Steph Mattson
Steph Mattson

2 Wins & a School Record for Mattson in 2018-19 Season-Opener

BOSTON, Mass. – All-New England honoree Stephanie Mattson (Smithfield, R.I./Smithfield HS) launched her senior year Saturday in impressive fashion, with a pair of victories and a school record during the UMass-Boston Open at the Reggie Center.

Mattson, whose name is attached to 13 school records, broke her own standard in the 500 meters while running to an easy victory. Her time of 1:16.70 bettered the mark of 1:17.19 that she set at the 2017 Northeast-10 Championships and put her at the finish line 2.94 seconds before the number two runner. A total of 25 runners competed in the event.

Mattson also repeated as meet champion in the long jump as she achieved a distance of 17 feet, 9.75 inches.,

Mattson's day also included helping Bentley to a second-place finish in the 4x400 relay. The Falcons posted a 4:14.62 with the first three legs run by sophomore Sydney Hurwitz (Newton/Newton North HS), freshman Kaitlyn Helfer (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Malloy HS) and senior Abby Forman (Altamont, N.Y./Guilderland HS).

Junior Dom Balvora-Rivert (Templeton/Narraganett HS) also had a strong debut meet. She was second of 106 in the 200 meters (26.73) and fourth in the 60 (8.12 trials, 8.13 finals) while moving to fourth on Bentley's all-time list in both events. She was also eighth of 15 in the triple jump after clearing 33 feet, 10 inches.

Hurwitz was fourth of 28 in the long jump, with her 16'9.75" a new personal best by an inch. She was also ninth of 39 in the 60 hurdles (9.83) and 20th of 106 in the 200 (PR 27.72).

In the 5,000, junior Paige Fehskens (Wareham/Wareham HS) and freshman Samantha Bilodeau (New Ipswich, N.H./Mascenic Reg. HS) finished third and fourth, respectively. Fehskens' 19:03.97 elevated her to 11th on Bentley's all-time list and Bilodeau's 19:15.34 was good for 12th all-time.

Senior Tina Touri (Watertown/Watertown H) was ninth of 49 in the mile (5:34.71) and Forman was tenth of 25 in the 500 (1:25.91).

Bentley's second meet of the season is six weeks away, the Reggie Poyau Memorial at Brandeis on Jan. 12.