Zyra Thomas won her fourth state shot put title this weekend, putting the shot 43-4 1/2 to win by more than five feet over sophomore Cydney Thomas of Collingswood at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
Cyndi Thomas threw 38-2 3/4 for second place. Collingswood senior Precious Ayeni took third in 37-9 for a 1-2-3 South Jersey sweep.
Zyra Thomas is undefeated since a season-opening loss on a second-best throw tiebreaker to Cyndi Thomas at a South Jersey Track Coaches Association meet in December.
Zyra Thomas has won the last two state Group 1 shot put titles outdoors and also last year’s indoor title in Group 1. She’s the first Schalick girl to win consecutive indoor state titles in the same event since sprinter Candyce DeLoatch in 1995 and 1996.
She just missed her PR of 44-2 3/4, set earlier this year in another meet at the Bennett Center. She ranks No. 1 among South Jersey throwers and No. 3 in the state.
Zara Thomas is the top-ranked thrower in South Jersey history from outside Cumberland County. The top three are from Cumberland County. Zyra is the indoor Salem County record holder with her 44-2 3/4.
Here’s the all-time South Jersey girls indoor shot put list:
46-1 1/2 … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2017
45-3 … Nacole Moore [Bridgeton], 2000
44-6 1/2 … Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
44-2 3/4 … Zyra Thomas [Schalick], 2018
44-3 1/2 … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
44-0 1/2 … Melinda Boykin [Bridgeton], 1996
43-11 3/4 … Stephanie Scaramella [Bishop Eustace], 2007
43-10 1/4 … Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
43-10 … Rosetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
43-4 3/4 … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2012
43-4 1/2 … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
43-3 … Janice Rose [Delsea], 2011
42-7 3/4 … Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
42-5 1/2 … Genevieve Tybicki [Our Lady of Mercy], 2007
42-4 … Sophia Coleburn [Haddon Heights], 2007
42-0 1/2 … Lisa Stuto [Winslow Twp.], 2009
42-0 1/4 … Lola Agabalogun [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
41-10 … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 1984
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 