THE SPORTS REPORTS: TOWANDA'S BENNETT NAMED ALL-REGION GIRLS 'TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF YEAR;' CORNING'S LAWSON, ReSUE, MELANSON, NOTRE DAME'S KEOUGH, TOWANDA RELAY ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2022-06-30)

The Sports Reports
It was another strong year for girls’ track and field in the Twin Tiers, as both sides of the border saw plenty of area athletes put up strong performances in the post-season.

Nobody had a better postseason than Towanda’s Porschia Bennett, The Sports Reports’ 2022 Girls “Track & Field Athlete of the Year.”

The senior Knight earned her second straight state title in the high jump, while also setting a new district record of 5-feet, 8-inches in the event at the District IV Championships. Bennett also helped her team’s 4x400 relay to a fourth-place finish at States, while also being a state qualifier in the long jump.

Corning’s Sarah Lawson, the “Track Athlete of the Year,” earned a sixth-place medal at the NY Staate Division 1 Championships in the 3000, breaking the 10-minute mark in the event at 9:56.99. She also helped their 4x800 relay qualify for states.

Notre Dame’s Makenna Keough is the “Field Athlete of the Year.” She was a state qualifier in the triple jump at 35-feet, 5-inches, and took second at the state qualifier in the long jump at 16-feet, 6-inches. On the track, Keough placed eighth in the 100 hurdles at the state meet.

Corning’s Sophia ReSue is the “Newcomer of the Year.” ReSue helped the Corning 4x400 relay to a state medal, while also being a state qualifier in the high jump at 5-feet, 3-inches.

The “Relay of the Year” is Towanda’s foursome of Bennett, Anna Dunn, Eliza Fowler, and Kelsea Allen-Smith. Those four took fourth at the state meet in a time of 4:06.23, and they ran a new school record of 4:04.23 during the preliminaries.

It’s no secret Corning is pretty good at track and field, and one big reason is their coaching staff. Led by Joe Melanson, the Hawks won the STAC and Section IV, Class A team titles this year, which makes the “Coaching Staff of the Year.”
FIRST TEAM
Porschia Bennett, Towanda: See Above.

Makenna Keough, Notre Dame: See Above.


Anneliese Getola, Troy: District IV champion in the 100, while taking fifth at the PIAA Championships in the event. She was also a district medalist in the 200.

Vicky Mordinova, Elmira: Placed eighth in the 800 at the state meet, and won the event at the STAC meet, the Class A sectional meet, and the state qualifier. She set a new school record in 2:14.12.

Lauren Gerow, Corning: Earned two medals as part of the Corning 4x800 and 4x400 relays. She was also a state qualifier in the 400 hurdle, winning the sectional title 1:06.78.

Tess Eisner, Horseheads: She was a state qualifier in the triple jump, and was the top Section IV, Division 1 long jumper in 16-feet, 11 3/4-inches.

Piper Hooey, Elmira: A state qualifier in the triple jump, she had a personal best of 34-feet, 10-inches at the state qualifier, winning the Division 1 title.

Anna Dunn, Towanda: Was a state qualifier in the 400 with a 59.69 at districts to finish fourth. She also anchored the Knight 4x400 relay that took fourth at states.

Gracelyn Laudermilch, NEB: Laudermilch qualified for States in the 3200, taking second at districts, while running a personal best 11:35.64 at states to finish in the top half of the field.

Sara Bronson, Athens: Ran an NTL best and school-record 11:29.32 in the 3,200 at districts to take second, and was top three in the NTL in the 800 and the 1600.

Brenna O’Brien, Horseheads: A state qualifier in the 100 hurdles, she was the best in Section IV, Division 1 with a time of 16.63. Ran a personal-best of 16.61.

Faithe Ketchum, Corning: Ketchum pulled double duty for the Hawks, running the anchor leg for their state medal winning 4x800 relay, while running the lead-off leg for their state medal winning 4x400 relay.

Towanda’s 4x400 Relay (Porschia Bennett, Eliza Fowler, Kelsea Allen-Smith, Anna Dunn): See Above.


SECOND TEAM
Natasia Reynolds, Elmira
Rachael Simpson, Notre Dame
Megan Kirk, Corning
Leila Ianovici, Corning
Harper Minaker, Waverly
Alexus Borek, Horseheads
Kennedy Westbrook, Waverly
Kathryn Simmons, Newark Valley
Olivia Bartlow, Athens
Hannah Walker, Athens
Emma Bronson, Athens
Piper Young, Notre Dame
Kara Morse, Candor
Julia Walsh, Tioga
Christina Gaskievicz, Corning
Mariah Nichols, Tioga
Corning’s 4x400 Relay (Megan Kirk, Lauren Gerow, Sophia ReSue, Faithe Ketchum)

THIRD TEAM
Mya Thompson, Athens
Maisie Neuber, Northeast Bradford
Hannah Ely, Wyalusing
Olivia Grinnell, Corning
Zalayna Brown, Elmira
Leila Vargas, Notre Dame
Julia Hluck, Corning
Emily Evans, Edison
Eleanor Green, Notre Dame
Kylee Carrier, Newark Valley
Natalie Garrity, Waverly
Jaelyn Chrysler, Owego
Camille McRoberts, Canton
Alexandra Senko, Owego
Josie Burleigh, Edison
Maura Heraghty, Edison
Waverly’s 4x100 Relay (Natalie Garrity, Abbey Knolles, Olivia Nittinger, Kennedy Westbrook)
Towanda’s 4x100 Relay (Anna Dunn, Porschia Bennett, Kelsea Allen-Smith, Eliza Fowler)
Sophia ReSue, Corning
Stella Palladino, Owego
Sidney Senko, Owego
Sara Bronson, Athens
Alexus Borek, Horseheads
CeCe Cohen, Horseheads
Mayanna Sindelfinger, Horseheads
Ella Devlin, Elmira
Gillian Dykes, Elmira
Ellie Green, Notre Dame
Maisie Neuber, Northeast Bradford
Kendall Kitchen, Canton