Connor Vass-Gal reclaimed the state's top spot in the shot put with a big effort at Friday's Butler Invitational.
The Wilmington senior, who is bound for Youngstown State in the fall, put down a best mark of 62-6 in the shot put to take the win. It was part of a big series that saw a number of other puts out over 60 feet.
Vass-Gal takes over the PA No. 1 spot from Somerset's Dustin Hyde. He threw 59-9.5 in the shot at a dual meet on April 14, which stood at PA No. 1 until Vass-Gal's Butler performance. Vass-Gal's 62-6 is not quite a PR; he threw 64-4.75 as a sophomore. Nationally, Vass-Gal moves up to US No. 9 on the season.
Vass-Gal and Hyde won't compete against each other at the PIAA State Championships, as Vass-Gal's Wilmington is a AA school, while Hyde's Somerset is in AAA. Still, the battle for the PA No. 1 spot, regardless of classification, wages on. As far as AA is concerned, Vass-Gal has the top mark in the state in the shot by over ten feet. Hyde's lead in AAA is much closer with Hempfield Area's Daniel Norris at No. 2 with a season best of 58-1.
Check out an interview with Vass-Gal after his win in the shot put at Butler below:
