Connetquot's Alex Molter sets Suffolk record in pole vault at track and field county championships
Alex Molter of Connetquot after he set the Suffolk record in the pole vault (16 feet, 1 inch) at the Suffolk Class B track and field championships on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Bohemia. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
Mothers often know what is best for their kids. Connetquot senior Alex Molter knows that better than anybody. After all, he would not be Suffolk’s all-time record holder in the pole vault if it were not for his mother, Diane Molter.
Molter cleared 16 feet, 1 inch in the Suffolk Class B outdoor track and field championships at Connetquot High School in Bohemia on Thursday. The historic vault broke Miller Place alumnus Nick David’s previous county record of 16 feet, set at the 2007 outdoor track and field state championships.
“It feels amazing because I’ve been working at this the whole season,” Molter said. “I feel like I could’ve gotten it a little sooner, but with the weather and everything, I just kept making excuses for myself. Today, I just went into the meet with no excuses, and I went out there and got it.”
Molter never had any intention of pole vaulting. The tall, lanky Slippery Rock University commit is a gifted all-around athlete, as he possesses lots of core strength, a strong grip, solid straight-line speed and a good vertical jump. His abilities stem from his youth, as he used to do year-round "American Ninja Warrior" style training as a little kid, which is a mixture of calisthenics, gymnastics and parkour exercises.
Molter excelled in competitions, and it was during that time when his mother realized that the skills he was developing would make him a natural fit for the pole vault. He started competing as a freshman in 2023 and wound up clearing 11 feet, making him realize that Mom may have had a point.
He worked tirelessly at it ever since.
“I was like, ‘All right, fine, Mom,’ ” Molter said. “I just stuck with it and got to here, which is amazing. I never thought I’d reach 16-1, but now I’m here.”
Molter’s historic performance spotted Connetquot 10 of its 138 points, which tied it with Northport, making both teams co-champions. It was Connetquot's second consecutive outdoor team championship and fourth consecutive county title including indoor seasons.
Northport was led by its depth in distance events. Junior Seamus Taylor won the 1,600 (4:32.82) and the 3,200 (9:41.84), and senior Doug Sorto took both the 800 (1:59.36) and the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:26.46). Sorto then ran the third leg and Taylor anchored their 4 x 800-meter relay, which won in 8:14.12 to secure the team the co-championship — its first county title since spring 2024.
“To be honest, I don’t really care about the individual stuff,” Taylor said after winning the 1,600. “I’m just doing what I can so we can get the team win. It’s all about the team. It’s definitely something special to contribute.”
The only other boys double champion was Copiague senior Nigel Harris, who won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.45 and the 200 in 22.3.
Elycia Wilkerson of Connetquot wins the 100-meter dash at the Suffolk Class B track and field team championships on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Bohemia. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
On the girls’ side, Connetquot eighth grader Elycia Wilkerson won all three sprint events, taking the 100 in 12.39, the 200 in 24.9 and the 400 in 56.04. Her teammate, senior Olivia DiGaetano, won the 1,500 in 4:46.67 and the 3,000 in 10:19.44, helping Connetquot earn the team title with 146 points. East Islip senior Danielle Simonetti was the only other double champion, as she won the 400 hurdles (1:03.87) and 800 (2:17.78).
“It’s just sheer determination and hard work,” Wilkerson said. “That’s what’s driving me right now. I’m just here to run and try to beat my own times. It feels really good.”
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
