From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Hammonton senior Anthony Liakhnovich bombed the No. 7 throw in state history and won the shot put Friday at Boston Nationals.

Liakhnovich had just set an indoor PR with a 62-6 ¾ for 2nd place at the Meet of Champions two weeks ago at Ocean Breeze, finishing about a foot behind Delbarton senior Peter Donini, who threw 63-7. His outdoor best is 62-10 from a meet in May at Delsea.

He actually broke his indoor PR with a 62-7 ¾ on his 1st attempt before PR’ing by 3 ½ feet on his 2nd attempt with a 66-3 ¾.

Donini had a monster series with six throws over 64 feet: 65-3 ¼, 64-9 ¼, 64-6 ¾, 65-9, 65-7 ½ and 64-10. He averaged 65-1 ½ on his six attempts and had six of the eighth-best throws of the competition.

But he couldn’t catch Liakhnovich, who won by 6 ¾ inches over the Summit resident.

Liakhnovich’s throw is No. 2 in South Jersey history both indoors and on the overall combined indoor-outdoor list. Braheme Days Jr. of Bridgeton – who won three national high school titles – is the only 70-footer thrower in South Jersey history with a 70-8 to win 2012 Easterns at the Armory.

Days Jr. won national titles at 2012 Armory Nationals [68-10 ¾] and 2013 Armory Nationals indoors [66-6] and 2013 Greensboro Nationals outdoors [68-6 ½].

Liakhnovich’s throw is No. 14 on the all-time New Jersey indoor and outdoor combined list.

He broke his own Atlantic County record along the way.  The previous county indoor record was 59-9 by Kofi Yamoah at 2013 Easterns at the Armory. Liakhnovich broke that when he threw 60-2 in his first meet this season, at the Ott Center in December. Yamoah also held the overall Atlantic County record of 61-4 from a meet at Buena in May of 2013. Liakhnovich surpassed that with his 62-10 last spring,

All-Time New Jersey 65-Foot Indoor List
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
66-3 ¾ … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2025
65-10 … Steve Adams [St. Joe’s Montvale], 1970
65-9 … Peter Donini [Delbarton], 2025 [i]
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 ¼ … Marcus Blasucci [CBA], 2025

All-Time South Jersey Indoor List
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2012
66-3 ¾ … Anthony Liakhnovich [Williamstown], 2025
65-6 … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2025
63-11 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
63-1 ¾ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
62-7 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
62-0 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
61-9 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
60-3 … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
60-10 ¾ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020
60-1 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2024
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004

All-Time New Jersey Combined List
75-10 … Nick Vena [Morristown], 2011 [o]
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2012 [i]
69-8 ¼ … Kevin DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 1998 [o]
69-2 … Benjamin Shue [Bergen Catholic], 2024 [o]
68-9 … Greg Cortina [Hun School], 1971 [o]
68-3 … Andy Papathanassiou [Emerson], 1985 [o]
68-0 ¾ … Luke Grodeska [St. Rose], 2016 [o]
68-0 ¼ … Glen DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 2002 [i]
67-7 … Joshua Huisman [St. Rose], 2024 [i]
67-1 ¾ … James Gilligan [Toms River East], 2008 [i]
67-10 … Jordan West [Rahway], 2017 [o]
66-4 ½ … Elvin Bethea [Trenton], 1964 [o]
66-4 … Rudy Guevara [Essex Catholic], 1971 [o]
66-3 ¾ … Anthony Liakhnovich [Williamstown], 2025 [i]
66-0 ½ … Steve Adams [St. Joe’s-Montvale], 1970 [o]
66-0 ¼ … Mike Alleman [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2008 [o]
65-10 ¼ … Bruce Heide [Springfield], 1975 [o]
65-9 … Fabian Gonzalez [Southern Regional], 2023 [o]
65-9 … Peter Donini [Delbarton], 2025 [i]
65-8 … Vaughn Skidmore [Ocean Twp.], 1976 [o]
65-6 … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2025 [i]
65-4 ¾ … Cole Tucker [Colts Neck], 2021 [o]
65-2 ¼ … Marcus Blasucci [CBA], 2025
65-2 … Aaron Echternacht [Hopewell Valley], 1991 [o]
65-1 ½ … Christopher Licata [Gil St. Bernard], 2018 [o]

All-Time South Jersey Combined List
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2012 [i]
66-3 ¾ … Anthony Liakhnovich [Williamstown], 2025 [i]
65-6 … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2025 [i]
64-10 ¼ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997 [o]
64-6 ¼ … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996 [o]
63-11 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995 [i]
63-8 ½ … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2025 [i]
63-1 ¾ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014 [i]
62-7 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018 [i]
63-2 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022 [o]
62-10 … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024 [o]
61-9 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995 [i]
61-6 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013 [o]
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013 [o]
61-3 … Jayden Farmer [Pennsauken], 2024 [o]
61-2 ½ … Matthew Huckabee [Timber Creek], 2010 [o]
60-11 ¼ … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2024 [o]
60-11 … Lucciano Pizarro [Cherokee], 2019 [o]
60-10 ¾ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020 [i]
60-3 … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971 [i]
60-3 … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2012 [o]
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004 [i]