By TIM TAYLORValley Sports Report
WEBSTER — Tioga’s Vida Rossi reached the podium in her debut at the 2026 NYSPHSAA Track & Field Championships at Webster Schroeder High School here Saturday, then doubled up on Sunday with a third-place finish in the Class C girls 100-meter dash.
The sophomore posted a time of 12.39 seconds on Saturday to qualify for the finals. On Sunday, she clocked 12.34 seconds in the finals to grab the bronze.
Rossi was pleased with her performance.
“I felt really good about it,” she said. “It was a good time.
Grabbing the bronze medal wasn’t really a surprise to Rossi.
“I was seeded fourth, so I was just hoping for a good run,” she said.
And a good run it was. She posted a time of 12.34 seconds, just three-hundredths of a second off her seed time.
Rossi credited her start for helping her get to the podium.
“I think my blocks were really good, so I got out fast — and then I just ran.”
There was no drama in the 100 like there was in the long jump. In that event, a distance measuring error left her one spot short of the finals with a leap of 18 feet. It was later discovered that her best jump was 18-8 ¾, good for sixth place.
“She's had a fantastic year,” said coach Eric Gutierrez. ”Last year, she had hip flexor issues that really helped to keep her back, but this year she's been a lot more focused, another year under her belt.
“I've seen her a little more serious at times. She's reaching better distances and faster speeds. She's not one who will do nothing in the other seasons. She has other sports and she works hard all the time.”
In addition to Rossi’s pair of podium finishes, teammate Gavin Albrecht repeated as the pole vault champion.
“It's been fantastic,” Gutierrez said. “I mean, we've exceeded expectations.”
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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
