Hammonton junior Anthony Liakhnovich bombed one of the biggest shot put heaves in South Jersey history Saturday and smashed the Atlantic County record at the South Jersey Open.
Competing in cold, rainy conditions at Delsea, Liakhnovich only managed one decent throw, but his 3rd and final attempt sailed 62-10, the 9th-best throw in South Jersey history.
Liakhnovich broke the Atlantic County record of 61-4 set by Egg Harbor Township’s Kofi Yamoah at the same meet in 2013, when it was held at Buena. Liakhnovich fouled on his first attempt, and his 2nd was recorded at 44-1 before the final-attempt heave.
It’s been a remarkable rise for Liakhnovich, whose PR last spring as a sophomore was 48-9 ¾ when he placed 7th at South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals, also at Delsea. He hit 50 feet for the first time in his indoor opener at the Bubble in January and then jumped to 56-10 ¼ at the Cherokee Throw Down #1 four days later.
This spring, he opened with a PR again, throwing 59-10 at the Rebel Relays in Howell. That remained his PR until Saturday.
So he’s improved his PR more than 12 feet in the last 4 ½ months.
Liakhnovich is now No. 3 in New Jersey in the shot, behind St. Rose senior Joshua Huisman [64-8 ½], the national indoor runner-up, and Bergen Catholic junior Benjamin Shue [63-11 ¼], 3rd at indoor nationals and a USATF Under-20 finalist.
He’s the top underclassman in South Jersey since Bridgeton’s Braheme Days Jr. won the 2012 Penn Relays at 68-8 ½ and believed to be the No. 3 junior in South Jersey history behind Days and Overbrook’s Ron Dayne in 1994 [63-10]
He’s improved similarly in the discus, from 136-10 last spring at the Cape Atlantic Conference Meet at Bridgeton to a 167-5 opener at Woodbury last month and then a 178-0 last weekend at the Delsea Crusader Field Meet. It looks like the discus was cancelled Saturday before the seeded flight had a chance to throw.
All-Time South Jersey Shot Put List
68-8 ½ … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton] 2012
64-10 ½ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997
64-6 ¼ … Ron Dayne [Overbook], 1996
64-5 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
64-4 ¼ … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990
63-2 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
63-0 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
62-10 ¼ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
62-10 … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024
61-11 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
61-10 ½ … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
61-6 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
61-4 ½ … Bubba Green [Millville], 1976
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
61-2 ½ … Matthew Huckabee, [Timber Creek], 2010
60-11 ½ … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
60-11 ……. Lucciano Pizarro [Cherokee], 2019
60-9 ½ … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2024
60-7 1/2 … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
60-6 ½ … Tati White [Willingboro], 1994
60-5 ¼ … Chris Bolden [Edgewood], 1990
60-3 … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2012
60-1 … Bill Banks [Wilson], 1973
All-Time Atlantic County List
62-10 … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024 [X, 44-1, 62-10]
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
60-3 … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2012
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 