The Sports ReportsIt was a spring to remember for area girls track and field athletes with big-time performances on both sides of the border.
Leading the way was Corning junior Cella McLaughlin, who won a state title in the 100 hurdles with a 13.92. She also took home silver in the long jump with a leap of 19-feet, 8 3/4-inches. Both were school and Section IV records.
McLaughlin posted sprint times of 12.22 (100) and 25.15 (200) this year, earning her The Sports Reports "Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year."
Wellsboro's Piper Hoprich had an improved sophomore year after a strong freshman season. She repeated as District IV 100 and 200-meter dash champion, but also moved up two spots at the PIAA Championships, taking second in the 100, and third in the 200.
Hoprich had personal-bests of 11.98 (100) and 24.55 (200) in the sprints this season, while she also helped her 4-by-100 relay team qualify for states. All of that makes her the "Girls Track Athlete of the Year."
In the throws, few had as good of a season as Towanda’s Brynn Woodruff. She set a new school record on her first javelin throw of the year, and later earned a District IV title in the event.
Woodruff would ultimately take home silver from the PIAA Championships, and finished with a personal best of 140-feet, 5-inches, making her the "Girls Field Athlete of the Year."
In her first varsity season, Waverly’s Gianna Soprano finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at the Section IV State Qualifier, while winning titles at the STAC and Class C Championships in the event.
The Wolverine freshman was also an accomplished pole vaulter, earning her the "Newcomer of the Year" honors.
Despite sporting a thinner roster than usual, Athens coach Michael Bronson was able to pull all the right levers to help the Wildcats to their 10th straight NTL girls’ title.
Athens held off strong charges from Wellsboro and Towanda, earning Bronson the "Coach of the Year" award.
The Corning 4-x-400 relay of Nonye Okoro, Laina Gardiner, Claire Devlin, and McLaughlin ran 4:02.99 — the fastest time in Section IV this season, and earning a state berth. The foursome is the "Relay of the Year."
2025 All-Region Girls Track & Field
FIRST TEAM
Cella McLaughlin, Corning: See above.
Piper Hoprich, Wellsboro: See above.
Brynn Woodruff, Towanda: See above.
Alyssa Parks, Troy: Parks was a sixth-place finisher at the PIAA Championships in the 300 hurdles, and ran a personal-best time of 46.52 at States. She was also a district medalist in the pole vault, and a district qualifier in the high jump.
Gracelyn Laudermilch, NEB: Laudermilch was a three-time state qualifier in 2025, earning a medal in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:00.43 (seventh). She also qualified for States in the 1,600 (5:03.21 PR) and the 800 (2:19.69 PR).
Kendall Kitchen, Canton: Kitchen was a state medalist in the pole vault, vaulting 10-feet, 6-inches to take eighth at the PIAA Championships. She vaulted a personal-best of 11-feet at the District IV Championships.
Lauren Kosek, Wellsboro: Kosek was a state medalist in the 3,200 (10:45.51), taking home bronze, while also earning a state berth in the 1,600 (5:09.04).
Abby Burgess, Athens: Burgess was a state medalist in the 100 (12.12), taking fourth in Class AAA at the PIAA Championships. She also ran 25.18 to qualify for states in the 200.
Lindsey Morse, Candor: Morse took fourth in the 100 hurdles (15.99) at the New York State Track and Field Championships, and had a personal-best of 15.99 this season.
Sophia Cimo, Corning: Cimo was fifth at the New York State Championships in the discus with a throw of 117-feet, 1-inch. She was also a state qualifier in the shot put (34-feet).
Jaelyn Chrysler, Owego: Chrysler was a two-time state qualifier, taking ninth in her heat of the 3,000 at states in 1:06.90, while also making the NYSPHSAA Track & Field Championships in the 1,500 (5:05.97).
Claire Devlin, Corning: Along with being on their state qualifying 4-by-400 relay, Devlin was also a state qualifier in the long jump at 17-feet, 7-inches. She was also strong in the triple jump, topping 35-feet on the season.
Sara Bronson, Athens: Bronson was a state qualifier in the 800 (2:20.01 PR) for Class AAA. She also had strong times in the 1600 (5:08.17) and 3200 (11:20.50).
Alexus Borek, Horseheads: Borek was a state qualifier in the 400 hurdles (1:04.93), while also running 58.74 in the 400 meters.
SECOND TEAM
Stella Palladino, Owego: Palladino was a state qualifier in the 100, and ran 25.57 in the 200 this year. An injury cut her season short.
Vida Rossi, Tioga: Rossi jumped 17-feet, 3-inches in the long jump this season, breaking the school record numerous times. She missed states by 3 1/2-inches in the event after suffering an injury late in the season.
Mylynn Flint, Horseheads: A state qualifier in the 100 (12.71), and was a part of the second-fastest 4-by-100 relay in Section IV this season.
Alexis McRoberts, Canton: McRoberts was a state qualifier in the shot put (36-feet, 10-inches), while setting a new school record in the discus (120-feet, 6-inches).
Olivia Meisner, Williamson: Meisner was a state qualifier in the shot put, and had a personal best of 39-feet, 4-inches on the season.
Madalynn Bailey, Williamson: Bailey was a District 4 medalist in the 800 (2:20.89) and the long jump, just missing states in both. She had a personal-best of 17-feet, 1/2-inch in the long jump.
Gabrielle Palfreyman, Wyalusing: A District IV medalist in the discus and shot put, Palfreyman had a personal-best of 105-feet, 3-inches in the discus, and 34-feet, 5-inches in the shot put.
Izzy Larson, Towanda: Larson was a state qualifier in the 1,600 (5:16.89), while also being a part of their 4x800 relay that missed states by .01 seconds.
McKenna Keough, Notre Dame: Keough was a state qualifier in the 100 hurdles, and had a season-best time of 15.76. She was also strong in the triple jump (34-feet, 11 1/2-inches) and long jump (16-feet, 11 3/4-inches).
Gianna Soprano, Waverly: See above.
Kaylin Twedt, Waverly: Twedt finished third in the 400 at the Section IV State Qualifying meet, while also being part of a 4-by-100 and 4-by-400 relay teams that earned podium spots at the state qualifier.
Hannah Lasko, Edison: Lasko ran 59.79 in the 400 this year, and 26.36 in the 200.
Olivia Martinec, Corning: Martinec ran 10:56.51 in the 3,000, and 5:05.44 in the 1,500.
