Rochester, NY: Below is the 2015 Semifinalist Watch List for the Cynthia J. Waytt Award (High School Female Athlete of the Year).
The members of 11 person watch list come from eight high schools. The nine athletes on the Also Considered list come from nine schools. Between the two lists, thirteen high schools are represented.
Rush Henrietta Sperry has three athletes on the watch list. Sweet Home has two athletes on the watch list and one on the also considdered list. Corning, Frontier, and Vestal each have one athlete on the watch list and one athlete on the also considered list.
This version of the watch list reflects the performances up through 21 June 2015 and takes into account the results of the New Balance Outdoor Nationals that were held 19-21 June 2015 at North Carolina A+T University Greensboro NC.
The finalists for this award will be determined from this watch list.
Nominations are accepted from any interested individual or group. Use our nomination form to submit any nomination(s). The nomination form is linked below.
The list of finalists for each of the annual awards will be announced in mid-July.
The finalists (top 3) will be selected from these lists of semifinalists by a panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians. The finalists for all eight awards will be guests at our Annual Awards Banquet.
The winner of all eight of Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame annual awards are selected by the same panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians. In addition, an online fan vote is held. The results of the fan vote, which is equal to the vote of one member of the panel, is added to the overall totals for each award.
The 2015 Annual Awards winners will be announced at the 2015 Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Awards Banquet to be held at the Radisson – Rochester Airport in Rochester, NY, located near the RIT campus, on Saturday, September 12, 2015.
Nomination Form
Download and save the nomination form to your computer. This is a PDF file.
The form can be competed using Adobe Reader. Type the requested information into the form and save the file to your computer. Then, e-mail the form to
Semifinalist Watch List
Name
Grade
School
Section
Event
McKyla Brooks
12
Frontier HS
6
Jumps
Sadira Brown
12
Sweet Home HS
6
Jumps
Alexis Daniels
11
Binghamton HS
4
Throws
Jessica Lawson
10
Corning HS
4
Distance
Tiana Luton
10
Sweet Home HS
6
Multi-events
Emily Mackay
11
Union Endicott HS
4
Distance
Kari Stromhaug
12
Vestal HS
4
Pole Vault
Lanae-tava Thomas
9
Rush Henrietta Sperry HS
5
Sprints
Ceara Watson
11
Rush Henrietta Sperry HS
5
Sprints
Samantha Watson
10
Rush Henrietta Sperry HS
5
Sprints
Abbey Wheeler
11
Elmira HS
4
Distance
Season Summary
McKyla Brooks, Frontier HS
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #9 in the long jump (19-6.25)
Ranked US#27 in the triple jump (38-9.25)
Ranked NYS #1 in the long jump (19-6.25)
Ranked NYS #5 in the triple jump (38-9.25)
Finished 14th in the New Balance Indoor Nationals long jump (18-2.5)
Finished 20th in the New Balance Indoor Nationals triple jump (37-6.5)
Finished 2nd in the NYS Champs long jump (19-0.5)
Finished 7th in the NYS Champs triple jump (37-8.5)
Section VI Champion in the Long Jump (19-6.25)
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #30 in the triple jump (39-8)
Ranked NYS #24 in the 100m dash (12.29)
Ranked NYS #11 in the long jump (18-6.25)
NYS #4 in the triple jump (39-8)
NYS Champion in the Long Jump (18-2.75)
Finished 2nd at the NYS Champs in the Division 1 long jump (17-19.5)
Finished 7th at the NYS Champs in the Division 1 triple jump (37-0.25)
Section VI Champion in the Long Jump (18-6.25)
ECIC Champion the 100m dash (12.62)
ECIC Champion the Long Jump (17-7)
Second on the WKBW-TV Super Seven Athletes of the Week for May 1, 2015
Set Section 6 outdoor record in the triple jump (39-8)
Sadira Brown, Sweet Home HS
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #22 in the triple jump (38-11.75)
Ranked NYS #4 in the triple jump (38-11.75)
Finished 17th in the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the triple jump (37-9.5)
Finished 2nd at the NY State Champs in the triple jump (38-11.75)
Section VI Champion in the Triple Jump (38-4.5)
Set one school indoor record
triple jump (38-11.75)
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #34 in the triple jump (39-6)
Ranked NYS #5 in the triple jump (39-6)
