school activities have changed their minds on some things,” he said. “I know I have a couple of athletes that were lacrosse athletes or baseball athletes and I think a lot of it is kids want to do different things now, which is nice to see. I know I’ve got a lot of kids that were returners from last year or the year prior that didn’t get to show out last year, so I get to see some familiar faces, some new faces, but I think a lot of it just has to be coming out, just trying new things for once. It’s a big step for some of these kids.”

Pradachith said the group of students he has on the team this year contribute to a positive environment that promotes success. 

“We’ve got a big group from different ranges, from diversity to different childhood homes and, you know, it’s nice to get a blend of different kids coming in and trying out new things,” he said. “I think a lot of it is the friend group aspect, that a lot of kids are here together. My biggest thing as a coach is, I’m all about culture. I’m all about keeping teams together, supporting the whole school and school spirit. And I think I have a good blend of athletes that do share school spirit and embrace what Laconia means, so I have a good group here.”

Pradachith, who is a Laconia alum himself, competed in track while in high school and hopes to be seen as a mentor and role model for his students and athletes. 

“When you have an alumni here, it gives them a bigger perception on what it was like when I was here,” he said. “So that’s the nice part about being back and helping out some of these kids, so it’s nice to be back in Laconia.”

The legacy of track and field in Laconia remains on Pradachith’s mind and motivates his athletes, he said.

“My senior group this year has been my strongest track group I’ve ever seen, like for instance Albert (D'Almeida). Albert has done track all four years from indoor to outdoor. I’ve got Haley (Greenwood) who’s very involved with track and also she’s a soccer player. So a lot of it incorporates different sports attributes to bring it to track,” he said. “And the nice thing about track is that, yes, it may seem like an individual sport, personal records to be broken on their own, but it’s also a team sport too.”

There are a handful of athletes at Laconia High School who have the potential to break records and contribute to that legacy in the future.

“I feel like there are a couple of kids here who can really push themselves and put their name on that board as well,” Pradachith said. “You know, we have fellow alumni (Samantha) Hicks who’s also coaching middle school track, and her name is all over the boards too so it’s nice to see some of these kids look up to her as well as a past alumni with her name on the board. I think some of it does motivate these kids to get their name up there.”

Coach Pradachith’s ultimate goal — to throw some of the names of students he’s currently coaching up onto the board.

“My goal is to try to at least have one of these kids, in my time here, hopefully we can get their name up there as well,” he said. “May 3 will be at Belmont which is our next track meet.”