(UPDATED) NTL GIRLS TRACK & FIELD: PERNASELLI PACES ATHENS IN WINS OVER SAYRE, TOWANDA; SHIKANGA TRIPLE-WINNER FOR REDSKINS (24 PHOTOS) (2024-03-26)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens had several multiple-winners, led by senior Emma Pernaselli, and scored wins over Sayre and Towanda here Tuesday afternoon, while Sayre junior Rose Shikanga was a triple-winner in NTL girls track & field action here at Alumni Stadium.

Pernaselli won three individual events for the Wildcats, while junior Sara Bronson, sophomore Abby Burgess, and senior Mya Thompson each won two individual events.

"Overall, we had a great first meet,” said Athens coach Mike Bronson. “The  kids really exceeded our expectations tonight.  They have been working really hard for the last three weeks and the results showed that.

“Sara Bronson, Abby Burgess, and Emma Pernaselli all had really good meets.

 “A lot of our new kids had really strong performances for their first meet and will continue to improve as the season goes on,” he noted.  “I think our entire coaching staff is really happy with where we are at this point in the season. 

“We'll just keep focusing on working hard and improving from one week to the next,” added Bronson.

Athens amassed 93 points in the tri-meet, while Towanda had 34 points, and Sayre had 22.

Pernaselli led a sweep in the discus with a toss of 99-feet, while junior Hannah Earls was second at 78-feet, 5-inches, sophomore Emma Cole was third at 70-feet, 11-inches, and senior Rachel Jelliff was fourth at 70-feet, 6-inches.

Pernaselli also won the javelin with a throw of 88-feet, 1-inch, and Earls was third at 67-feet, 5-inches.

Pernaselli won the shot put with a heave of 31-feet, 1/2-inch.

Burgess led a sweep of the top three spots the 100-meter dash in a time of 12.86 seconds, while senior Abbie Panek was second in 14.26 seconds, and junior Gretchen Schmieg was third in 14.43 seconds.

Burgess also won the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.81 seconds, while Shikanga was second in 29.1 seconds, and Panek was third in 29.81 seconds.

Bronson won the 800-meter run in a time of 2:33.19, while senior Thea Bentley was second in 2:40.16, and freshman Brielle Mayo was fourth in 2:58.96.

Bronson also won the 1,600-meter run in a time of 5:22.81, and Mayo was third in 6:31.92.

Shikanga won the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 16.66 seconds, while Athens senior Emily Henderson was second in 17.63 seconds, and Athens sophomore Lizzie Gorsline was third in 18.45 seconds.

Shikanga also won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 50.87 seconds, while Gorsline was second in 52.95 seconds, Athens junior Addy Wheeler was third in 56.27 seconds, and Henderson was fourth in 56.94 seconds.

Shikanga won the high jump, by virtue of fewer misses, at 4-feet, 2-inches, and Athens sophomore Elizabeth Denlinger was third at 4-feet, 2-inches.

Athens senior Mya Thompson led a sweep of the top three spots in the long jump with a leap of 14-feet, 11 1/2-inches, while Panek was second at 14-feet, and freshman Kaitlyn Leonard was third at 12-feet, 8-inches.

Thompson also won the triple jump with a hop, skip, and jump of 31-feet, 8-inches, and Sayre senior Lizzy Shaw was third at 25-feet, 8-inches. Thompson placed second in the 400-meter dash in a time of 1:08.86, and  Shaw was fourth in 1:17.58.

The Athens foursome of Burgess, Henderson, junior Emma Renninger, and Schmieg won the 400-meter relay in a time of 55.11 seconds.

Burgess and Bronson teamed with Bentley and Gorsline to win the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 5:58.8.


Hughes placed second in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 12:34.59.

Sayre sophomore Aubri Husted placed second in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 6-feet, 6-inches.

Athens returns to action Thursday at the Chenango Relays at Chenango Forks High School, while Sayre is at Wellsboro Tuesday.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Abby Burgess and Sayre senior Lizzy Shaw. … PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.