Pennsauken senior Jayden Farmer, who hit 50 feet in the shot for the first time just three weeks ago, is the newest member of the 60-foot club.
Farmer bombed a massive shot put PR of 61-3 Saturday at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township, making him No. 4 in New Jersey this year.
It’s been quite a few weeks for Farmer, who played basketball for Pennsauken and never competed in indoor track. Farmer had a PR of 33-2 ½ as a freshman, 41-2 as a sophomore and 48-7 as a junior. His first 50-foot throw in a major meet just came at the Woodbury Relays, when he placed 5th at 53-0 ¾. He extended his PR to 55-10 ½ at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea earlier this month before chucking a PR of 5 ½ feet Saturday.
Farmer’s throw is No. 15 in South Jersey history and the best throw by a Camden County shot putter in 28 years, since future NFL 1st-round pick Ron Dayne of Overbrook threw 64-6 ¼ to win the 1996 state Group 4 title at South Plainfield.
Farmer opened with throws of 52-1 ½, 52-6 ½ and 53-0 before popping the 61-3 on his 4th and final attempt.
Pennsauken’s previous school record was 58-11 ½ by Howard Clark at the 1998 Meet of Champions, also at South Plainfield. Clark played football at Miami and was in training camp with the Eagles.
South Jersey now has three 60-footers this year. Hammonton junior Anthony Liakhnovich set an Atlantic County record of 62-10 at the South Jersey Open at Delsea earlier this month, and Delsea’s Jonathan Harris threw 60-9 1/2 at the Woodbury Relays.
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
61-3 … Jayden Farmer [Pennsauken], 2024
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 ½ … 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
60-1 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2023
All-Time South Jersey Combined Shot Put List
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton] 2012 [i[
64-10 ½ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997 [o]
64-6 ¼ … Ron Dayne [Overbook], 1996 [o]
64-5 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995 [o]
64-4 ¼ … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990 [o]
63-2 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022 [o]
63-1 ¾ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014 [i]
63-0 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995 [o]
62-10 … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024 [o]
62-7 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018 [i]
61-10 ½ … Harry Dilts [Pitman], 1971 [o]
61-6 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013 [o]
61-4 ½ … Bubba Green [Millville], 1976 [o]
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013 [o]
61-3 … Jayden Farmer [Pennsauken], 2024
61-2 ¼ … Matthew Huckabee, Timber Creek [2010] [o]
60-11 ……. Lucciano Pizarro [Cherokee], 2019 [o]
60-10 ¾ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020 [i]
60-3 … Donate Rivera, Pleasantville [2012] [o]
60-1 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2023
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash, Willingboro [2004] [i]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 