SECTION IV CLASS C CROSS COUNTRY: FOUR TIOGA COUNTY RUNNERS REPEAT AS STATE QUALIFIERS (24 PHOTOS) (2019-11-07)

Tioga County Sports Report
CHENANGO VALLEY — Newark Valley's Jonny Sherwood, SVEC's Callum Avery and the Waverly duo of Sheridan Talada and Collin Wright repeated as state qualifiers on a cold and rainy day at the Section IV Class C Cross Country Championship at Chenango Valley State Park Thursday.

The Wolverines' Elizabeth Fritzen qualified as well, giving Tioga County five qualifiers for next week's Class C state meet.

BOYS
Sherwood was one of just two competitors to break 18 minutes as he clocked 16:59.8 and finished as the runner-up to Watkins Glen standout Gabe Planty, who ran a time of 16:50.3. Wright locked up the No. 3 spot with a time of 17:19. Avery grabbed the final individual qualifying spot, placing sixth in 17:45.2.

Sherwood was feeling good about his effort and the fact his time was well ahead of last year's pace.

"I'm very proud of myself, because running the same course for the second year in a row, I was 40 seconds faster," he said, also noting he has his sights set on trying to finish in the top 20 at the state meet.

Avery feels his effort this year gives him a chance at redemption.

"It's a second chance, because last year I qualified, but I got sick like a day or so before the meet," he said. "It was crushing, because I was excited."

One other Tioga County runner finished among the top 10 as Waverly's Nate Ackley placed ninth with a time of 17:50.2.

Watkins Glen would win the team title with 69 points, nudging the Cardinals by five. Waverly took third with 89 and SVEC was eighth with 202 points.

Rounding out NV's scoring were Seth Hartenstein in 11th (18:00.2), Connor Yetter, who placed 13th (18:02.5), Mark Vosburgh in 24th (18:44.6) and Noah Waterman in 28th (18:53.9)

SVEC's other scoring runners included Ryan Hodges in 41st (19:33.9), Nathan Gillette taking 49th (19:59.3), Tyler Doster placing 59th (20:33.3) and Wyatt Stouffer in 68th (20:49.5).

Others scoring for Waverly were Jayden Rose in 25th (18:46.1), Liam Traub in 27th (18:53.7) and Brandon Bubniak, who finished 31st (19:10).

Also participating for NV were 43 40 2119 Patrick Bishop (43rd, 19:45.2), Jake Ludwig (48th, 19:55.9), Montana Wallace (72nd, 21:03.8), Tim Bishop (81st, 21:35.2) and John Fiacco (91st, 22:31.3)

SVEC's extra competitors included Isaac Lindridge (71st, 20:59.9), Matthew Fitch (82nd, 21:37), Ty'Vone Benners (85th, 21:47.4), Cameron Squire (100th, 23:19.1) and Ben Dizer (101st, 24:02).

Others running for Waverly were Kaden Wheeler (40th, 19:31.5), Jerrell Sackett (61st, 20:37.4), Matt Atanasoff (73rd, 21:11.1), Sam Vandyke (75th, 21:14.6) and Gavin Schillmoelle (77th, 21:19.6).

GIRLS
Newark Valley's Renee Riegel cracked the top 10, placing ninth with a time of 21:38.5.

Jenna O'Connell led SVEC, placing 30th in 24:09.4.

Breanna Brigham was 31st for NV, clocking 24:16.5, Sarah Raymond took 46th in 25:34.8, Monica Escalante was 47th with a 25:39.1 and Charlotte Dunn rounded out the team scoring with a 27:41.4.

Scoring for SVEC were Erin Bruttomesso, 36th with a 24:49.8, Olivia Secondo, 49th in 25:42.9, Mya Marsh, 50th in 25:51.6 and Olivia Bennett, 64th with a 28:07.5.

Rosie Hines was an additional runner for Newark Valley and placed 67th in 28:26.7.

Teammates Talada and Fritzen had strong showings for the Wolverines. Talada was third in 20:14.6 and Fritzen took fifth, clocking 20:46.3

Pipher Reid of Chenango Forks won the race in 19:54.5 and Dryden's Emily Miller was second with a 20:08.3.

Paige Ackley placed 16th for Waverly in 22:54.1, Olivia Nittinger was 21st with a 23:25.1and Aubrey Akins was 63rd in 27:58.4.

Kaleigh Akins was an extra runner for Waverly and was 69th in 32:45.7.

The state meet will be held Nov. 16 at SUNY Plattsburgh.

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IN PHOTO 1: NV's Jonny Sherwood (L) and SVEC's Callum Avery. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.