Esme Kovalik, age six, delights in her second win in two years. Photo by Bill Krause
Exhilaration and accomplishment were preeminent at the Youth Trophy Cup Runs, held September 20th. The event, completing its 29th running, comprises eight separate cross-country races. It is an HF-L Community Programs event exclusively for HF-L school district children, ages five to twelve. Five and six-year-old participants run a course .264 miles in length, just over a quarter mile. Seven and eight-year-olds run .520 miles, while ages nine and up compete over a distance of .859 miles.
Notable, were exceptional performances and improvements of times run the previous year. Starting things off with the five-year olds, Corey Hillmon was victorious by a big margin, winning in a time of 2:08. For six-year-olds, Esme Kovalik notched a win for the second year in a row bettering her time from last year by one second finishing in 1:50. For seven-year-olds, Case Day was at the top of the podium with a 3:48 winning time, just three seconds ahead of Colton Day.
A sizzling finish, resulting in a tie, highlighted the eight-year-old run. Silas Auyer and Declan Byler dueled one another to the very end, as they did last year. For Silas, the time of 3:13.8 was a nine second improvement on last year and, for Declan, a thirteen second improvement. They pushed one another to within six seconds of the course record which was set in 2018 by Reed Woodruff.
Sloan Myers was victorious in the race for nine and ten-year-old girls in 6:42. Chase Byler won the boys age nine and ten race in 5:39. In the final two races, for eleven and twelve-year-olds, Hattie Auyer was the girl’s victor in 5:52 while Samson Schaefer took the boys run in 5:19.
Enthusiasm from all HF-L schools is prized each year. In attendance, enjoying and cheering the participants, were Manor School Principal Joey Weaver and Community Programs head, Kim Roberts. Nolan Hoh, HF-L cross country coach, and many of his team-members were, again, essential to conducting the event smoothly.
Six year-old finishers, left to right, are Rowan Griffin, Theodore Hallahan, Sabastian Ladd, Noelle Herman, Esme Kovalik, Ellis Barnhart, Ian VanValkenburg, Caleb Pruner and Renly Dietz. Photo by Bill Krause
The event is fortunate to enjoy the long-time sponsorship of Honeoye Falls Marketplace, Jessica Chevrolet and Salvatore’s Pizzeria. Net proceeds go to the Manor School to help purchase needed equipment for physical education.
See the full list of participants and results that follow.
Youth Trophy Cup Run Results
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026
5-Year-Old Boys and Girls Race (.264 mile distance): 1) Corey Hillmon 2:08, 2) Ryan Hunt 2:16.3, 3) James Walters 2:16.9, 4) Peter Harmon 2:18, 5) Ella Gorton 2:20, 6) Hailey Herman 2:21.
6-Year-old Boys and Girls Race (.264 mile distance): 1) Esme Kovalik 1:50, 2) Ian VanValkenburg 1:51, 3) Sabastian Ladd 1:52, 4) Caleb Pruner 1:53, 5) Rowan Griffin 1:55. Other finishers: Noelle Herman, Ellis Barnhart, Theodore Hallahan, Renly Dietz
7-Year-Old Boys and Girls Race (.521 mile distance): 1) Case Day 3:48, 2) Colton Day 3:51, 3) Wyatt Schallek 3:52, 4) Autumn Case 3:58, 5) Joshua Hillmon 4:17. Other finishers: Atticus Tansey, Graham Harrington, Samson Calabresi, Veda VanValkenburg, Aurora Mari, Thomas Harmon, June Van Etten, Emmalyn Parmelee
8-Year-Old Boys and Girls Race (.521 mile distance): 1) Silas Auyer and Declan Byler tied in 3:13.8, 2) Jax Parsons 3:23, 3) Harrison Rahmlow 3:33, 4) Brendan Farrell 3:43, 5) Charlotte Fillinger 3:48. Other Finishers: Lucy Woolaver, Evie Kovalik, Logan Babchuk, Louis Burgoyne
9 and 10 Year Old Girls Race (.859 mile distance): 1) Sloan Myers 6:42, 2) Kara Harrington 7:07, 3) Emma Walters 7:24, 4) Addalynn Schallek 7:30.
9 and 10 Year Old Boys Race (.859 mile distance): 1) Chase Byler 5:39, 2) Joshua Richenberg 6:20, 3) Theodore Schallek 6:29, 4) Ebon Griffin 6:38, 5) Dennis Barnhart 6:40.
11 and 12 Year Old Girls Race (.859 mile distance): 1) Hattie Auyer 5:42
11 and 12 Year Old Boys Race (.859 mile distance): 1) Samson Schaefer 5:19, 2) Thomas Harrington 5:30, 3) Dominik Lada 5:44, 4) Michael Fillinger 6:19, 5) Jack Day 8:27
