Valley Sports ReportENDICOTT - Eighth-grader Vida Rossi earned a bronze medal, sophomore Gavin Albrecht placed fifth in his tune-up before States, and junior Andrew Earley made his second trip to the podium here Thursday on Day 2 at the Section IV Track & Filed State Qualifier.
Rossi placed third in the long jump with a leap of 16-feet, 2 3/4-inches, while sophomore Ava Smolinsky finished 15th with a mark of 14-feet, 3-inches.
"Vida Rossi is quite the athlete," said Tioga coach Eric Gutierrez. "I often forget just how young she is.
"A third-place finish in the long jump is a great accomplishment, but she also made it to state qualifiers in all four of her events," he added. "She has a bright future in track and field."
Rossi finished second among Division 2 competitors — 6 3/4-inches behind Oneonta’s Kristen Johnston, who will represent Section IV at the state meet.
Albrecht placed fifth in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 12-feet, 6-inches, but is headed to States by virtue of hitting the Super Standard (13-feet, -inches) earlier in the season.
"Gavin has a lot of talent in the pole vault, and it helps that he is also a fast sprinter," said Gutierrez. "He has put in a lot of work over the last year — jumping and working drills throughout the winter.
"He is only in 10th grade and yet made the super-standard to go to the state meet — an impressive feat.
"He has great potential, and his best jumps are yet to come," added Gutierrez.
Earley, who placed sixth in the 400-meter hurdles Wednesday, earned a fifth-place medal in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking in at 16.48 seconds.
"Andrew Early is a pleasure to coach," said Gutierrez. "He takes direction well and works hard. It's no wonder that he is a state qualifiers place-winner in multiple events."
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga’s Vida Rossi. … PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRISTINA ROSSI.
