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.
| Year | Season First Broke | Name | Team | Season Best |
| 1992-2003 | ||||
| 2004 | Indoor | Derek McGuire | Watertown | 64-11.5 |
| Indoor | Josh Dupuis | Tupper Lake | 61-8 | |
| 2005 | Indoor | John Hickey | Tappan Zee | 63-11.75 |
| 2006 | Outdoor | Blake Eaton | Allegheny-Limestone | 62-11 |
| 2007 | Indoor | Walter Henning | St. Anthony's | 64-1.75 |
| Outdoor | Eaton | 63-10.5 | ||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2009 | ||||
| 2010 | Indoor | Josh Haghihi | Wheatley | 61-9.5 |
| Outdoor | Shane Smith | Fonda-Fultonville | 60-3.5 | |
| 2011 | Indoor | "Chuk" Enekwechi | Francis Lewis | 62-4.5 |
| 2012 | Outdoor | AJ Wolf | Hackley | 60-5.25 |
| 2013 | Indoor | Devon Patterson | Williamsville South | 60-4.75 |
| Outdoor | Benjamin Bonhurst | Smithtown East | 61-11 | |
| 2014 | Indoor | Bonhurst | 65-0 | |
| Indoor | Patterson | 63-10.75 | ||
| Indoor | Eric Favors | North Rockland | 63-0.5 | |
| Indoor | Dennis Russel | Longwood | 62-1 | |
| Outdoor | Corey Murphy | Longwood | 64-1 | |
| Outdoor | "Pobo" Efekoro | Forrest Hills | 60-9.5 | |
| 2015 | Indoor | Favors | 66-1 | |
| Indoor | Jaelen Vasquez | Cardinal Hayes | 60-4.5 | |
| Outdoor | Patterson | 60-11 | ||
| 2016 | Indoor | Andrew Cannistraci | Iona Prep | 62-0.75 |
| Indoor | Colin Blair | Lancaster | 60-4 | |
| 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 |