Hammonton senior Anthony Liakhnovich popped the 10th-best shot put in South Jersey history Sunday at the 57th annual Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze.
Liakhnovich, sitting in 4th place with two throws to go at 59-8 ¾, threw 62-6 ¾ on his 5th attempt to move up to 2nd, which is where he finished, behind only Delbarton senior Peter Donini, who threw 63-7 and had the three-best throws of the competition.
Liakhnovic, Meet of Champions discus runner-up last spring at 181-3, broke his own Atlantic County record of 61-1 from January at the Ott Center.
His 62-6 ¾ makea him the No. 15 performer in Meet of Champions. It’s the best throw by a South Jersey athlete at an indoor Meet of Champions in 13 years, since Braheme Days Jr. of Bridgeton won the 2012 meet at the Bubble with a 67-8 ¾. The only other superior MoC thrower from South Jersey is another Bridgeton weight star, Ray Wilks, who won the 1995 meet at Jadwin Gym at 62-7 ½. So all three from the Cape-Atlantic.
The beat throw at an indoor Meet of Champions by a non-Cape Atlantic thrower was a 61-3 at the 2013 meet by West Deptford’s Nick Pulli.
Also Sunday, Delsea senior Jonathan Harris placed 7th with a 56-7 3/4.
All-Time New Jersey 60-Foot Club
South Jersey throwers in bold
71-9 ½ … Nick Vena [Morristown], 2011
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2012
67-7 … Joshua Huisman [St. Rose], 2024
67-3 … Kevin DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 1998
67-1 ¾ … James Gilligan [Toms River East], 2008
66-6 … Glen DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 2002
65-10 … Steve Adams [St. Joe’s Montvale], 1970
65-6 … Jordan West [Rahway], 2017
65-6 … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2025
65-4 … Cole Tucker [Colts Neck], 2021
65-2 ½ … Greg Cortina [Hun], 1971
65-2 1/2 … Marcus Blasucci [CBA], 2025
64-9 3/4 … Joe Licata [Gill St. Bernard’s], 2022
64-5 3/4 … Luke Grodeska [St. Rose], 2016
64-5 1/2 … Chris Licata [Sill St. Bernard’s], 2018
64-2 1/2 … Peter Donini [Delbarton], 2025
63-3 1/4 … MIke Alleman [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2008
63-1 3/4 … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
62-11 1/2 … Stephen Mozia [Hackensack], 2011
62-9 1/2 … Christopher Staton [Franklin Twp.], 2012
62-8 3/4 … Benjamin Shue [Bergen Catholic], 2024
62-7 3/4 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
62-6 3/4 … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2025
62-4 … Tyrone Garland [Matawan], 1993
62-2 ¼ … Brian Cortina [Hun], 2005
62-2 1/4 … Sean Wilton [Princeton], 2025
62-1 ½ … Bob Vorhies [Our Lady of the Valley], 1977
61-11 ½ … Vaughn Skidmore [Ocean Twp.], 1976
62-0 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
61-9 … Randy Sokolik [New Milford], 1969
61-9 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
61-8 … Ed Markowski [Roselle Catholic], 1968
61-8 … Andrew Trumbetti [Northern Valley-Demarest], 2013
61-7 ¾ … Patrick Passalacqua [Northern Valley-Old Tappan], 2020
61-7 … Ray Bradley [Trenton], 1976
61-6 ½ … Bob Ringwall [Carteret], 1973
61-6 ¼ … Adam Kuehl [Matawan], 2002
61-6 … Tyler Konopka [Toms River South], 2021
61-5 … Manny Silverio [North Bergen], 1976
61-4 ½ … Mark Saner [St. Joe’s-Montvale], 1970
61-4 … Bob Mattia [Union], 1975
61-2 ½ … Bob Brady [St. Joe’s-Montvale], 1970
61-2 … Ray Sahadi [Tenafly], 1974
61-0 ¾ … Reynaldo Hubbard [Long Branch], 1995
60-11 … Bruce Hedenal [Paramus], 1965
60-11 …Sal Delhierro [Toms River East], 2005
60-10 ¾ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020
60- 10 ½ … Corey Abernathy [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2010
60-10 … Keith Jarvis [Essex Catholic], 1969
60-9 ¾ … John Wojciechowski [Madison Central], 1990
60-9 … Steve DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 2005
60-8 … Felix Lee [Highland Park], 1977
60-7 ¼ … Dorian Scott [Seton Hall], 2000
60-6 ¾ … Jason Bryan [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2014
60-6 ½ … Bob Lutkewitte [CBA], 1982
60-6 … Vincent Elardo [Lacey Twp.], 2007
60-6 … Albert Yodakis [CBA], 2025
60-5 ¾ … Christopher Tavarone [Morris Knolls], 2020
60-5 1/4 … Joe Seib [St. Rose], 2025
60-5 … Spencer Ross [Mahwah], 2014
60-4 ½ … Fabian Gonzalez [Southern Regional], 2022
60-4 ¼ … Shaun McGregor [Bergen Catholic], 1996
60-4 … Dom Mazza [Long Branch], 1967
60-4 … Capp Desheplo [West Morris Central], 2025
60-3 … Harry Dilts [Pitman], 1971
60-3 … Giovanni Gutierrez [Saddle Brook], 2017
60-2 ¼ … Jeff Schwerdtmann [Jackson], 2001
60-2 … Mark Wilkinson [Union], 1973
60-1 ½ … Al Wujciak [Essex Catholic], 1972
60-1 … Todd Stubbier [Toms River South], 2017
60-1 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2024
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash [WIllingboro], 2004
60-0 ¼ … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2024
60-0 … Russ Frame [Union], 1969
60-0 … Joshua Lezin [Lakewood], 2018
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 