Watkins Glen, N.Y., June 24--State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) attended the Watkins Glen High School Awards Banquet on Saturday night to pay tribute to sophomore standout Madison Tuttle for her championship in the One-Mile Racewalk at the 2024 Adidas Indoor Nationals Track and Field Championships in March in Virginia Beach.

Tuttle won the event with a remarkable time of 8:09.62, far outpacing the second-place finisher and the other nine competitors in the race. The victory also earned Tuttle her second All-American designation, capping a remarkable comeback from a serious ACL injury she suffered in the spring of 2022.

At Saturday’s banquet, Palmesano presented Tuttle with a Legislative Resolution (J2622/K2291) he and State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) sponsored recognizing her national championship and other racewalking accomplishments. The resolution was approved by the state Senate and Assembly in May.

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “The Watkins Glen School District has a proud history of athletic excellence, competition, and achievement. We appreciate this opportunity to congratulate and pay tribute to Maddie Tuttle as one of the school’s most accomplished and highly decorated champions. It’s an opportunity to recognize and honor her dedication, excellence, hard work, perseverance, and success. She is among the very best of our region’s remarkable student-athletes who help our school communities stand out. Maddie is only a sophomore and already a national champion and an All-American with an incredibly bright and promising future. Her career represents an inspiring story of overcoming injury and emerging as a source of enormous pride and amazing success for the entire Watkins Glen school community, as well as for her family and friends, the community at large, and our entire region.”

The O’Mara-Palmesano resolution reads, in part, “Individual and team championships are highly sought after in high school sports. This Legislative Body commends rare athletic achievements and pays special recognition to those who pursue such excellence and become examples for the youth of this great Empire State. Athletic competition helps to enhance both the moral and physical development of young athletes, preparing them for the future by instilling in them the importance of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy living, and developing a sense of fair play and competition. This Legislative Body is justly proud to recognize Madison Tuttle upon the occasion of capturing the 2024 Adidas Indoor Nationals Track and Field Championship in the 1-mile racewalk.” 

Watkins Glen Superintendent Kai D’Alleva said, “Maddie's performance is a testament to our District's core value of perseverance. Her hard work has truly paid off.” 

Athletic Director Rod Weeden said, “Maddie’s story of overcoming a significant debilitating injury and finding a sport that has given her joy and accomplishment has fueled her confidence to a level that she can now believe there are no barriers to her success in life. This is the kind of confidence we hope our students and children aspire to.”

Racewalk Coach Erin Taylor-Talcott said, “The hard work and dedication that Maddie Tuttle has put in this year has continued her incredible journey in sports. She has continued to show tenacity after her injury by growing and improving, moving her not just into the ranks of the best in the state, but the best in the nation.”