On Friday, Gabriel Wilkins became the first 50-foot shot putter in Absegami history.
On Tuesday, he became the first 51-footer. And the first 52-footer. And the first 53-footer.
Wilkins, an Absegami senior, extended his New Jersey No. 1 mark to 53-1 Tuesday night at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association meet No. 2 at the Bubble in Toms River. His 50-3 3/4 Friday was his first throw over 50 feet.
The 53-1 looks like the No. 10 mark in Atlantic County indoot track history.
Wilkins came into last week with an indoor PR of 47-3 from South Jersey Group 3 sectionals last February at the Bubble and an overall PR of 49-5 ¾ from the Woodbury Relays in April.
He was one of the top discus throwers in the state last year, throwing 160-11 to place 2nd at Group 3 states last spring at Delsea.
That made him the No. 16 thrower in the state, the No. 5 junior, No. 7 in South Jersey and the No. 3 underclassman in South Jersey behind Glassboro’s Damere Lassiter [184-8] and Bishop Eustace’s Shawn Brady [169-1].
This is my best attempt at an all-time Atlantic County indoor top-10:
59-9 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
58-10 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
58-9 ½ … Dave Dixon [Mainland Reg.], 1987
58-4 ½ .. .Curtis Fitzpatrick [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
57-9 ½ … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2011
57-9 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2016
56-11 … Nate Karl [Hammonton], 2020
55-3 ½ … Steve Hansen [Holy Spirit], 1982
53-8 1/2 … Darren Wan [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2016
53-1 … Gabriel Wilkins [Absegami], 2023
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 