Girls Track and Field: Mercy sweeps relays on Mattituck’s new track
MONARCHS 82, TUCKERS 59
It was a big day for the Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School girls track and field team, a special day for Maddie Joinnides, and an historic day for the Mattituck track program.
The sun smiled down upon Mattituck High School’s brand new all-weather track, which was christened on Monday. McGann-Mercy needed to win only one of the three relay events in order to secure the Suffolk County League VIII dual meet, but instead swept them all. A first-place finish by the 4×100-meter relay team clinched an 82-59 victory for the Monarchs. Juliana Cintron-Leonardo, Olivia Kneski, Lindsey Woodhull and Adafih Blackburn turned in a winning time of 56.1 seconds.
Meg Tuthill enjoyed a perfect day, winning all three of her individual events as well as running the opening leg for the 4×800-meter relay team. Tuthill, a junior better known for running middle and long distances, even took first place in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in 1:14.1. Earlier, she had won the 1,500 in 5:04.2 and the 800 in 2:29.5.
Joinnides celebrated her 16th birthday in style. The sophomore clocked a personal record of 1:02.7 to win the 400, was third in the 800 in 2:30.9, and ran for both the winning 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams. Joinnides led off the 4×400 relay team that included Shannon Kavanagh, Gabby Amerbach and Teresa Bellucci, winning in 4:41.1. She then anchored the 4×800 relay that triumphed in 10:47. Tuthill, Kaitlyn Butterfield and Devyn O’Brien handled the first three legs.
The Monarchs (2-0, 2-0), who had defeated Port Jefferson by 110 1/2-30 1/2 in their opening dual meet, put themselves in a good position with their two opening wins. They have dual meets remaining against Stony Brook, Wyandanch, Ross and Greenport/Southold.
The Monarchs took first in 12 of the 17 events that were contested on Monday. Among them were Woodhull in the triple jump (26 feet 7 1/2 inches), Blackburn in the 100 (13.8), Cintron-Leonardo in the 200 (28.9), O’Brien in the 3,000 (11:09.4) and Taya Coniglio in the discus (64-9 1/2).
Amy Macaluso earned a distinction that no one else can lay claim to. She became the first Mattituck girl to win a race on the new track. The sophomore edged out teammate Christina Hatzinikolaou for first in the 100-meter high hurdles in 19.5 seconds. Macaluso, competing in her first varsity dual meet, also took second in the 200 (29.2) and third in the 100 (14.1).
The Tuckers (0-1, 0-1), sporting new bright yellow uniform tops to match their blue track, also received winning performances from Jen Gonzalez in the 1,500-meter walk (9:54), Nikki Zurawski in the long jump (14-10), Jordyn Maichin in the shot put (23-7 1/2) and Sam Husak in the high jump (4-4).
