Facing L.I.’s best, Blom takes fourth in shot put
LONG ISLAND ELITE TRACK INVITATIONAL
If Maddie Blom’s aim in competing in the prestigious Long Island Elite Track Invitational on Friday was to face top-flight competition in advance of the upcoming state meet, it worked.
While some of Long Island’s best shot putters may not have exactly brought out the best in Blom, they came quite close. The Riverhead High School senior turned in a throw of 36 feet 6 inches — within one inch of her personal record. It was good for fourth place in the meet at St. Anthony’s High School. Finishing ahead of Blom were Manhasset senior Tara Belinsky (41-11), Holy Trinity junior Kristina Insingo (41-4) and Half Hollow Hills West senior Oyinkansola Adewale (39-4 1/4).
It wasn’t a bad tuneup for Blom, who will compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships on March 1 at Cornell University in Ithaca.
Bishop McGann-Mercy senior Danisha Carter was ninth in the 300-meter dash in 43.38 seconds. Her teammate, sophomore Meg Tuthill, finished 10th in the 1,500 meters in 5:17.39.
Riverhead senior Danielle Thomas did not clear a height in the pole vault.
