BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports Report
ENDICOTT — Cella McLaughlin won both the 100 meters and 100 hurdles at the state qualifiers, along with the 1600 relay on Thursday night at Union-Endicott High School.
McLaughlin won the 100 meters in a Section IV record time of 11.92. Elmira’s Serenity Rollins was second in 12.64, followed by Ana Dailey of Elmira in 12.96.
“It’s amazing,” McLaughlin said. “My senior year, it’s great to keep racking up the section records. I want to leave my mark on Section 4 before I leave.”
The 100 is just something that came along this year for McLaughlin.
“I ran the 100 once before my senior year,” McLaughlin said. “I did it at a dual meet and my coach said we are going to throw you in for a couple more meets and a couple more and he said just try and do it, because after this meet I think I’m seeded third in N.Y. State.”
McLaughlin was dominant in the 100 hurdles, winning in 13.76, nearly a second and a half faster than anyone else in the field among any of the divisions.
State quals has been a special meet for McLaughlin.
“It’s been great, state quals is always the best weather,” McLaughlin said. “It’s been hot. I love seeing all my friends here that I don’t get to compete with during the season.”
Now it’s back to states where McLaughlin hopes to defend her 100 hurdles state title.
“I’m so excited, I can’t wait,” she said. “It’s going to be a really good turnout. We have great competition this year, so I’m really excited.”
Corning made states in the 1600 relay, winning by nearly 10 seconds in 3:57.87 with a team of Chinonyerem Okoro, Brooklyn Gordon, Claire Devlin and Cella McLaughlin.
In the 2000 steeplechase Corning’s Kaitlyn Lee was second in her division in 8:21.07 and Liesel Despain was fourth in 8:39.67.
Kateland Dininny of Corning was second in the 1500 in 5:01.61 and Addie Fenton of Elmira was fourth in 5:11.35.
Selena Rollins of Elmira made states in the 200 meters, winning her division in 27.13. Hannah Lasko was fourth in her division in 26.32.
The Corning Hawks won the 3200 relay to make states in 9:59.59 with a team of Abigail Wagner, Bella Martinec, Gabriella Hurd and Olivia Martinec. The Hawks topped the field by more than 11 seconds.
Elmira made states in the 400 relay, winning their division in 49.74 with a team of Selena Rollins, Dailey, Arrianna Jones and Serenity Rollins. Horseheads was second in 50.87 with a team of Gabrielle Owusu, Mira Barnum, Erica Bancroft and Elly Bachert.
Elmira was third in the 1600 relay in 4:22.33 with a team of Molly Doran, Nadia Zeba, Alexis Storch and Azawyanna Morgan followed by Horseheads in 4:27.66 with a team of Sophie Shutter, Kadence Adams, Avery Howarth and Maggie Tremaine.
Corning’s Claire Devlin won the triple jump in her division at 34-feet, 8 1/2-inches followed by teammate Aubrey Scott at 33-feet, 4 3/4-inches and Amanda McEwen at 32-feet, 8 3/4-inches. Bachert was fourth at 32-feet, 3-inches with Eleanor Green of Notre Dame fifth in her division at 32-feet, 6 3/4-inches. Madison Bancroft of Horseheads was fifth in her division at 31-feet, 5 1/4-inches.
Okoro won the high jump in her division at 5-feet to make states.
Leilani Nick of Elmira made states in the shot put, winning at 32-feet, 4 3/4-inches followed by Corning’s Kailee Davis (32-feet, 4-inches) and Samantha Harvey (29-feet, 9 3/4-inches). Elmira’s Verneece Sumner was fourth at 27-feet, 2 3/4-inches followed by Corning’s Layla Byzitter at 25-feet, 6 1/2-inches.
Clare McLaughlin made states in the pentathlon, winning at 2,435 points, as she edged Elmira’s Naudia Inness by six points.
Inness won the 800 meters for the pentathlon in 2:41.71 followed by McLaughlin in 2:41.80..
Inness won the long jump at 14-feet, 11 1/2-inches followed by McLaughlin at 13-feet, 10 1/4-inches.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM STATE QUALIFIERS ON THURSDAY:
