Cross Country: Mattituck girls punch ticket to states

The Division IV champions are now Class C county champions once again.

The Mattituck girls cross country team edged out McGann-Mercy Friday afternoon at Sunken Meadow State Park to win the county title. 

Sophomore Melanie Pfennig finished second in the race behind Center Moriches senior Ryleigh Donegan. Pfennig, who’s been the top Mattituck runner all season, ran 20:31.41. Senior Kaylee Bergen was third in 20:46.45. Junior Audrey Hoeg was seventh in 21:56.51.

It was the third straight year Mattituck qualified for the states as a team. Bergen and Hoeg are both going to the states for the fourth time. They qualified as individuals three years ago when the team finished second.

Mattituck tallied 40 points in Friday’s race, ahead of Mercy with 56 and Center Moriches with 57. Port Jefferson, Southampton and Hampton Bays were the next three teams. Three Mercy girls qualified for states, led by Meg Tuthill, who qualified for the third straight year.

Mattituck freshman Megan Dinizo was 12th in 22:53.28, followed by junior Mia Vasile-Cozzo in 23:42.7.

For the boys, Southold emerged as the Class D champions over Shelter Island.

Southold sophomore Owen Klipstein won the race in 18:21.23. Teammate Jonathan Rempe, a senior, was second in 18:27.92 and Jeremy Rempe was fifth in 19:25.23.

Rounding out the winning team effort were Gus Rymer (19:51.42) and Christopher Buono (20:32.48).