SECTION 4 CROSS COUNTRY: OWEGO CAPTURES CLASS B SECTIONAL TITLE (24 PHOTOS) (2024-11-07)
By Brian FeesTioga County Sports ReportCHENANGO VALLEY — Maddison McEvoy put everything she had into her finish, racing to edge out a Vestal runner, collapsing right after she crossed the line.
That determination and drive was something that drove Owego throughout the meet as they captured the Section 4, Class B girls’ title on Thursday at the Section 4 Championships at Chenango Valley State Park.
“That last stretch, I didn’t know where we were, but I knew I had to give it my all,” McEvoy said. “It’s my senior year. They get one more year, but it’s my last one. Throughout the whole season this was our goal. From our first practice to now we worked hard for this.”
As the other Owego runners watched McEvoy surge to the finish, passing Kayla Fletcher of Vestal, who finished with the same time of 23:11.80 as McEvoy., they were motivated by the effort.
“It was super motivating,” Palladino said.
McEvoy knew she just had to give it all she had.
“I put it all out there, that’s what matters,” she said. “We really are a family.”
And, the Owego runners know that this family will always push themselves to the limit.
“If anybody can give their all, it’s us,” McHugh said.
While McEvoy is the only senior among the top five for Owego, she is also a first-year runner.
“I think it’s important to note this is her first year and she did that,” Chrysler said. “Extremely motivating and exciting.”
Owego had a team score of 34, to edge Vestal, who was at 38.
“We didn’t exactly know how close we were to winning, but we got out there and tried our best,” Lilly LaFever said. “We tried everything we could and it led to success.”
Jaelyn Chrysler won the individual title, her second straight individual sectional title, finishing in 20:18.10, more than 35 seconds faster than the runner-up.
“It felt really good, especially since I had my team behind me the whole time,” Chrysler said.
The Class B race had just 35 runners in it, and that made it a little easier for the Owego girls to keep track of where they were in relation to the Vestal runners.
“I think it was good to see the whole race in front of you,” Stella Palladino said. “It’s easy to find out where you are, because there weren’t as many girls.”
“It was really good, you could see the race unfold in front of you,” Abigail McHugh said. “It was smaller, there wasn’t a lot of people. It was easy to see who you had to get.”
For Chrysler seeing everyone run well is something special to her.
“So special,” Chrysler said. “I always say this is like my second family, these are my sisters. If I do anything it’s going to be for them. Just knowing they are right behind me and knowing they are helping me and I am helping them. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them.”
The River Hawks always push each other.
“We run for each other,” Palladino said.
LaFever was fifth overall in 23:07.60 and Palladino was seventh in 22:14.30, while McHugh was ninth in 22:43.80, while McEvoy was 12th.
Sidney Senko was 21st in 24:34.10 and Carolyn Schuyler was 25th in 25:46.70. Nora Schuyler was 28th in 26:35.50.
In Class D Newark Valley was third at 73 points followed by Candor at 94. Delhi-South Kortright won at 30 points.
Newark Valley’s Brook Illsley was ninth in 22:27 followed by Emma Haynes of Candor in 22:33.
Candor’s Kristin Baker was 14th in 23:06.80 and Newark Valley’s Olivia Vaughn was 17th in 23:23. SVE’s Madelyn Ellison was 19th in 24:19.10. Newark Valley’s Malerie Gregrow was 22nd in 24:37.50. Candor’s Zoey Lang was 24th in 24:53.80.
Newark Valley’s Leah Lansing was 28th in 25:15.80 and teammate Emily LaPorte was 32nd in 25:42.20. Teammate Abigail Escalante was 39th in 26:20.90.
Candor’s Ayasha Schweiger was 42nd in 26:45.20 while Newark Valley’s Elle Webb was 44th in 26:59.60 and Lilie Stevens of SVE was 46th in 27:06.80.
Brooke Ryan of SVE was 56th in 28:47 while Calli Marsh of Candor was 58th in 29:05.40 and teammate Emma Fey was 60th in 29:39.10. SVE’s Kaylee-May Davidson was 62nd 29:50.60. Newark Valley’s Charlotte Vaughn was 68th in 31:07.50 followed by Kaitlyn Bohne was 69th in 31:08.70.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
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