Hammonton junior Anthony Liakhnovich uncorked the biggest shot put throw by an Atlantic County athlete in 11 years Saturday at the Rebel Relays at Howell High School.
Liakhnovich threw 59-10 – field series info not available – and won the event by more than nine feet. His throw is No. 3 in Atlantic County history and No. 24 on the all-time South Jersey list. Liakhnovich is just 18 inches off the county record of 61-4 set by Egg Harbor’s Kofi Yamoah at the 2013 South Jersey Invitational at Buena.
His throw is also best by a South Jersey underclassman since Braheme Days Jr. of Bridgeton threw 68-8 1/2 when he won the Penn Relays shot as a junior in 2012.
Coming into the meet, Liakhnovich had a PR of 56-10 ¼ from the Cherokee Throwdown in January. His outdoor PR was 48-9 ¾ from South Jersey Group 3 sectionals last spring at Delsea.
So this is more than a 10-foot outdoor PR.
His throw makes him No. 3 in New Jersey so far this year, behind Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic [61-6 ¼], who placed 6th at the U.S. Under-20 Championships last summer in Eugene, and Joshua Huisman of St. Rose of Belmar [60-1], runner-up at both Armory and Boston nationals indoors.
All-Time Atlantic County 58-Foot List
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
60-3 … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2012
59-10 …. Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024
59-6 … Dave Dixon [Mainland Reg.], 1987
59-5 ¼ … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2017
58-0 … Steve Hanson [Holy Spirit], 1982
58-0 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 