Track & Field: Mattituck freshman places second in high jump
DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP
As the wind whipped all around him, Mattituck freshman Darius Brew stared straight ahead at the high jump bar, focusing before making his final attempt at 6 feet. A pair of pants flew into his path, breaking his concentration for a second as he tossed them to the side.
Brew quickly regained his focus. He sprinted toward the bar, leaped off his right foot and glided over the bar, landing safely on his back.
“I was thinking, ‘this is it,’ ” Brew said as he prepared for the jump.
The 6-foot jump at Thursday’s Division III Championship at Connetquot High School matched a personal best for Brew, who finished second in the competition behind Miller Place junior Jordan Sullivan.
After Sullivan cleared 6 feet on his third attempt, it was up to Brew to match him and have the competition continue. Sullivan ultimately cleared twice more to win the competition at 6-2.
Brew, who competed at the state qualifier last year as an eighth-grader, has his sights set on making it to states this year in Division II. His biggest competition will be Jack Flood of Bayport-Blue Point. Flood cleared 5-10 Thursday.
While Brew was disappointed in a second-place finish, his coach, Peter Hansen, encouraged him by telling him it’s best to peak next week when the stakes are higher.
Getting to states would be a huge accomplishment for the freshman.
“I really want to go to states,” Brew said. “Last year I lost by one place, so this year I’m coming back for redemption.”
Brew started off Thursday at 5-8. A stiff wind made for some difficult jumping conditions.
“It made it a little tough,” Brew said. “Everyone was missing and I thought maybe the same thing would happen to me.”
On the first day of the competition Tuesday, Brew jumped 41-2 1/2 in the triple for sixth place. Brew accounted for all of Mattituck’s nine points in the championship.
