TIOGA COUNTY - Candor's Lindsey Morse improved week after week this season, eventually finding success all the way to a spot on the podium at the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships in the 100-meter hurdles, earning Tioga County Sports Report's "Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year."

Owego's Jaelyn Chrysler is this year's selection for the "Track Athlete of the Year" and Tioga's Vida Rossi earns "Field Athlete of The Year."

Waverly's Gianna Soprano is the Tioga County Sports Report "Newcomer of the Year."

Candor's Morse had a track season that was defined by consistent improvement and peaking at the right time. Morse began her run at states, when she placed second for Small School at the IAC Championships in the 100-meter hurdles, while also winning the long jump.

Morse then went on to the Section IV Class Championships and earned third in the 100 hurdles, before heading to the State Qualifier and winning the event for Class C in the day-two final, running a school record 15.88.

At the New York State Track and Field Championships, Candor's Morse made the podium, grabbing the final spot in the finals of the Class C 100-meter hurdles before placing fourth with a time of 15.99.

Owego's Chrysler was fantastic in the distance events all spring. Chrysler picked up two Section IV Class B Championships this season, winning both the 1500m and 3000-meter runs. 

At the State Qualifier, Chrysler also finished first in Class B for the girls' 3000m, clocking 11:12.49, before heading to day two of the meet and winning the 1500m for Class B as well with a time of 5:05.43, her season best. This qualified Owego's Chrysler for two different events at the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships. She finished ninth in her heat for the 3000 at states, clocking 11:06.90, while running a 5:05.97 in the 1500.

Rossi had a strong regular season, breaking the school record in the long jump, then re-setting it a couple times before peaking at 17-feet, 3-inches. She is also closing in on the 100-meter dash school record.

She was injured in the final regular-season meet, and missed out on a trip to States by 3 1/2 inches, leaping 16-feet, 6 3/4-inches at the State Qualifier to finish second.

Waverly's Gianna Soprano had a big impact for the Wolverines in her first varsity season.

Soprano, who was also Waverly's top pole vaulter during the regular season, placed fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at the State Qualifier. She won the 400 hurdles at the STAC and Class C Championships as well.

Athlete of Year - Lindsey Morse, junior, Candor

Track Athlete of Year - Jaelyn Chrysler, junior, Owego

Field Athlete of Year - Vida Rossi, freshman, Tioga

Newcomer of Year - Gianna Soprano, freshman, Waverly

Lindsey Morse, junior, Candor: See above.

Palladino was a double winner at the Section IV Class A/B Championships. The junior standout earned Class B wins in both the 100 and 200-meter dash. Palladino went into the state qualifiers as the top seed in both the 100 and 200m, but suffered an injury that cut her season short. Despite the injury, Palladino qualified for the state championships in the 100-meter dash based on time, but was unable to run. This season, Palladino broke the Owego school record in the 200-meter dash this year, running 25.57.

Gianna Soprano, freshman, Waverly: See above.

Kaylin Twedt, freshman, Waverly: 

A consistent triple and quad-winner during the regular season, Twedt ran on the 1,600-meter relay that won STAC and Class C Championships, and finished second at the State Qualifier. She was also on the 400-meter relay that finished third at the STAC and Class C Championships. Twedt finished third in the 400-meter at state qualifiers in personal-best time.

Vida Rossi, freshman, Tioga: See above.

Jaelyn Chrysler, junior, Oswego: See above.

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PHOTOS BY KIRK LUVISON, TIM BIRNEY AND CRISTINA ROSSI