Matteo McNeil Three-Peats for
Blue Devils
Matteo McNeil notched a three-peat in the Suffolk sophomore track and field championships when the Huntington tenth grader captured the county grade level shot put title for the third consecutive year.
McNeil won the freshman crown as an eighth grader and then repeated the following year. He made it three-in-a-row at Suffolk Community College-West in Brentwood. He entered the competition seeded third behind Longwood's Troy Trent and Joslyn O'Brian of Brentwood. "These three young men have been battling it out at every meet," Wilson said.
As an eighth grader, McNeil won the freshman championship with a toss of 36'7.5. One year later he won the crown a second time as a true freshman when his throw of 37'7 edged O'Brian and teammate Jimmie Nelson.
McNeil, Trent, O'Brian and Nelson battled it out again last week, bringing all eyes in the house to the shot put circle. On his first throw, McNeil tossed the shot 44'7, his best of the season.
McNeil's first throw would end up being the best of the night. "O'Brian came very close tossing the shot 44'6.5 to place second while Trent's toss of 43'1.5 was good for third. Nelson almost stole the crown on his last throw. He tossed the shot 45', but fell over the toe-board and fouled." Nelson's best throw of the season came in the finals when he launched the shot 42'6.5 to grab fourth place and a bronze medal.
After winning the title, the first thing McNeil did was shake hands with his competitors. "That's just him," Wilson said. "He's that type of athlete. Always humble in his victory or defeat. I was happy for him, but I know there is still a better throw in him. I was very proud of the two sophomores for their victories."