NY STATE BOYS TRACK & FIELD: TIOGA’S ALBRECHT REPEATS AS POLE VAULT CHAMPION (June 14, 2026)

By TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
WEBSTER — Tioga’s Gavin Albrecht successfully defended his pole vault title at the 2026 NYSPHSAA Track & Field Championships at Webster Schroeder High School here Sunday.

Albrecht passed until the bar was set at 13-6 and he cleared it on his first attempt. He would need two attempts to make it at 14 feet and again at 14-6.

He had no problem getting over the bar at 15 feet, but barely missed on three attempts at 15-3.

While he was hoping to go higher, he was not disappointed with his performance.

“I can’t ask for more,” he said. “A two-time state champion and to end my senior year with a state title. I can’t be happier,” he said.

“I wanted that 16-foot bar, but it just wasn’t supposed to happen,” Albrecht said.

Albrecht clinched the Class C title when his next closest competitor dropped out at 14-6. He was also third in the Federation, trailing only the top two vaulters in Class A. Connetquot’s Alex Molter was the lone vaulter to clear 16 feet as he hit 16-3.

“That puts him like highest ranking track athlete I think we've ever had,” said coach Eric Gutierrez.

When he missed his initial vaults at 14-0 and 14-6, Albrecht looked to Gutierrez for advice.

“I was just trusting G,” Albrecht said. “I give him all the credit here, him and Matt Sheffler. They've been awesome to me these years, and just trusting G with every adjustment.”

The pole vault is considered the most difficult individual event to master, but Albrecht has some advice for younger vaulters before he heads off to college as Tioga’s only two-time state champion in track & field.

“Make the connections with the jumpers who are jumping higher,” he said. “They've got experience and they've got a coach that's doing something right. Get advice from them and get into bigger poles and clinics with them.”

Gutierrez expects even more success for Albrecht as he moves on to the collegiate level.

“He'll go on to jump higher heights in college (Ithaca) I'm sure,” he said. “He's a pole vault fanatic, so I only expect to hear higher heights from him. “

In addition to Albrecht’s victory, Tioga received a double-podium effort from sophomore Vida Rossi, who placed third in the 100-meter dash and sixth in the long jump.

“It's been fantastic,” Gutierrez said. “I mean, we've exceeded expectations.”

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.

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