Finished 6th in the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the triple jump (39-5)
Earned All-American Status
Finished 2nd at the NY State Champs in the triple jump (28-2.25)
Finished 2nd at the NY State Champs in the Division 1 triple jump (39-6)
Section VI Champion in the Triple Jump (38-6.5)
ECIC Champion in the Triple Jump (37-9.5)
Set meet record at the Royal Comet Invitational in the Triple Jump (36-11.75)
Previous record: Kate Kohout, (Clarence HS) 36-05.25 (2002)
Set twp school outdoor records
triple jump (39-6)
4x100m relay
Alexis Daniels, Binghamton HS
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #6 in the shot put (48-8.25)
Ranked US #42 in the weight throw (47-3.75)
Ranked NYS #1 in the shot put (48-8.25)
Ranked NYS #10 in the weight throw (47-3.75)
Finished 2nd at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the shot put (48-8.25)
This performance set the Section IV Record and the NYS Junior Class Record
Finished 20th at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the weight throw (47-3.75)
This performance set the Section IV Record
NY HS State Champion in the shot put (45-6.5)
Finished 12th at the NYS Championships in the weight throw (41-2.25)
Section IV champion in the Shot Put (45-7.5)
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #37 in the shot put (46-2.75)
Ranked US #36 in the discus throw (149-9)
Ranked NYS #2 in the shot put (46-2.75)
Ranked NYS #2 in the discus throw (149-9)
Finished 7th at the NYS Championships in the shot put (38-5.75)
Finished 2nd at the NYS Championships in the Division 1 shot put (43-11.5)
Section IV Class A Champion in the Shot Put (40-8)
Section IV Class A Champion in the Discus Throw (149-9)
Set Section IV Records in
Shot Put (46-2.75)
Discus Throw (149-9)
Jessica Lawson, Corning HS
CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
Finished 26th in the Nike Cross Nationals
First finisher from New York State
Finished 2nd in the Nike Cross New York Regionals
Finished 2nd in the New York Federation Championships
Finished 2nd in the New York State Class A Championships
Won the Reebok Manhattan Invitational (fastest time of the day)
Won the McQuaid Invitational
Set the course record. The old course record had stood since 1985
Finished 2nd in the Section 10 Pre-State meet invitational
Named NY Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) 2014 All-State Team
Named NY Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) Sophomore of the Year
Named NY Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) Class A first team
Named All Conference for the Southern Tier Athletic Conference (STAC)
Named All-Leader Cross Country Runner of the Year 2014 by the Corning Leader Newspaper
Future Stars of XC by Hoka One One - Sophomore Girls 1st Team on 09/25/2014
Future Stars of XC by Hoka One One - Sophomore Girls 1st Team on 10/23/2014
Future Stars of XC by Hoka One One - Girls 1st Team 11/28/2014
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US#18 in the 3000m run (10:03.10)
Ranked US#2 in the 4x1 mile Relay (20:40.23)
Ranked NYS #4 in the 3000m run (10:03.10)
Ranked NYS #1 in the 4x1 mile Relay (20:40.23)
Anchored the 2nd place 4x1 mile relay team at the New Balance Indoor Nationals
Relay split was 5:03.03
Finished 3rd at the New York State Champs in the 3,000 meter run
Won the USATF Northeast Zone 1500m run
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US#7 in the 4x1 mile Relay (20:32.39)
Ranked NYS#1 in the 4x1 mile Relay (20:32.39)
Led off the 4th place 4x1 mile relay team at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals
Relay split was 5:01.88
This is her only race of the outdoor season
Injured during most the indoor and all of the outdoor season.
Tiana Luton, Sweet Home HS
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked NYS #11 in the high jump (5-4.5)
Ranked NYS #14 in the long jump (18-0)
Finished 2nd at the New Balance Indoor Nationals emerging elite high jump (5-4.5)
Finished 13th at the New Balance Indoor Nationals emerging elite long jump (17-6.75)
Section VI Champion in the 55mH (8.64)
Indoor state qualifier in the hurdles/long jump/4x400
Set two school records
4x200m Relay
4x400m Relay
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #4 in the pentathlon (3479 points)
Ranked NYS #2 in the pentathlon (3479 points)
Ranked NYS #8 in the high jump (5-5.25)
Ranked NYS #13 in the 100H (14.76)
Ranked NYS #31 in the long jump (17-9)
Ranked #6 All-time NYS history in the Pentathlon
