Tey’ana Ames, a senior at Atlantic County Tech, opened the season with a PR in the shot put at the SJTCA meet Monday evening at the Bubble.
Ames won the shot put with a 39-11 throw, half an inch better than her 39-10 1/2 that placed second at the outdoor state Group 4 meet at Franklin High in June. Ames went on to place 6th at the Meet of Champions at South Plainfield.
Ames’ previous indoor PR was a 37-0 1/4 at last winter’s state Group 4 meet, when she placed 4th with a 37-0 1/4.
Her throw is the best indoor shot put performance by an Atlantic County girl in seven years, since Nyla Noble of Egg Harbor Township threw 40-10 at the 2014 state Group 4 meet at the Bubble.
Her throw was 3rd-best in the state on the opening weekend of indoor track, behind Jada Mia Puryear of Union Catholic [42-5] and Olivia Prescott of West Orange [40-1 1/2], both at the Essex County Season Opener at Ocean Breeze.
It’s also No. 6 in Atlantic County history indoors.
43-10 ¼ … Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
42-0 ¼ … Lola Agabalogun [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
40-10 … Nyla Noble [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2014
40-1 ¾ … Kelly Staten [Atlantic City], 2001
39-11 … Tey’ana Ames [Atlantic County Tech], 2021
39-10 … Ronny Martin [Absegami], 1998
And here’s a look at the all-time Atlantic County indoor / outdoor 40-foot list, which Ames is now just an inch short of:
44-9 ……… Kim Warren [Atlantic City], 2006
44-9 ……… Lola Agabalogun [Egg Harbor], 2013
44-0 ¾ …. Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
42-6 … Dana Hall [Absegami], 1998
41-7 ¼ … Katrina Guerrier [Absegami], 2010
41-5 …… Nyla Noble [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2014
40-11 …… Paula Glass [Atlantic City], 1986
40-9 …… Dana Keister [Absegami], 2008
40-4 1/4 … Kiyanna Thomas [Absegami], 2016
40-1 ¾ … Kelly Staten [Atlantic City], 2001 [indoors]
39-11 … Tey’ana Ames [Atlantic County Tech], 2021
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 