VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' BRONSON NAMED GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY 'RUNNER OF THE YEAR;' WAVERLY'S CHAMBERLAIN TOP NEWCOMER (2022-11-22)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Athens sophomore Sara Bronson was one of two Valley runners to reach States, and led the Lady Wildcats to their first NTL Large School Division title since 1990. She is the 2022 Valley Sports Report Girls Cross Country “Runner of the Year.”

Waverly freshman Mackenzie Chamberlain is the 2022 “Newcomer of the Year.”

Waverly junior Elizabeth Vaughn also qualified for States, but Bronson finished ahead of her in every head-to-head meeting this year.

Sara Bronson finished 54th at the PIAA Championships, after a 10th-place finish at the District 4 Championships, and a second-place finish at the NTL Coaches Invite.

During the regular season, Sara Bronson finished 12th at the prestigious McQuaid Invitational in a 19:00.9. Her time was good for 49th in merged results — a field of 1,437 runners.

She also finished third at the Owego Invite (Large School Division), fifth at the Chenango Valley Invite, and fourth at the Bob Greene Invite.

Chamberlain, who finished 41st at the Section IV, Class C Championships, finished seventh in unseeded race at the Marathon Invitational, was 16th at the Chenango Valley Invite, 22nd at the Owego Invite, and 28th at the Bob Greene Invite.

Chamberlain was 115th at the McQuaid Invitational in 21:52.9.

The 2022 All-Valley Girls Cross Country team:
Sara Bronson, sophomore, Athens: See above.

Elizabeth Vaughn, junior, Waverly: Vaughn finished sixth at the Section IV, Class C Championships to earn a trip to the New York State Championships, where she finished 47th.

During the regular season, Vaughn won the IAC Championship and the unseeded race at the Marathon Invitational, placed second at the IAC South Divisional championship, fourth at the Crusader Clash, seventh at the Owego Invite (Small School Division), 11th at the Chenango Valley Invite, and 14th at the Bob Greene Invite.

Vaughn finished 42nd at the McQuaid Invitational in 20:08.2, which was good for 172nd in the merged results.

Emma Bronson, senior, Athens: Emma Bronson finished 31st at the District 4 Championships, missing out on a return trip to the PIAA Championships.

Emma Bronson finished fourth at the NTL Coaches Invite, 10th at the Owego Invite, and 12th at the Chenango Invite.

She placed 47th at the McQuaid Invitational in a time of in 20:26.9, which was good for 208th in the merged field.

Emma Bronson was consistently the No. 2 runner on a team that won its first NTL Large School Division title since 1990.

Harper Minaker, sophomore, Waverly: Minaker finished 13th at Class C Championships, but missed out on her second trip to States.

Minaker was was second at IAC Championships and the Crusader Clash, third at the IAC South Divisional championship, 13th at the Owego Invite and the Bob Greene Invite, third in the unseeded race at the Marathon Invite, and 20th at the Chenango Valley Invite.

Minaker finished 71st at the McQuaid Invitational in a time of 20:52.0.

Thea Bentley, junior, Athens: Bentley finished 35th at the District 4 Championships to cap a strong junior season.

She finished 14th at the NTL Coaches Invite, 18th at the Owego Invite, and 19th at the Chenango Valley Invitational.

Bentley finished 114th at the McQuaid Invitational in a time of 21:51.8.

Bentley was consistently the No. 3 runner on a team that won its first NTL Large School Division title since 1990.

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IN PHOTO: Athens sophomore Sara Bronson (left) and Waverly freshman Mackenzie Chamberlain.

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VSR GIRLS "RUNNER OF THE YEAR"
2022 — Athens’ Sara Bronson
2021 — Athens' Sara Bronson
2020 — Athens' Emma Bronson
2019 — Waverly's Sheridan Talada
2018 — Waverly's Sheridan Talada
2017 — Waverly's Brandi Welch
2016 — Waverly's Sidney Tomasso
2015 — Sayre's Sydney Beeman
2014 — Waverly's Kelsey Frank
2013 — Waverly's Kelsey Frank
2012 — Sayre's Katie Hurley
2011 — Sayre's Katie Hurley
2010 — Sayre's Hannah Robinson
2009 — Sayre's Hannah Robinson