Finished 2nd at the NYS Champs in the pentathlon (3401 points)
Finished 2nd in the NYS Champs Division 1 pentathlon (3401 points)
Section VI Champion in the Pentathlon (3479 points)
ECIC Champion in the 400m Hurdles (1:04.55)
ECIC Champion in the High Jump (5-5)
Named the WKBW-TV Super Seven Athlete of the Week for May 23, 2015
Second on the WKBW-TV Super Seven Athletes of the Week for May 15, 2015
Set three school records
4x100m Relay
4x400m Relay
pentathlon
Emily Mackay, Union Endicott HS
CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
Finished 71st at the Nike Cross Nationals
Finished 7th at the Nike Cross Nationals New York Regional
Finished 12th at the New York Federation Championships
Finished 2nd at the New York State Class B Championships
Section IV Class B Champion
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #41 in the 1500m run (4:46.45)
Ranked NYS #17 in the 1500m run (4:46.45)
Finished 8th at the New Balance Indoor Nationals emerging elite one mile run (5:07.74)
Finished 15th at the NYS Champs in the 1500m run (4:53.38)
Section IV Class A Champion in the 1,500m run (4:53.43)
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #8 in the 1500m run (4:25.32)
Ranked NYS #2 in the 1500m run (4:25.32)
Finished 2nd at the NYS Champs in the 1500m run (4:25.32)
Finished 2nd at the NYS Champs in the Division I 1500m run (4:25.32)
This performance set the Section IV record
Section IV Champion in the 1,500m run (4:34.12)
Section IV Champion in the 3,000m run (10:33.22)
Section IV Class A Champion in the 1,500m run (4:41.85)
Section IV Class A Champion in the 3,000m run (10:18.20)
STAC Champion in the 1,500m run (4:30.87 PB)
STAC Champion in the 3,000m run (10:20.47)
Kari Stromhaug, Vestal HS
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #47 in the pole vault (12-3)
Ranked NYS #1 in the pole vault (12-3)
Ranked NYS #12 in the high jump (5-4)
Finished 19th at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the pole vault (12-0.75)
NYS Champion in the Pole Vault (12-0)
Section IV Champion in the Pole Vault (11-6)
Section IV Champion in the High Jump (5-2)
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked NYS #4 in the pole vault (11-9)
Finished 32nd at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the pole vault (11-5)
Finished 4th at the New York State Champs in the pole vault (11-9)
Finished 4th at the New York State Championships I the Division 1 pole vault (11-9)
Section IV Class A Champion in the Pole Vault (11-6)
STAC Champion in the Pole Vault (11-0)
Lanae-tava Thomas, Rush Henrietta Sperry HS
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #18 in the 55m dash (7.04)
Ranked US #22 in the long jump (18-11.5)
Ranked US #35 in the 4x200m Relay (1:42.87)
Ranked US #28 in the 4x400m Relay (3:57.83)
Ranked US #1 in the Sprint Medley Relay (3:52.68)
Ranked NYS #4 in the 55 meter dash (7.04)
Ranked NYS #3 in the long jump (18-11.5)
Ranked NYS #7 in the 4x200m Relay (1:42.87)
Ranked NYS #9 in the 4x400m Relay (3:57.83)
Ranked NYS #1 in the Sprint Medley Relay (3:52.68)
Member New Balance Indoor Champions in the Sprint Medley Relay. Ran the first leg (200m).
Set national HS record for the event (3:52.68)
previous record: 3:53.17, Long Beach Poly, CA, 2001
Finished 20th at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the 60 meter dash (7.64)
NYS Champion in the 55 meter dash (7.08)
Finished 13th at the New York State Champs in the long jump (17-0)
Runner-up at the NYS Champs in the 4x200m relay (1:43.44)
Section V Champion in the 55m dash(7.05)
Section V Champion in the long Jump (18-7)
Section V Champion in the 4x200 m relay (1:42.87)
Runner-up at the Millrose Games in the 55m dash (7.05)
Set Section V records in the
4x200m Relay Three times
Sprint Medley Relay Three times
Set National Record in the Sprint Medley Relay
Set meet records:
4x200m relay (1:43.99) – Dartmouth Relays
Sprint medley relay (4:04.72) – Dartmouth Relays
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #1 in the Sprint Medley Relay (3:47.65)
Ranked US #11 in the 4x400m Relay (3:43.94)
Ranked NYS #1 in the Sprint Medley Relay (3:47.65)
Ranked NYS #1 in the 4x400m Relay (3:43.94)
Ranked NYS #3 in the 4x100m Relay (47.55)
Ranked NYS #10 in the long jump (18-6.5)
Ranked NYS #6 in the 100m dash (11.97)
Ranked NYS #7 in the 200m dash (24.43)
Member New Balance Outdoor Champions in the Sprint Medley Relay. Ran the first leg (200m).
Named All Greater Rochester Outdoor Female Athlete of the Year.
