An auspicious high school debut for Williamstown freshman Ciara Demarest, who opened her indoor season by winning the shot put at the SJTCA Winter Meet No. 1 Monday with a 36-1 1/2, the best throw in at least 15 years by a Gloucester County freshman.
Demarest, who won several youth track national age-group titles, won the event at the Bennett Center in Toms River by 3 1/2 inches over junior teammate Zuri Richardson, who threw 35-10, an indoor PR of her own. Richardson has a 37-6 1/2 to her credit outdoors.
Demarest’s throw is best overall early this indoor season by a South Jersey thrower, and Richardson is No. 2. She’s also No. 1 after two weekends among New Jersey freshmen.
Williamstown has always had good throwers, and Karen Johnson set the school indoor mark of 39-8 1/4 in 2006. Jayla Washington was close to that at 38-10 in 2014. Damiola Akinmade threw 36-9 in 2015.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 