SECTION 4 CROSS COUNTRY: BELOKUR, O'DONNELL GO 1-2 FOR OWEGO AT SECTIONALS (24 PHOTOS) (2024-11-07)
By Brian FeesTioga County Sports ReportCHENANGO VALLEY — Javan Belokur knew it might be a little early, but he saw an opportunity to take control of the race and he did it.
Belokur pulled away and wound up winning the Section 4, Class B title in 17:19.10 on Thursday at the sectional championships at Chenango Valley State Park.
“It was my dream at the start of the season, I’m glad I made it through to the finish,” Belokur said. “There was a lot of mental focus and determination that got me to this point.”
The junior was a little unsure about taking off when he did, but he didn’t want to be too far behind at the end.
“I was a little iffy on that, but I thought I could break him then and there,” Belokur said. “And, I made my move there because I didn’t want to have to make up for it in the last 1000 so I decided to go.”
Partway through this year the junior began to realize maybe he could be a sectional champion.
“Probably after the Newark Valley Invite I saw that I could have maybe got podium here and then throughout the season it made its way through, I maybe had a chance at first,” Belokur said.
In the final 50 meters Sullivan O’Donnell was right behind Vestal’s Titus Patton, but he closed strong to finish second as the River Hawks went 1-2.
A few races ago he (Patton) told me if he’s going to get me he’s going to get me in the last 1,000,” O’Donnell said. “I knew I had to kick in that last bit and I could catch him.
“It really drove me because this guy, Javan, ran an incredible race and I wanted to get up to him, celebrate with him a little sooner.”
O’Donnell wasn’t about to let Belokur win and not make it a 1-2 finish.
“We wanted to be 1-2, we predicted 1-2 for us and that’s what we did, we brought it to fruition,” O’Donnell said.
For Belokur the 1-2 finish was special.
“It was stoked, because he was my motivation all through the season,” Belokur said.
Magavin Allen was 10th for Owego, but fourth among runners not on Vestal, who won the team title, sending him to states.
“It was a good experience coming up from the tee box there, that’s when I realized I had a very strong chance (to make states),” Allen said. “Everything I had left, I put it all out there.”
Allen made states as a freshman and didn’t go last year, so he’s excited to go back.
“Very excited to get back there. It’s a fun experience,” he said. “I wish I had my team with me, but happy to go with these two guys.”
Dawson Bell was 18th in 18:38.40 and Gavin Heath was 23rd in 18:46.70. Nicholas Brown as 25th in 18:55.60 and Luke Saunders was 28th in 19:51.80. Cadon Wasielewski was 33rd in 20:36.70.
Owego finished second as a team with 38 points. Vestal won at 29.
As they go to states Belokur and O’Donnell are excited to run together again. But, Sullivan would love to be the one in front.
“He better not expect this to happen again,” O’Donnell said.
“I love that,” Belokur said with a smile.
In the Class D race Newark Valley was sixth at 149 points. Delhi-South Kortright won at 51.
SVE’s Edward Rixford was 11th in 19:02.40 and Newark Valley’s Marcos Escalante was 18th in 19:44.80.
Newark Valley’s Leland Houston was 21st in 19:56.10 and teammate Camden King was 25th in 20:09.80.
Gage Maxwell of Candor was 30th in 20:12.40 and teammate James Kane was 44th in 21:19.20.
Newark Valley’s Rhyley Payne was 63rd in 23:18.20 and SVE’s Jayden Stone was 69th in 23:55.80 followed by teammate Kenric Beach (24:06.80) and Newark Valley’s Reese Illsley (24:08.10).
William Horyczun of SVE was 78th in 24:39.70.
Newark VAlley’s Andrew Lelik was 86th in 27:36.50 followed by teammates Rex Chapman (32:46.70) and Austin Debolt (34:48.80).
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
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