STAC CROSS COUNTRY: OWEGO LOOKS TO CONTINUE WINNING TRADITION (2025-09-04)
By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — The Owego boys and girls cross country teams have made a tradition out of winning or at least putting up a strong challenge for top honors at the Section IV championships. Don’t expect that to change this season.
The quest to be No. 1 in Section IV Class B won’t be an easy one. Last year, Vestal was working with a student enrollment about 35 percent larger than that of the River Hawks. Owego nipped the Golden Bears by three points to win the team title while Vestal topped Owego by nine points in the boys race.
This year, Vestal’s enrollment is approximately 41 percent larger, but that won’t deter Owego from putting up a fight.
BOYS
The River Hawks were the Section IV Class B runners-up to Vestal by a mere nine points.
Unseating the Golden Bears won’t be easy. Vestal returns all but one of its top 10 competitors while the River Hawks graduated five of their top 10.
Leading the returning crew are seniors Javan Belokur, the defending Section IV Class B individual champion, and Magavin Allen, both of whom are two-time state qualifiers.
Also returning are senior Gavin Heath, and juniors Levi Saunders and Cadon Wasielewski.
Newcomers Jorum Belokur, a freshman, sophomore Brady Senko and senior Henry Schultz Larson will look to make an impact on the 18-man roster.
Graduation included Sullivan O'Donnell, who was a sectional champion in 2023 and a runner-up last year, Dawson Bell, Deric Singer, Nick Brown and Luke Saunders.
GIRLS
The River Hawks return four of their top five runners, losing only Madison McEvoy and Sidney Senko to graduation. McEvoy was typically the No. 5 scorer and Senko filled the No. 6 spot.
Coming back are four-time state qualifier and defending individual Class B champion Jaelyn Chrysler, now a senior, as well as classmates Lilly LaFever, Abby McHugh and Stella Palladino. Also back is sophomore Carolyn Schuyler.
Newcomers to the roster of 12 are 8th-grader Sarah Heath, and freshmen Paige DeProspero and Nola Rosenbarker.
“(I’m) looking to see how much both teams can improve over the season,” said John Heath, who has been the head coach at Owego for more than 20 years. “Looking to repeat as divisional champions and put ourselves in a position to be competitive, peak and have a chance at sectionals.”
Owego opens the season Saturday at the Dave Forbes Invitational in Oneonta.
———
2025 boys roster
Magavin Allen, senior
Javan Belokur, senior
Ephraim Doty, senior
Gavin Heath, senior
Henry Schultz Larson, senior
Jordan Fernandez, junior
Levi Saunders, junior
Everett Tirinato-Snow, junior
Lukas Walp, junior
Cadon Wasielewski, junior
Colin Burts, sophomore
Brady Senko, sophomore
Joram Belokur, freshman
Everett Benjamin, freshman
Grady Morse, freshman
Jacob Preston, freshman
Caleb Rathke, freshman
Cobie Schaffer, freshman
Jacob Wuttle, freshman
2025 girls roster
Jaelyn Chrysler, senior
Piper Cunningham, senior
Lilly LaFever, senior
Abby McHugh, senior
Stella Palladino, senior
Amelia Sitar, junior
Carolyn Schuyler, sophomore
Paige DeProspero, freshman
Nola Rosenbarker, freshman
Avaleigh Tinsley, freshman
Allyson Williams, freshman
Sarah Heath, 8th
——————
IN PHOTO 1: Javan Belokur (left) and Magavin Allen (right) will seek another trip to the state championships. IN TOP PHOTO: The Oweo girls are ready to defend their sectional title, but will have to do so without grad Madison McEvoy (right). … STOCK PHOTOS.
Print Friendly Version
