COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD: TIOGA’S WOOD TO GO THE DISTANCE AT ALFRED STATE (June 2, 2026)

By TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Talon Wood has run and run and run at Tioga — and now he will set his sights on running for Alfred State College. The veteran distance runner signed his National Letter of Intent to compete in cross country and track & field here Tuesday.

The small-town feel (less than 5,000 population) caught his attention.

“It's kind of a small, rural community, and I kind of like just the close little connections that it has there,” he said.

“(On) the cross country team, I would probably be a top-five scorer and be one of the (athletes) offering team points to them,” he said.

The distances will be longer in college cross country where the men typically run an 8-kilometer course.

In track & field, where Wood will be a teammate with Tioga teammate Dominic Palmer, he could run somewhat familiar distances like the 1500, 3,000 and 3,000 steeplechase, and he could also test the waters in races longer than what he has been accustomed to in high school, such as the 5,000 and 10,000.

“Talon was very enjoyable to coach and he worked hard,” said cross country coach Walt Burrowes. “I've got lots of memories with, um, running into poles and blood in the pool, lots of fun stuff, but going to miss Talon's hard work and stories he would tell at practice and his camaraderie with everybody.

“Some of Talon's accomplishments — he was a second team all-star with both the IAC South and IAC overall … and he placed this year, 15th at the Section IV championships. “His times rank right up there with some of the better ones from Tioga.”

Burrowes went on to read some comments Wood made at a team function, where he encouraged others to run and how some of his words pertain to all sports and how it affects your attitude and your work ethic in everyday life.

“Starting off when they were barely able to put their feet in front of each other and head down the runways and jumps and everything that they do, to now being known by all their competitors and the coaches who are on the other teams, but they are known by all,” said coach Eric Gutierrez of Wood and teammates Gavin Albrecht, James Miller and Dominic Palmer, who also signed to continue their track & field careers.

“These four represent some of the best that Tioga has ever had. All of them are on our records list for multiple events in different places, in relays, in individual events, and they have put in the hours and the work that it takes to be top competitors in their respective events, and almost any event that is in track and field if they decide to jump or run in it.

“It has been a privilege, as I said before, because not only are they good athletes, but they have been coachable,” he added. “They have set goals for themselves that they have hit along the way, and it is amazing to see how they've grown, both as people and as athletes as well. I know that they're going to go on to do great things in college, both academically and on the track.”

Athletic director Jim Wood praised all eight of the athletes who signed.

“It's a culmination of their hard work and their dedication, and the culmination of their high school careers,” he said. “It's also the beginning of another phase in their life, which is something that's going to be more meaningful than Tioga, and I don't say that lightly. Those of you that are up here today, congratulations. All that hard work, the extra hours you put in, the time that mom and dad have taken to travel to get you to where you need to be and get you to this point, it's all been worth it.”

“It is not by coincidence that you hear about leadership, extra effort, all the different dedications across time from all of these up here,” said principal Jim Howey. “It is a statistical fact that only seven percent of high school athletes go on to play in college.” Almost double that number, 13 percent of the Tioga Central Class of 2026, have chosen to compete at the collegiate level.

Howey went on to ask those in attendance to applaud the athletes and for the athletes to return the applause to their parents and other supporters for their contributions. He also reminded the athletes they can always count on the people back home for support.

“When it gets tough, don't be afraid to reach home and say, ‘Hey, I need a little bit of loving.’ But stay where you're at. It's going to get tough. Just like it was tough here, you just don't remember those times. Okay? The final thing I want to tell you here is you're excellent.

“You've already excelled. The roof is yours to decide on. I wish you all the best. You're always welcome to come home, and you better stay where you're at and succeed because that's what we expect of you.”

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.

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