Albany High School senior Alex Schettino runs down the pole vault strip at a Big 10 track and field meet at Albany High School Wednesday afternoon. He's aiming to clear 15 feet at some point this season.

"In the eighth grade I was on the modified team and I was here watching and I saw someone vaulting and was like 'I kind of want to do that,'" Schettino told The Record's Ryan Kircher. "Freshman year I came in and jumped and I've loved it ever since."

As a freshman, he cleared 10-feet-6-inches and has been on the rise ever since. He cleared 14-feet-6-inches a week ago and is now gunning for the Albany High school record: 15 feet, 5 and 3/4 inches.

"For the outdoor season the sky is the limit," Schettino said. "As high as I can go, this is my last chance. So I really have to break records."

Ryan Kircher will be bringing you track and field feature stories every Friday in The Record. So for the full story, make sure to pick up a copy Friday or click over to www.troyrecord.com

Alex Schettino takes a breather during a Big 10 track and field meet at Albany High School on Wednesday. He is one of the top pole vaulters in Section II.

Weekend Schedule, April 23-25

Saturday

Cohoes Relays at Cohoes High School, 9 a.m.
Over 30 schools from Section 2 will take part in one of the largest invitational meets in the area. Relays will be contested in everything from 400 meters to discus and shot put. Get a seat by the water pit to watch the day's only individual event-the boys and girls steeplechase.

Maple Hill Invitational at Maple Hill High School, 10 a.m.
The boys and girls teams at Maple Hill sit atop the Patroon Conference. Can they also add a first place finish at their own invitational?

Anthony Luciano Invitational at Hudson Falls, 10 a.m.
The Queensbury girls team will attempt to win back-to-back titles without Brittany and Danielle Winslow. That duo is at the University of Pennsylvania for the Penn Relays.

Penn Relays at University of Pennsylvania, April 22-24
The 116th edition of this prestigious track and field carnival takes place over three days in Philadelphia and a host of Section II athletes will compete.