Penns Grove senior Janier Armstead popped the best discus throw by a Salem County athlete in 38 years Saturday at the Woodbury Relays.
Armstead bombed a 177-3 on his final throw of the competition to place 2nd to Southern Regional’s Fabian Gonzalez, who won with a 181-2. Gonzalez won the Meet of Champions and placed 4th at Nationals as a sophomore in 2021.
Armstead’s previous PR was a 165-10 last spring at the Tri-County Championships, where he placed 2nd to Delsea’s Jason Nwosu, who threw 182-7.
Armstead came within six inches of that PR with a 165-4 on his 4th attempt Saturday and then PR’d at 169-10 on his 5th attempt before PR’ing again with the 177-3 on his final attempt.
He actually barely advanced to the finals after two fouls and a 144-6 in the trials. That left him in 7th place after three throws, and only eight get three more throws.
The only superior mark in Salem County history came in 1985, when Penns Grove’s Russ Willett threw 185-10 at the Bridgeton Relays (held that year at Cumberland Regional).
Armstead’s mark is No. 4 in the state this year. Unfortunately, it came too late to qualify for the Penn Relays, where Cinnaminson’s Malicah Etienne [174-5] and Rancocas Valley’s Devon Brooks [167-11] will represent South Jersey.
All-Time South Jersey 170-Foot Discus List
216-11 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996
199- 6 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2013
197- 0 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
192- 5 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
191-11 … Franklin Simms [St. Augustine], 2022
189- 7 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
185-11 … John Mooers [Middle Twp.], 2015
185-10 … Russ Willett [Penns Grove], 1985
185- 7 … Matt Huckabee [Timber Creek], 2010
185- 6 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
185- 5 … Ken Manahan [Deptford], 1976
184- 4 … Adam Hunt [Collingswood], 2017
183- 9 … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
181-10 … Jason Winrow [Cumberland Reg.], 1989
180- 3 … Howard Clark [Pennsauken], 1998
179-11 … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
179-11 … Will Cioffi [Pitman], 2013
178- 0 … Jim Stites [Millville], 1970
177- 3 … Janier Armstead [Penns Grove], 2023
175- 7 … John Clark [Pennsville], 2007
174-11 … Rich Lewis [Williamstown], 1985
174-11 … Cade Berardelli [Delsea], 2022
174- 9 … John Ridinger [West Deptford], 1982
174- 6 … Josh Dillard [Lindenwold], 2005
174- 5 … Malicah Etienne [Cinnaminson], 2023
174- 4 … Dennis Norman [Cherokee], 1997
174- 3 … Alex Lewis [Delran], 2000
173-10 … Mark Rifkin [Cherry Hill West], 1978
173- 6 … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
173- 3 … Jake Nwosu [Delsea], 2019
173- 2 … Darren Wan [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2016
172- 1 … Derek Frazier [Williamstown], 1978
171-10 … Steve Muse [Kennedy], 1984
171- 6 … Rashaun Graves [Willingboro], 2013
171- 4 … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1998
170-10 … John McNeil [Kennedy], 1976
170- 4 … Kurtis Johnson [Burlington Twp.], 1987
170- 0 … Anthony Robertson [Penns Grove], 2014
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 