SECTION IV CROSS COUNTRY: WAVERLY'S CHAMBERLAIN, MINAKER PUNCH TICKET TO STATES (12 PHOTOS) (2024-11-07)

Valley Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — Waverly junior Mackenzie Chamberlain, and senior Harper Minaker punched their tickets to States here Thursday at the Section IV, Class C Cross Country Championships at Chenango Valley State Park.

Chamberlain finished fifth in a time of 21:50.7, and Minaker claimed the final qualifying spot, finishing seventh in a time of 22:14.0. (The top five, not including runners on the winning team advance.)

"Resiliency is what led both of these girls to qualify for States," said Waverly coach Nate Culver. "They both worked through so many setbacks, never letting their goals waver.

"I couldn’t be more proud of their determination to overcome every obstacle they’ve both endured for years now.

"Kenzie’s hard work has finally paid off earning her first trip to States," noted Culver. "I definitely see her wanting to repeat next year.

"To say Harper has gone through a lot over the past few years would be an understatement," added Culver. "Harper’s passion for the sport kept her mentally strong, while her body healed earning one last trip to States for her senior year."

Culver also credited the team's athletic trainer.

"Without the coordination and efforts of our trainer, L.J. Casterline, I do not believe today would have ended as it did," said Culver. "His time and talent in tending to our athletes is greatly appreciated."

Chamberlain said she and Minaker were a team effort.

"We have been working for years," she said. "Injuries did not help us out. We were so close the last couple of years, but, we couldn’t get it ... we are excited we are able to work together push each other and make it to the end.

"Yesterday, we previewed the course and just the whole ride home just tears rolling down my face," noted Chamberlain. "My emotions this week were insane. It’s so hard when you are working every day and not meeting your goals and I”m just glad this year I was able to do it.

"I was so proud of myself, I was so relieved to be done," continued Chamberlain. "That was the hardest race, I was dying when I was done, but I would have been so upset with myself if I didn’t make it. I wouldn’t have been able to talk to anyone for the next month.

"And, it would be so different if we didn’t make it together," she added.

Minaker was also happy to be headed to States with Chamberlain.

"We have been training together all summer, every summer training together and we want to push each other," she said.

"I went (to States) in 9th grade and the last two years I just had injury after injury.

"I just knew this was my last chance," noted Minaker. "The whole time I was thinking 'I want states, I want states, I want states.'

"This is my last year and all I wanted (was to make states)," added Minaker. "We made it together and that makes it better."

Chamberlain said she didn't quite run her normal race.

"Cross country is all mental, you can have the best race, the worst race," she said. "You have to have the right mentality or you will never be where you want to be.

"I never look behind me in a race ever. I probably have one time in my entire career — track, indoor track, cross country," added Chamberlain. "This race, I looked behind myself like three times. I just had to, I was so nervous."

Minaker didn't think she had qualified when the race was over.

"The back mile, I was coming off the trail there, I looked behind me and I was like I have got to go," she said. "It was seriously all mentality for sure, and grit.

"I knew I got seventh (place), and I was like 'OK there is a very slim chance you made it,'" added Minaker. "Kenzie came up to me and said you made it and I was so excited."

Freshman Miah Correll finished 17th for Wolverines in a time of 24:49.9, while sophomore Taylor Sinsabaugh was 25th in a time of 25:37.5, and freshman Isabella Minaker was 33rd in 27:45.9.

BGAH won the team title with 43 points, edging out runner-up Lansing by 3 points. Chenango Forks was third with 61 points, and Waverly was fourth with 73 points.

HOWE PACES WAVERLY BOYS' EFFORTS AT CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIPS
Junior Hayden Howe led Waverly with a 13th-place finish, clocking in with a time of 18:37.2, while senior Nic Pattison was 15th in 19:11.8, and freshman Hayden Montanye was 21st in 19:41.3.

Eighth-grader Colten Santalucia finished 51st for the Wolverines in a time of 22:11.1, sophomore Jayden Washington was 53rd in 22:20.1, and freshman Garret Akins was 72nd in 27:08.3.

Oneonta won the team title with 35 points, and Chenango Valley was second with 62 points. Waverly finished fifth with 150 points.

The New York State Championships are Nov. 16 at Queensbury High School.

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Mackenzie Chamberlain and Harper Minaker (background). IN TOP PHOTO: The start of the Class C race. ... PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES.

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