Throws Preview
Lucciano Pizarro of Cherokee emerged as the shot put favorite after his PR bomb and NJ#1 59-9 to win the Group 4 title. But there are four other throwers separated by less than a foot. Connor Mathis of Don Bosco Prep is NJ#2 at 59-7, Non-Public A state champ Anthony Zamarra of Red Bank Catholic is at 59-2, and Kyle Lipscomb of Linden has thrown 58-10.50.
Group 4 champ Paul Brennan of Princeton, third in the discus last year, has been the state leader ever since his NJ#1 186-11 at the Penn Relays. Lipscomb, second at the M of C last year and second to Brennan in Group 4 last week, is NJ#2 at 181-2.
In the javelin, Group 3 winner Jason Santa Cruz of Old Tappan, the top returning finisher from last year when he was fifth, has dominated the event this year. He's undefeated vs. NJ competition this season and has topped the 200 foot mark in three meets this season with a PR and NJ#1 mark of 206-7.
The only thrower within 15 meet of Santa Cruz in the field is Chris Arias of Christian Brothers Academy, who won the Non-Public A title with a NJ#2 191-3.