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.

YearSeason First BrokeNameTeamSeason Best
1992-2003



2004IndoorDerek McGuireWatertown64-11.5

IndoorJosh DupuisTupper Lake61-8
2005IndoorJohn HickeyTappan Zee63-11.75
2006OutdoorBlake Eaton
Allegheny-Limestone62-11
2007IndoorWalter HenningSt. Anthony's64-1.75

OutdoorEaton
63-10.5
2008



2009



2010IndoorJosh HaghihiWheatley61-9.5

OutdoorShane SmithFonda-Fultonville60-3.5
2011Indoor"Chuk" EnekwechiFrancis Lewis62-4.5
2012OutdoorAJ WolfHackley60-5.25
2013IndoorDevon PattersonWilliamsville South60-4.75

OutdoorBenjamin BonhurstSmithtown East61-11
2014IndoorBonhurst
65-0

IndoorPatterson
63-10.75

IndoorEric FavorsNorth Rockland63-0.5

IndoorDennis RusselLongwood62-1

OutdoorCorey MurphyLongwood64-1

Outdoor"Pobo" EfekoroForrest Hills60-9.5
2015IndoorFavors
66-1

IndoorJaelen VasquezCardinal Hayes60-4.5

OutdoorPatterson
60-11
2016IndoorAndrew CannistraciIona Prep62-0.75

IndoorColin BlairLancaster60-4
2017
Outdoor
Jack Zimmerman
Briarcliff
61-2.75

Outdoor
Jeff Derwin
Broadalbin-Perth
60-8.75

Outdoor
Danny Byrne
King's Park
60-2.5
2018
Outdoor
John Surdej
Lancaster
59-8.75