Williamstown senior Ciara Demarest moved into the No. 10 spot in South Jersey history in the shot put with a massive PR Wednesday night at the Tri-County Conference Championships.
Demarest threw 44-8 to win the shot at Delsea, and her throw is No. 3 in New Jersey this year and No. 2 in Gloucester County history, behind only Delsea’s Janiece Rose, who threw 46-4 at the 2011 Rowan Open in Glassboro.
Demarest toppled a very good school record of 44-2 ½ set by Typhanie Bates, who threw 44-2 ½ to win the 1995 state Group 3 meet in South Plainfield and help Williamstown win its first state title since 1982.
Demarest’s 44-8 is the best throw by a South Jersey girl since Schalick’s Zyra Thomas hit 46-0 ¼ at 2018 New Balance Nationals in Greensboro.
State-wide, she trails only Livingston sophomore Jessica Oji [46-1] and Old Tappan junior Layla Giordano [45-6].
Going into Wednesday night, Demarest had an outdoor PR of 42-2 from last weekend’s Gloucester County Championships at Deptford. She threw 42-11 ¼ at Ocean Breeze in January.
Demarest opened with a 39-9 and followed with a 41-1 before hitting her 44-8 on her 3rd and final throw.
Clayton junior Maylisa Bluford PR’d at 38-5 1/2 for 2nd place. Her previous best was 35-8 3/4 at Fast Times at Cherokee last month.
Demarest has won every meet she’s entered this year with the exception of the South Jersey Open, where she finished seven inches behind Willingboro sophomore Chanel Swain.
Demarest also won the discus Wednesday night with a throw of 126-5. She has a PR of 138-3 from a meet at Delsea last spring. She ranks 5th in New Jersey with her season-best 127-8 from Woodbury this year.
All-Time South Jersey Shot Put List
47-1 ¼ … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2013
46-4 ……… Janiece Rose [Delsea], 2011
46-1 ½ … Nacole Moore [Bridgeton], 2000
46-0 ¼ … Zyra Thomas [Schalick], 2018
45-7 ½ … Ronetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
45-5 ……… Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
44-9 ¾ … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2016
44-9 ……… Kim Warren [Atlantic City], 2006
44-9 ……… Lola Agabalogun [Egg Harbor], 2013
44-8 ……… Ciara Demarest [Williamstown], 2023
44-5 ¼ …. Melinda Boykin [Bridgeton], 1998
44-5 ……… Jamine Moton [Delsea], 1997
44-4 ¼ …. Dana White [Camden], 2000
44-3 …. Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
44-2 ½ …. Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
44-0 ¾ …. Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
43-11 … Donovan Bennett [Vineland], 2015
43-11 … Cydney Thomas [Haddon Heights], 2019
43-8 ¾…. Janet Morris [Kingsway], 1991
43-7 …..… Shamire Rothmiller [Glassboro], 2008
43-6 ¾ … Angela Solomon [Overbook], 1989
43-6 ¾ … Talita Silva [Bridgeton], 2003
43-4 ½ … Rose Perry [Riveride], 2003
43-2 ½ … Lacole Fields [Camden], 1996
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 