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Schools

Sports Notebook: Track Star Gets All-State Nod, Golf Pair Helps Suffolk Take Second at States

Mark Valentino of Smithtown West earns All-State honors in track, East pair helps Suffolk take second in state in girls golf.

Boys Track: West’s Valentino named All-State

They call him ‘The Bluefish,’ and Smithtown West senior Mark Valentino showed everyone why at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys track and field championships, held Friday and Saturday at Caledonia-Mumford High School in Caledonia, N.Y.

Valentino, who had won the Suffolk County Division I title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase a week earlier, placed sixth in Division I at the state meet in a personal best time of 9:42.12, beating his previous best by 2/10 of a second.

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“The conditions were a little warmer and more humid than his previous best race, so this was actually a much better race for him,” said West coach Peter Schieck, who explained how Valentino earned his colorful nickname.

“When he runs, he goes out with the leaders and just holds on,” Scheick said. “Like when you’re reeling in a bluefish, it’s really hard. He just hangs on. It’s his toughness.”

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This was Valentino’s first-ever appearance at the state championship meet. He won the county title in the steeplechase the week before, becoming the fifth Smithtown West runner in the last six years to win the county title in that event.

Valentino is one of four West athletes who will be recognized at the All-County dinner on Monday night. Valentino and Matt Rapp, who tied a school record in the pole vault this season, were named All-County. Kevin and Pat Harty were named to the All-Academic team.

West placed second at the Suffolk County Division I championship meet and finished the season with a record of 5-1, good for second place in League IV. Schieck said the Bulls’ success was due to superior effort and depth.

“We worked very hard in practice, and we competed in all of the events,” he said. “We were competitive in every event. We had a goal to be one of the top teams in the county and we were.”

 

Girls Golf: East’s Fitzharris, Peters help Suffolk take second at states

Two weeks after leading the Smithtown East girls golf team to a Suffolk County team championship, Katie Fitzharris and Carly Peters helped Section XI finish second at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships, held Saturday and Sunday at SUNY Delhi.

Fitzharris and Peters were two of the nine players on the Section XI team that shot a two-round total score of 1,118, just 23 strokes behind Section V, which won the state title with a score of 1,095.

Fitzharris shot an 82 and a 90 for a 36-hole score of 172, which put her in a tie for 34th place in the individual standings. Peters shot 88-91-179, which placed her in a tie for 41st. Lauren Petty of Section III was the individual state champion with a 145 total score, shooting a 75 in round one and a 70 in round two.

It was a remarkable season for Smithtown East, which won the first county girls golf championship in school history this season, placing two golfers — Fitzharris and Peters — in the top 10.

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