ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Caroline Timm

School: Our Lady of Lourdes

Grade: 10

Events: 800-meter run, 1,500 run

Vital stats: The sophomore standout qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association State Championships, where she had dominant performances in both the 800 (fifth in Division II, 2:13.57) and the 1,500 (second in Division II, 4:32.23). Among several first-place finishes throughout the spring campaign, the Warrior won the Section 1 Class B Championships and the Northern County Championships in the 800 and 1,500. She took second in both events at the Section 1 state qualifier.

Quotable: “Caroline has had an unbelievable season, and continues to rise to every challenge that is presented to her,” Lourdes coach John Herles said. “From her work ethic to her intelligence to her desire to win, she has everything needed to be great.”

“While the rest of us only recently learned of Caroline’s heart surgery last year, she seems to have pretty much moved on from it. Watching her win the second heat of the 1,500 at states was simply tremendous,” Beacon coach Jim Henry said.

FIRST TEAM

Stephanie Cassens

School: Rhinebeck

Grade: 10

Events: 200-meter dash, 400 dash, 1,600 relay

Vital stats: In the 400, the sophomore won at the Oval Office Invitational, the Mid-Hudson Athletic League Championships, and the Section 9 Class C Championships. She placed eighth in Division II in the event at states in a time of 59.48. She anchored the 1,600 relay team — a quartet also comprised of Maggie Bennett, Daisy Gadsby and Elise Voorhis — to finish sixth at states (4:04.93).

Quotable: “Stephanie (was) returning from an excellent season as a freshman,” Rhinebeck coach Chris Sneed said. “Her transition up to the 400 this year was extremely successful. … Her work ethic is phenomenal and her competitive drive is apparent during every race.”

Jennifer Joseph

School: Dover

Grade: 12

Events: Long jump, 400 dash

Vital stats: The senior set a personal record of 17-feet, 5 ½ inches in the long jump at the Glenn D. Loucks Games and finished 12th in the Division II long jump at the state meet. She also finished second in the 400 at the MHAL Championships, the Section 9 Class B/C Championships (1:00.22) and the Section 9 state qualifier.

Quotable: “This past winter and spring (Joseph) had a lot of injuries, but she got a couple good jumps in and qualified for states,” Dover coach Matt Pool said. “She kept a level head and worked hard all year. Now her hard work will allow her to walk on and compete at SUNY Geneseo this upcoming year.”

Samantha Kaplan

School: New Paltz

Grade: 12

Event: Pole vault

Vital stats: Kaplan earned first-place in the pole vault at the Section 9 Class B/C Championships. The Huguenot qualified for the state meet and finished second in the event in Division II, clearing 10-6.

Quotable: “Samantha is unique,” New Paltz coach Ann Gregory said. “She is a true student of the pole vault and just strives to learn more about it and better herself. She was a state champion last year and took second place this year. We will really miss her dedication, hard work, leadership and enthusiasm.”

Morgane Kuyl

School: New Paltz

Grade: 11

Events: 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles

Vital stats: Kuyl finished eighth in in the 400 hurdles (1:07.30) and 12th in the 100 hurdles (15.99) at the state meet. The Huguenot won the Division II 100 hurdles at the Section 9 state qualifier and clinched first in both events at the Oval Office Invitational.

Quotable: “Morgane definitely has some natural talent,” Gregory said. “She comes to the season late due to (the girls swimming and diving season), and is always playing catch-up, but she works hard to accomplish her goals. … Morgane will be a senior next year and we all expect her times to improve; it will be exciting to see.”

Deanna Newman

School: John Jay

Grade: 12

Events: Javelin

Vital stats: The senior tossed her personal best 117-4 in the javelin for third at the Loucks Games. Among several first-place finishes in the event, Newman won the Northern County Championships and was crowned Section 1 Champion.

Quotable: “She is a complete field event athlete,” John Jay coach Bob Lee said. “She has been called upon at (the league and county championships) to do the max amount of events because we know she can score in them all. (Newman is) heading to Oswego next year where the decathlon may be a part of her future.”

Kaela Santos

School: New Paltz

Grade: 11

Events: Discus, shot put

Vital stats: Santos won the MHAL Championships and the Section 9 state qualifier in the discus, and finished seventh at states in the event (112-01). In the shot put, she earned silver in the MHAL (32-2 1/2), and finished third at the state qualifier.

Quotable: “Kaela began her throwing career with Pat Barberio (former assistant coach) and learned some solid fundamentals,” Gregory said. “She progressed those skills and her confidence levels with Kathy Rogers-Carroll (present assistant coach). She was so excited with her throw at states it was fun to see, and a what a great way to be rewarded for all her efforts.”

Abbey Stowell

School: Haldane

Grade: 10

Event: Pentathlon

Vital stats: The sophomore finished fourth in the Division II pentathlon (2,714) at the state meet. Stowell soared 16-¼ for a personal record in the pentathlon’s long jump at the Northern County Championships, en route to winning the pentathlon at the event.

Quotable: “Abbey had some breakthrough performances this season in the long jump, shot put and 100 hurdles … as well as numerous strong performances at the league and meets and on relays as well,” Haldane coach Alex McConville said.

Sarah Trainor

School: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Grade: 8

Events: 800 run, 3,000 run, 2,000 steeplechase, 3,200 relay

Vital stats: Trainor placed fourth in the 800, second in the 2,000 steeplechase, and first in the 3,000 at the MHAL Championships. The eighth-grader then placed second in the 2,000 steeplechase at the Section 9 Championships, where she also anchored the 3,200 relay squad to a fifth-place finish.

Quotable: “Sarah led our team statistically and was a fearless runner throughout the year,” Roosevelt coach Brian Halling said. “She barely missed qualifying for the state championship as an eighth grader. She’s an extremely dedicated runner and we look forward to seeing what she can do in the future.”

Rhinebeck 1,600 relay

Athletes/Grades: Stephanie Cassens 10, Maggie Bennett 11, Daisy Gadsby 9, Elise Voorhis 8

Vital Stats: The relay placed sixth at the state meet (4:04.93) and won the MHAL championship, the Section 9 Class C championship, and the Division II Section 9 title, where it set a school and MHAL record of 4:01.11.

Quotable: “Our girls 1,600-relay has had a historic season,” Sneed said. “Often racing schools outside of their class and division, they were always eager to compete and always striving to run faster each meet, a feat they often accomplished.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Arlington: Ariane Garrett, Madeline Garrett, Casey Geiger, Samantha Giangrasso, Angela Hidalgo, Meghan LaTuso, Riley Loughlin, Sarah McGowan, Maya Reina, Elisabeth Vanroijen

Beacon: Jummie Akinwunmi, Paige Baisley, Dera Boone, Tiara Boone

Dover: Kristin Butts, Sydney Heidt

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Nadia Cathcart, Mercedes Junior

Haldane: Marina Martin, Adele Westerhuis, Heather Winne

Highland: Danielle McGrath, Danielle Quirk-Hall

John Jay: Alyssa DeMichael, McKenna Farrere, Maureen Froehlich, Janet Geary, Ashley Kwong, Deanna Lomino, Sam Mosca, Julia Newman, Erin Theiller, Rachel Williams, Khiara Young, Natalie Young

Red Hook: Claire Dickson

Rhinebeck: Barr Lavi-Romer

Roy C. Ketcham: Amani Arthur, Danielle Dakin, Shay McFarland, Oreoluwa Odeniyi, Rachel Sickler, Taylor Young

Spackenkill: Melissa Common, Beth Jenkins

Webutuck: Taylor Edmundson