2026 Section IV Class C Boys XC: Datta Runs Fastest Time, Chenango Valley Repeats

Chenango Valley Repeats With 49 Points

Chenango Valley won the 2025 Class C boys title with 49 points. The team returned in 2026 and matched that total. BGAH was second with a calculated 77, a 28-point difference.

Datta delivered the low number at the front. Henyan and Battisti finished only 1.5 seconds apart, placing two more Chenango Valley runners near each other in the middle of the leading field. Parent contributed a 18:29.9 and David completed the scoring group at 19:28.5. Those later finishers made the individual victory part of a complete team result.

Datta and Skuban: Two of Section IV's Fastest Runners

Skuban was the only Class C runner within 20 seconds of Datta. He ran 16:22.1, second not only in Class C but also in the combined boys results. Degan took third in 16:37.1. Waverly's Chase Hine followed in 17:34.3.

The next two leading eligible finishers, Sidney's Owen Mott at 17:39.9 and Lansing's Samuel Sternberg at 17:40.7, were only 0.8 seconds apart. Both were positioned in the individual state-qualifying group, making their near tie particularly interesting.

One of the strongest stories is Datta's position in the full meet: his winning time was 18.1 seconds ahead of the next-fastest boy from any class, and 31.6 seconds faster than Class B champion Tyler Hayes.

2025 to 2026: Significant Improvements From Returning Runners

Datta's time improvement was the largest among this highlighted group. As a junior in 2025 he was fifth in Class C at 17:42.4. As a senior in 2026, he moved to the title in 16:04.0. The comparison captures both a huge time reduction and a change in finishing position.

Henyan and Battisti Strengthen the Team Behind Datta

Henyan cut 1:24.3 from his 2025 championship time, while Battisti improved by 57.4 seconds. Both contributed to Chenango Valley's 49-point team score. A championship team rarely rests on a single finisher, and these changes helped preserve the school's position atop Class C.

Since STAC: Datta Keeps the Advantage

On October 24 at Fortin Park, Datta ran 15:45.2 and Skuban 16:08.4, a 23.2-second difference. At sectionals the advantage narrowed to 18.1 seconds, but Datta remained in front.

Datta's performance is consistent across these two championship dates. The courses differ, so the changes in clock time do not establish improvement or decline from one race to another. The order and competitive margins, however, show the two athletes racing at the highest level of the division.

Chenango Valley's Austin Henyan ran 17:18.8 at STAC and Anthony Battisti ran 18:06.5. Both were important to the sectional team effort twelve days later.

The Five Individual State-Qualifying Positions

Chenango Valley advances as the winning team. Removing its runners from the Class C race leaves the calculated five individual berths:

Mott and Sternberg finished a fraction of a second apart and both made the calculated state field. Skuban returns to states after another runner-up Class C championship finish, but this year he does so with a time 30.2 seconds faster than in 2025.

The Story Ahead to Queensbury

Datta has the fastest boys time of the Section IV meet, and Chenango Valley has a second straight Class C championship at the same 49-point score. Skuban, Degan and Hine remain serious individual competitors. Mott and Sternberg, separated by only 0.8 seconds, bring an even tighter head-to-head story. Taken together, those results set up a compelling next chapter at the November 14 state championships.