Boys' Shot Put Preview
It's been another strong year in the boys shot put, as three boys enter Sunday's state meet with bests over 60 feet and those three all sit within the nation's top ten. A good one is brewing here.
The top seed and favorite is Fleetwood Area's Jeff Kline. After knocking on the doorstep of 60 feet, Kline busted out a big throw of 62-10 at Kevin Dare. He followed that up a few weeks later with a 62-11.5, which puts him at PA No. 1 and US No. 2 entering the weekend. He took third last year, but his sights are surely set on his first state crown, and he's put up the numbers prove he could be ready to do it.
But Kline will have challengers in the form of the other two that have put up throws over 60 feet this season. Wilmington's Connor Vass-Gal has been very consistent this season. He tossed his best of 61-3.75 (US No. 5) at Youngstown State and then a week later threw 61-2 again at YSU. He's hitting his marks at the right time and will be a tough one to beat on Sunday. He was fifth at indoor states last year.
Somerset Area's Dustin Hyde looks to be peaking at the right time. He had a major PR to win the TSTCA title last week with a US No. 9 60-3.5. That makes him another contender for the win in this deep field and he'll be looking to replicate that series on Sunday. His brother -- Nick Hyde -- was second at indoor states last year.
Fairview's Eric Schulz will look to eclipse the 60-foot barrier on Sunday. He threw 59-7 at SPIRE a few weeks back and has been throwing at a high level all winter long. Expect him to compete for a high finish.
There are two other returning state medalists in this field from last winter. Wilson's Jack Miller had a big day and took fourth last year. He threw an indoor PR of 54-11 earlier this season and should be a contender for a high placing yet again. Chambersburg's Brock Harmon took eighth last year to get that last medal. With a SB of 54-10.5, he'll aim to improve on that finish.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame-Green Pond's Thomas Kitchell (56-8.75), Plum's Logan Parker (55-9.25), and Lewisburg Area's Josh Gose (55-7.5) all have strong season bests that will make them contenders in this incredibly deep shot put field. Kitchell, a discus state champion last spring, has claimed seven shot put victories this indoor season.
This will be a great event that you don't want to miss on Sunday.
Event 24 Boys Shot Put ============================================================ =================== 9 to the finals Meet Record: 75-03.75 2/25/2017 Jordan Geist, Knoch 51-00.00 SGQ State Guideline Name Year School ============================== ============================== =================== 1 Adele, Chilekasi 12 Bonner/Prendie 2 Allen, Angelo 10 Penn Hills 3 Bailor, Allan 11 Jim Thorpe 4 Cotterman, Aryan 12 Meadville 5 Dippre, Cj 11 Lakeland 6 Gingrich, Brock 12 Cocalico 7 Gose, Josh 12 Lewisburg 8 Guevara, Kevin 12 CB West 9 Gustafson, Nick 12 Shippensburg 10 Harmon, Brock 12 Chambersburg 11 Hyde, Dustin 11 Somerset Area 12 Kitchell, Thomas 12 Notre Dame GP 13 Kline, Jeff 12 Fleetwood Ar 14 Lambrecht, Dylan 11 Nthrn Lebanon 15 Mayer, Levi 12 Arch Wood 16 Miller, Jack 12 Wilson (3) 17 Norris, Daniel 11 Hempfield Area 18 Parker, Logan 11 Plum 19 Schulz, Eric 12 Fairview 20 Vass-Gal, Connor 11 Wilmington