Track and Field: Mattituck makes its first entrance into county meet

It’s been a season of firsts for Mattituck.

On Sunday, the Tuckers’ winter track and field teams made history by competing for the first time at the small school county championships. For a first-year program, both teams were well represented.

In the girls meet at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood, Mattituck junior Melanie Pfennig placed fifth in the 3,000-meter race in 10 minutes 58.81 seconds. It was one of two events for Pfennig, who also placed seventh in the 1,500 (5:11.43).

Sophomore Sam Husak competed in the high jump and cleared 4 feet 6 inches to finish in a tie for 10th. Junior Sascha Rosin ran a personal best in the 1,000 in 3:23.38. Eighth-grader Payton Maddaloni ran the 1,500 in 5:23.64.

Meg Tuthill of Southold was the champion in the 1,500. The Bishop McGann-Mercy senior topped a deep and talented field in 4:52.49. Her teammate, Kaitlyn Buttefield of Greenport, finished third in 4:54.51. She was narrowly edged at the finish line for second by Shoreham-Wading River star Katherine Lee.

At the boys meet that preceded the girls, Mattituck senior Darius Brew was the runaway winner in the high jump. He cleared 6 feet 6 inches while the next best jumped topped 6-1. Brew’s teammate, senior Jack Dufton, cleared 5-10 for fifth place. Dufton also ran the 1,000 and finished seventh in 2:43.65.

Photo Caption: Sam Husak competes in the high jump Sunday. (Credit: Bill Landon)