Bishop Eustace senior Shawn Brady became the latest member of the 56-foot club with a 56-1 throw at the Olympic and Tri-County meet at the Bubble Friday.
Brady improved his PR from 55-6 ½, which he threw last weekend at Cherokee. Brady, a Meet of Champions medalist in the discus last spring, is now No. 6 in the state this winter and No. 6 in Camden County history and
Brady broke the Bishop Eustace indoor record of 55-7 ½, set by Phil Hatfield at the 1995 Meet of Champions at Jadwin Gym.
It’s already been an incredible year for South Jersey shot putters. Six throwers are over 55 feet and we haven’t even gotten to sectionals yet. This is the first time since 2013 that six South Jersey throwers have hit 55 feet in an indoor season.
Damere Lassiter, Glassboro: Threw a PR 56-11 at the Cherokee Throwdown #2. That’s No. 1 in South Jersey this year and No. 2 in the state. Lassiter matched that 56-11 three days later at the Bubble. Lassiter has already thrown well beyond his outdoor PR of 54-11 from Group 1 states last spring at Franklin. His 56-11 is No. 10 in Gloucester County history. Lassiter threw 184-8 in the discus last year and was a Meet of Champions medalist. He was No. 12 junior in the country.
Anthony Liakhnovich, Hammonton: Hit 56-10 ¼ at the Cherokee Throwdown, No. 8 in Atlantic County history and No. 3 in the state so far this year. Also the No. 1 underclassman in New Jersey. Had never thrown 50 feet before the state relays two weeks ago.
Jonathan Harris, Delsea: Harris threw 56-2 ¾ at the Olympic-Tri County meet at the Bubble Saturday, surpassing his indoor PR of 55-5 ½ from state relays. He’s No. 3 in South Jersey this year and No. 4 in the state and he’s the No. 2 underclassman, behind Liakhnovich. Harris threw 58-4 ½ at West Philly Nationals in June.
Gabriel Wilkins, Absegami: Wilkins joined the 55-foot club Saturday with a 55-8 win at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association meet at the Bubble. His previous PR was 53-11 earlier this month at a SJTCA meet at Ocean Breeze. He hadn’t hit 50 feet until last month. His 55-8 is No. 9 in Atlantic County history, just behind Liakhnovich. Wilkins is No. 7 in the state this year and No. 5 in South Jersey.
Greg Masso, Delsea: Masso hit a PR 55-6 at the Olympic-Tri County meet. His previous PR was 55-4 ¾ at Delsea in May, and his indoor PR was 53-8 ½ from the Bubble last month. He’s No. 8 in New Jersey and No. 6 in South Jersey.
Bordentown senior Brock Schenk is just a few inches short of 55 feet with his 54-8 at Cherokee Throwdown #2 last week, No. 7 in South Jersey, and Paul VI junior Savien Higgs is the No. 6 underclassman in the state this year with his 54-6 ½ at Ocean Breeze earlier this month. That is No. 8 in South Jersey.
Here’s the updated all-time South Jersey list, with every indoor thrower who’s hit 55 feet. Interesting to note that seven of the 13 throwers between 55-6 and 56-11 are from this year.
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2012
63-11 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
63-1 ¾ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
61-9 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
62-7 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
62-0 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
60-3 … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
60-10 ¾ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
59-9 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
59-8 … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990
59-0 … Chris Bolden [Edgewood], 1990
58-10 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
58-9 ½ … Dave Dixon [Mainland Reg.], 1987
58-9 … Greg Ross [Deptford], 1976
58-8 ¾ … Bill Goldsborough [Delsea], 2018
58-5 … Kareem McKenzie [Willingboro], 1997
58-4 ½ .. .Curtis Fitzpatrick [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
57-11 … Tavaris Wright [Bridgeton], 2004
57-11 … Kwabena Keene [Washington Twp], 2008
57-10 ½ … Gerald Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2000
57-10-½ … Matthew Huckabee [Timber Creek], 2010
57-9 ½ … Rich Lewis [Williamstown], 1985
57-9 ½ … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2011
57-9 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2016
57-8 ½ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020
57-8 1/4 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
57-5 … Joe Metzger [Delsea], 2021
57-3 ½ … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996
57-2 ¾ … Tati White [Willingboro], 1994
57-2 ½ … Gil Winters [Willingboro], 1990
57-0 … Terrin Walker [Bridgeton], 1996
56-11 … Nate Karl [Hammonton], 2020
56-11 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2024
56-10 ¼ … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024
56-5 ¼ … Chris Pressley [Woodbury], 2003
56-2 ¾ … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2024
56-1 … Shawn Brady [Bishop Eustace], 2024
55-11 … Russ Willett [Penns Grove], 1985
55-9 ½ … Warren DeShields [Bridgeton], 1991
55-8 … Gabriel Wilkins [Absegami], 2024
55-7 ½ … Phil Hatfield [Bishop Eustace], 1995
55-6 … Charles Anderson [Edgewood], 1984
55-6 … Keith Geiger [Middle Twp.], 1998
55-6 … Greg Masso [Delsea], 2024
55-4 ¾ … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
55-3 ½ … Steve Hansen [Holy Spirit], 1982
55-1 … Nigel Walker [Willingboro], 1996
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 