John Surdej Inches His Way Towards 60-Foot Shot Put Club

Can you feel it?  This past weekend, we were just three-and-a-quarter inches away from having our first 60-foot Shot Put throw of the season.

Up at the Williamsville Invite, reigning Indoor State Champ John Surdej (Lancaster) was pushing his personal best out to a 59-8.25 in the Shot Put.  The mark would improve his best ever mark Outdoors by two feat, while also improving his All-Time best of 59-1 thrown Indoors.

The 60-foot mark in the Boys Shot Put is one of those "magic marks" in HS Track & Field that are major benchmarks in the sport.  Not only that, but New York has a long tradition of surpassing that mark.  We have done so for every year straight since 2009, with a four-year-streak before that from 2004 to 2008.  Last year, we saw three new additions to the list, led by Jack Zimmerman (Briarcliff) at 61-2.75.

Even more impressive is the legacy that Lancaster holds.  Routinely one of the top throwing schools in the State, over the past three years they have had one 60+ thrower in Colin Blair (Class of '17), as well as Connor Strusienski (Class of '16) at 59-9.5.  Likewise, their female throwers are just as good, hosting the prior Shot Put State Record holder in Melissa Kurzdorfer (Class of '10) with her 49-9.5.

Check out the chart below, and we'll see who else can add their name to the list.