Benjamin Shue, the young throwing phenom from Bergen Catholic, smashed the national freshman record in the discus when he sent the saucer sailing 192-3 at the Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays on Wednesday in Ridgewood.
Shue, who will turn 17 on Sept. 12, broke the national freshman record of 191-8 that was set in 1999 by Derek Randall of Beeville, Texas, shattered the Bergen County record of 189-2 set in 1980 by 2-time Olympian Mike Buncic of Fair Lawn, and moved up to No. 11 all-time in N.J. history, and No. 11 in the nation this season.
After fouling on his first attempt on Wednesday, the 6-2, 245-pound Shue threw 182-4 on his second try before his record-setting 192-3 bomb on his final attempt. Shue's previous PR in the discus was 181-3, which he threw at a tri-meet at Paramus Catholic earlier this month.
The next big national record that Shue is chasing is the national record for a 16-year-old, which is 210-1 set by Jeff Buckey of Bakersfield, Calif. in 1991. The NJ record is 218-4, set by 2020 U.S. Olympian Sam Mattis of East Brunswick in 2012.
