SECTION IV GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: OWEGO SENDING FOUR TO STATES; MISS REPEATING AS CLASS B CHAMPS BY 1 POINT (20 PHOTOS) (2025-11-06)

Tioga County Sports Report
CHENANGO FORKS, N.Y. — Owego had four runners qualify for States, and missed out on a Section IV, Class B Girls Cross-Country team title by just 1 point here Thursday on the 5K course at Chenango Valley State Park.

Vestal copped the team title with 29 placement points, while Owego had 30, and third-place Maine-Endwell tallied 66.

Senior Abigail McHugh finished second in a time of 21:00.3, while senior Jaelyn Chrysler was third in 21:04.2, 8th-grader Sarah Heath was fifth in 21:08.0, and senior Stella Palladino was seventh in 21:49.6.

"The girls fought hard the whole way, ran smart and strong races," said Owego coach John Heath. "Many had their best races of the season, but we came up just short as a team, losing to Vestal by a point. 

"We are really proud of the efforts all of our runners today," added Heath.

The four state-bound River Hawks were excited, especially knowing they would be in Queensbury next weekend together.

"It feels amazing," said McHugh. "I don't even have the words, it's just so cool."

"It's just such a blessing from God to be able to run with these girls, and to be able to compete with them," said Chrysler.

"Obviously, I'm so excited I get to race with them again at States," she added. "I'm super-grateful for this opportunity."

"It feels amazing to be able to continue this season with these girls,  I love them so much," said Palladino. "Another race with them will be so much fun."

"I'm so excited to be able to go to States with these girls," said Heath, who will be making her first trip to States.

Despite missing out on defending their Class B title by one point, the girls believed their team's prowess shown through.

"I think it shows the strength of our program to be able walk away with four of the five individual qualifiers," said Chrysler. "We've been training as a pack this whole season and we really used that to our advantage to get us to where we are today."

"It's tough to walk away with second place, but it's OK," said McHugh. "We put in our best effort today, and I'm proud of every single one of the girls on the team."

"Even though we didn't get the win as a team, being able to show our dominance in the individual places still feels like a win to me," added Palladino.

Senior Lilly LaFever finished 13th in a time of 22:47.1, while junior Carolyn Schuyler (24:38.6), freshman Nola Rosenberger (25:07.6), and freshman Paige DeProspero (25:08.0) finished 19th through 21st, respectively.

Freshman Allyson Williams was 25th in 27:28.5, and freshman Avaleigh Ainsley was 26th in 29:18.8.

The Owego quartet is looking forward to one last race together at States.

"I'm just savoring every minute of it," said McHugh. "I know I'm going to miss it so much once it ends. I'm so excited to have one last race with these girls."

"I'm so grateful, not only that I get one more race next weekend, but that I get to do it with these guys," said Chrysler. "We're going to make the most of it and enjoy our last high school cross country race together."

"I'm truly excited to make more memories with these girls," said Palladino. "The past three years are just full of memories, and I know we're going to make more next week."

"I'm going to be a little sad that they're leaving, but I'm excited to have one more race with them," added Heath.

Queensbury High School will host the New York State Cross-Country Championships on Nov. 15.

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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES.




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