VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: BECHY, JOHNSON SHARE BOYS 'TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR;" TIOGA'S ROSSI, SAYRE'S QUIROS, WAVERLY 400 RELAY ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2023-06-17)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY - Waverly senior
Kayleb Bechy and junior
Ralph Johnson both broke school records, earned an individual state medals at the New York State Championships, and also ran on the record-breaking 400-meter relay that won a state silver medal. They share the 2023
Valley Sports Report "
Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year" honors.
Sayre sophomore
Marco Quiros is the "
Newcomer of the Year," while Tioga junior
Valentino Rossi is the "
Field Athlete of the Year," and Waverly’s 400-meter foursome of Bechy, Johnson, senior
Jerrell Sackett, and junior
Micah Chandler is the "
Relay of the Year."
Bechy, who did not run track until last year, made his second trip to States, this time bringing home a fifth-place medal in the 100-yard dash. Bechy placed first at the Section IV State Qualifier.
Bechy broke the school record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.79, while Johnson posted a time of 10.85 in the 100, and actually edged Bechy to win the IAC Championships in the 100.
Johnson, who had not run a full track season 8th-grade, set the school record in the 200-meter dash at 21.95 seconds. He finished second at the State Qualifier.
The Waverly 400-meter relay broke the school record in its second outing of the season, clocking in at 43.4 seconds at the Molly Dry Invite on April 13.
Later in the season, the foursome broke the IAC record on Day 1 of the league meet, clocking in at 42.86 seconds. The next day, they lowered the record to 42.76 seconds.
At the Section IV State Qualifier, the Waverly quarter clocked in at 42.3 seconds to win Section IV gold, and break the previous Section IV record of 42.31 seconds. They went on to win the silver medal at the State meet.
Quiros, who missed more than three weeks of the season due to an injury, hit full speed quickly upon his return for the Redskins, and had several top-three finishes.
He finished third in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the NTL Championships, and was sixth in the 400-meter dash.
He medalled with an eighth-place finish in the 100-meter dash at the District 4 Class AA Championships, was ninth in the 200 — missing out on a medal by 0.003 seconds, and was 13th in the 400-meter dash.
Rossi, who had a strong regular season in the long jump and triple jump, as well as the 100- and 200-meter dashes, medalled in both jumps at the IAC Championships, placing third in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump.
At the Class D Championships, Rossi won the triple jump, and placed second in the long jump. He placed sixth in the triple jump, and finished 12th in the long jump at the Section IV State Qualifier.
The 2023 Boys Track & Field Super 7
Kayleb Bechy, senior, Waverly: See above.
Ralph Johnson, junior, Waverly: See above.
Micah Chandler, junior, Waverly: Chandler, who won a state medal in the 400-meter hurdles last year, placed first in that event at the Section IV, Class C Championships, but did not run in the event at the State Qualifier to dedicate himself to the relays.
Chandler was part of Waverly’s 400-meter relay (see above) that won a Section IV title in record-time, and won a state silver. He also ran on the 1,600-meter relay team that won a Division 2 title at the State Qualifier, finishing second overall to Corning. The relay finished 15th at the state meet.
Jerrell Sackett, senior, Waverly: Sackett, who on a couple of occasions beat Johnson in the 200-meter dash, finished sixth in the 200 at the State Qualifier, after finishing second (to Johnson) at the Class C Championships.
Sackett was part of Waverly’s 400-meter relay (see above) that won a Section IV title in record-time, and won a state silver. He also ran on the 1,600-meter relay team that won a Division 2 title at the State Qualifier, finishing second overall to Corning. The relay finished 15th at the state meet.
Valentino Rossi, junior, Tioga: (See above for field events) … Rossi won the 100-meter dash at the Section IV, Class D Championships, and was 19th at the State Qualifier.
Jaden Wright, senior, Athens: Wright, who battled injuries for part of the season, finished strong for the Wildcats.
He won the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the NTL Championships, then was ninth in the 200, and 11th in the 100 at the District 4 Championships.
Andrew Earley, sophomore, Tioga: Earley had a strong season in the hurdles for the Tigers. At the IAC Championships, he was third in the 400-meter hurdles, fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, and 13th in the triple jump.
Earley won the 400-meter hurdles at the Section IV Class D Championships, and was second in the 110-meter hurdles. At the State Qualifier, he medaled with a sixth-place finish in the 400 hurdles, and was ninth in the 110-meter hurdles.
——————
All-Valley Super 7 NewcomersMarco Quiros, freshman, Sayre.
Josh Courtney, junior, Waverly.
Liam Wright, junior, Waverly.
Brenden Comstock, freshman Athens.
Isaiah Bretz, senior, Waverly.
Oscar Williams, senior, Waverly.
Brock Stauder, junior, Tioga.
———————
PAST WINNERS
"Boys Track & Field Athlete of Year"2023 — Kayleb Bechy and Ralph Johnson, Waverly
2022 — Micah Chandler, Waverly
2021 — Asher Ellis, Athens
2020 — NONE
2019 — Isaac Chandler, Waverly
2018 — Isaac Chandler, Waverly
2017 — Kalen Keathley, Athens
2016 — Gage Lubertowicz, Tioga
2015 — Josh Mastrantuono, Waverly
2014 — Nick Sweet, Sayre
2013 — Ryan Kreykenbohm, Athens
2012 — Jeff Mastrantuono, Waverly
2011 — Jarred Gambrell, Athens
2010 — Jarred Gambrell, Athens
Print Friendly Version