VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S WALSH IS 2020-21 FEMALE 'TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF YEAR;' ATHENS' THOMPSON TOP NEWCOMER (2021-08-10)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - Tioga junior Julia Walsh turned in a strong postseason, including three medals at the Section IV Showcase, and is the 2020-21 Valley Sports Report Female "Track & Field Athlete of the Year."

Athens freshman Mya Thompson placed in four events at the District 4 Championships and is the 2020-21 "Newcomer of the Year," and the Waverly 4-x-1 is the "Relay Team of the Year."

Walsh finished third in the 400-meter hurdle, fifth in the 100-meter hurdles, and sixth in the pole vault at the Section IV Showcase.

To get to the Showcase, Walsh won the 400-meter hurdles, placed second in the 100-meter hurdles, and was fifth in the pole vault at the Class C Championships. She also ran on a fourth-place 400-meter relay.

At the IAC Championships, Walsh won a gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles, a silver medal in the 100-meter hurdles, and a fourth-place medal in the pole vault. She also collected three wins at the IAC South Small School Divisional meet, winning the 100- and 400-meter hurdles, and running on the winning 400-meter relay team.
 
Thompson placed sixth in the triple jump, and sixth in the long jump at Districts, and also ran on a pair of fifth-place relays - the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events.

Thompson won a silver medal in the in the long jump at the NTL Coaches Invite, and was eighth in the triple jump. She also ran on a pair of gold-medal relays - the 400- and 1,600-meter events.

Waverly's 400-meter relay team of senior Gabby Picco, and juniors Abby Knolles, and sophomores Kennedy Westbrook and Natalie Garrity finished fifth in 53.94 seconds at Section IV Showcase. The foursome was third at the Class C Championships, and third at the IAC Championships.

The 2020-21 Super 7 All-Valley Female Track & Field team:
Julia Walsh, junior, Tioga: See above.

Mya Thompson, freshman, Athens: See above.

Emma Bronson, sophomore, Athens: Bronson was a triple-winner at the NTL Coaches Invite, claiming gold in the 800-, 1,600-, and 3,200-meter runs.

At the District 4 Championships, Bronson placedfourth in the 800, and fifth in the 800, and also ran on a fifth-place 3,200-meter relay team.

Carrie Claypool senior, Sayre: Claypool won silver medals in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs at the NTL Coaches Invite.

Claypool, seeded 11th, finished fifth in the 3,200-meter run, missing out on States by 1 seconds. She was 13th in the 1,600-meter run.

Harper Minaker, 8th-grader, Waverly: Minaker finished seventh in the 1,500-meter run at the Section IV Showcase, after a second-place finish in the event at the Class C Championships.

At the IAC Championships, Minaker placed fourth in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs. She finished second in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs at the IAC South Divisional meet.

Mariah Nichols, junior, Tioga: At the IAC Championships, Nichols placed third in the 100-meter hurdles, fifth in the 400-meter hurdles, and eighth in the triple jump. She was also on the fourth-place 400-meter relay team.

At the Class C Championships, Nichols placed third in the triple jump, fourth in the 100-meter hurdles,  and fifth in the 400-meter hurdles. She also ran on the fourth-place 400-meter relay team. Nichols was fourth in the 400-meter hurdles, and was on the winning 400-meter relay team at the IAC Divisional meet.

Nichols finished eighth in the 400-meter hurdles at the Section IV Showcase. She was also eight in the triple jump.

Olivia Bartlow, junior, Athens: Bartlow won a bronze medal in the discus at the District 4 Championships

At the NTL Coaches Invite, Bartlow finished second in the discus, and fourth in the shot put.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga's Julia Walsh.