Devon Brooks broke Rancocas Valley’s discus record for the second time in two meets so far this spring.
Brooks, a senior, threw 163-5 last week in Lincroft and backed that up with a 167-11 Saturday at the Spartan Relays in Deptford.
The previous school record was 161-9, set at the 2018 state Group 4 meet at Franklin by Meet of Champions javelin champ Nick Mirabelli.
Brooks didn’t throw as a freshman and had a PR of just 116-9 as a sophomore. But he surpassed 150 feet five times last spring, including a best of 159-9 when he placed 5th at the state Group 4 meet at Franklin before hitting 163-5 and then 167-11 this year.
Brooks is No. 5 in the state so far and No. 2 in South Jersey. Cinnaminson’s Malicah Etienne leads South Jersey with his 174-5 from CBA’s throws meet last week, No. 2 in the state.
(By the way, on Brooks’ Twitter profile, he lists a 4.4 grade-point average, which is cause for congratulations as much as that 167-11 throw. OK, almost as much!)
Glassboro junior Damere Lassiter had a huge PR 158-6 at Deptford to place 2nd behind Brooks. Lassiter’s previous PR was a 149-5 last June at South Jersey Group 1 sectionals at Buena. That makes him the No. 2 junior in the state and looks like a Glassboro school record.
Also surpassing the 150-foot barrier for the first time Saturday was Bishop Eustace junior Shawn Brady, who threw 152-0 at the Don Danser Relays at Lenape. His previous PR was a 140-9 last June in the Meet of Champions at Franklin High. That puts him within 5 ½ feet of the school-record 157-5 by Montel Johnson at the 2017 state Parochial A meet at Egg Harbor.
Etienne, Brooks, Lassiter and Brady rank No. 2, 5, 7 and 10 in the state so far this spring. Lassiter and Brady are No. 2 and 4 among juniors.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 