Preview and selection for boys' shot put

The NJSIAA Meet of Champions is in Pennsauken for the first time and back in South Jersey for the first time since 2019.

NJ.com has previews of all 36 events for both genders. Below, find our preview of the boys’ shot put championship.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONS

2023: Joshua Huisman, Sainte-Rose (64-7 ¾)
2022: Joe Licata, Gill Saint-Bernard, (64-8)
2021: Cole Tucker, Colts Neck (64-10 ½)
2019: Lucciano Pizzaro, Cherokee (60-11)
2018: CJ Licata, Gill St. Bernard’s (64-6 ¾)

2024 GROUP CHAMPIONS

Group 1: Damere Lassiter, Glassboro (55-8 ¾)
Group 2: Julian Williams, Willingboro (58-4)
Group 3: Jonathan Harris, Delsea (62-10 ¾)
Group 4: Sean Wilton, Princeton (57-5 ¼)
Non-public A: Benjamin Shue, Catholic from Bergen (69-2)
Non-public B: Joshua Huisman, St. Rose (64-9 ¼)

MEET THE RECORDING: 75-10 ¼ set by Nick Vena of Morristown in 2011.

WEAK SEEDS WITH THE BEST MEDAL CHANCE: Hammonton’s Anthony Liakhnovich, the No. 15 seed, is a no-brainer here. The junior is one of five athletes in the state to throw 60 feet this season, which was the case at the SJTCA Open on May 4 (62-10). This brand is a #4 in NJ this season. Although he has struggled in recent games, at his best he ranks among the best pitchers in the Garden State. A good performance could easily put Liakhnovich in contention for a Top 5 spot.

THE COMPETITORS : Benjamin Shue, Catholic from Bergen; Joshua Huisman, Sainte-Rose; Jonathan Harris, Delsea; Anthony Liakhnovich, Hammonton; Shawn Brady, Bishop Eustace, Tyler Dunn, Seton Hall Prep

ANALYSIS: Ben Shue vs. Josh Huisman at Meet of Champions. This is the heavyweight battle that everyone in the state has been waiting to see all season long. Huisman comes in as the defending M of C state champion in both indoor and outdoor track, but Shue has been on another level this year. He has held the state lead in shot put since mid-May, when he threw 68-0 to win the Bergen County title. In the non-public A competition, Shue broke the competition record with a draw of 69-2, which was the sixth-best mark in the entire country. Huisman hasn’t reached those heights yet, but his outdoor PR of 66-9.25 is no reason to sleep. For Huisman to make history as the first shot putter since Luke Grodeska (2015-2016) to win back-to-back M of C titles, he will need to perform at his best against a red-hot Shue. Expect a back-and-forth duel where the lead could change hands several times until the very last throw.

The competition between Shue and Huisman should elevate the rest of the field to aim for a big mark. Delsea junior Jonathan Harris, who is also one of the best pitchers in the country, could make things interesting if he improves his PR to 63-0.5.

COREY ANNAN’S CHOICE: Benjamin Shue, Catholic from Bergen

Corey Annan can be contacted at [email protected]. follow him @coreyannan360.

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