Samantha Watson was named the Gatorade NYS Girl Athlete of the Year
Abbey Wheeler, Elmira HS
CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
Finished 36th at the Nike Cross Nationals
Finished 3rd at the Nike Cross Nationals NY Regional
Finished 3rd at the NY Federation Champs
Finished 6th at the NY State Class A Champs
Runner-up at the Section IV Class A Champs
Runner-up at the STAC Champs
Runner-up at the McQuaid Invitational
INDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #19 in the 1500m run (4:39.49)
Ranked US #16 in the 3,000m run (10:02.50)
Ranked US #10 in the 2 mile run (10:37.57)
Ranked US #4 in the 4x1 mile Relay (20:58.85)
Ranked NYS #5 1500m run (4:39.49)
Ranked NYS #3 ,000m run (10:02.50)
Ranked NYS #10 2 mile run (10:37.57)
Ranked NYS #2 in the 4x1 mile Relay (20:58.85)
Finished 9th at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the two mile run (10:37.57)
Member of the 4th place 4x1 mile relay team (20:58.85) at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. Ran the second leg.
Runner-up at the NYS Championships in the 1,500m run (4:39.49)
Section VI Champion in the 1,500m run (4:43.14)
Runner-up at the Section VI Champs in the 3,000m run (10:06.08)
Section IV Class A Champion in the 1,000m run (3:01.67)
OUTDOOR SEASON
Ranked US #23 in the 1500m run (4:33.65)
Ranked US #7 in the 3,000m run (9:45.57)
Ranked US #10 in the 2 mile run (10;38.49)
Ranked US #24 in the 4x800m relay (9:08.06)
Ranked US #13 the 4x1 mile relay (20:53.75)
Ranked NYS #19 in the 800m run (2:14.90)
Ranked NYS #8 in the 1500m run (4:33.65)
Ranked NYS #3 in the 3,000m run (9:45.57)
Ranked NYS #2 in the 2 mile run (10:38.49)
Ranked NYS #6 in the 4x800m relay (9:08.06)
Ranked NYS #3 in the 4x1 mile relay (20:53.75)
Finished 9th at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the two mile run (10:38.49)
Member of the 10th place 4x1 mile relay team (20:53.75) at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Ran the second leg.
Runner-up at the NYS Champs in the Championship 3,000m run (9:45.66)
Runner-up at the NYS Champs in the Division 1 3,000m run (9:45.66)
STAC Champion in the 1,500m run (4:33.65)
Others Considered
Name
Grade
School
Section
Event
Oreoluwa Akinpelu
12
Liverpool HS
3
Hurdles
Lynda Brundidge
11
Hutchinson Central Technical HS
6
Sprints
Emily Gallagher
10
Lansing HS
4
Pole Vault
Alexa Hillis
12
Orchard Park HS
6
Throws
Tia Jones
8
Vestal HS
4
Sprints
Sam Peterman
10
Sweet Home HS
6
Mid—Distance
Rebecca Stiefler
12
Frontier HS
6
Throws
Lauren Trumble
12
Ithaca HS
4
Mid-distance
Madeline Ustanik
12
Corning HS
4
Mid-Distance
About the Cynthia J. Wyatt Award
The Cynthia J. Wyatt Award, which debuted in 2012, is presented annually by the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame to the outstanding Female High School Athlete of the Year in the Niagara Association.
Cynthia J. Wyatt, a member of the Hall of Fame's Class of 1998, our inaugural class, was a pioneer in the sport. A two-time National Indoor Champion in the Shot put, Wyatt competed in shot put at the 1963 Pan American Games and was on six United States teams which competed against the Soviet Union teams in the 1960's. Wyatt, who is a graduate of Williamsville High School, Williamsville, NY, is one of the first women to get a college scholarship to compete in Track and Field (University of Hawaii).
For more information on The Cynthia J. Wyatt Award, the trophy, and Cynthia Wyatt herself, visit NiagaraTrackHoF.org.
About the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards
The Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards program was developed to bring some well deserved recognition
to the outstanding high school and college athletes and teams, and the top high school coach from the Niagara Association. These awards are presented at our annual awards banquet which is held on the Saturday after Labor Day.
The finalists (top 3) are selected from the lists of semifinalists by a panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians. The finalists for all eight awards will be guests at our Annual Awards Banquet.
The winner of all eight of Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame annual awards are selected by the same panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians. In addition, an online fan vote is held. The results of the fan vote, which is equal to the vote of one member of the panel, is added to the overall totals for each award.
About the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame
Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame and Virtual Museum is provisionally chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The purpose of the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame and Virtual Museum is to recognize those individuals who made significant and outstanding contributions to the Sport of Athletics (including Track & Field, Long Distance Running, Race Walking, and Cross Country Running) while living within the geographic boundaries (New York State West of and including the counties of Oswego, Onondaga, Cortland, and Broome) of the Niagara Association as athletes (including Masters), coaches, and/or administrators (including Competition Officials).
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