PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Fabian Gonzalez and Joshua Huisman each delivered stunning performances in the circle on Thursday's at the 127th Penn Relays presented by Toyota.
The dynamic throwing duo from the Shore Conference unloaded the best throws of their lives to finish second overall and first among Americans in their respective events.
Gonzalez, a senior at Southern, came up with one of the best performances in state history in the discus in dramatic fashion when he sent the saucer flying 203-2 on his final attempt. That moved the Stanford-bound Gonzalez from fifth place to second, broke his Ocean County record, is No. 7 all-time in NJ history, and No. 2 in the nation this season.
Huisman, a junior at St. Rose, completed the daily double by matching Gonzalez's runner-up finish in the shot put when he launched the 12-pound ball 63-7.75, his best throw ever and No. 8 in the country this season.
The Penn Relays awards gold watches to every winner and to each top American finisher.
"I had no idea about the watch going to the top American,'' said Huisman. "I found out after I was done throwing, so to throw my best and win a watch like this at my first time ever at the Penn Relays is something I'll never forget. And being here at famous Franklin Field for the first time and coming up with my best throw is just an amazing experience.''
Huisman, who finished second to Kobe Lawrence of Calabar of Jamaica (68-8), said it was great to see two throwers from the same conference star on the biggest stage.
"All of us throwers are in a small, but tight community, and we all push each other and pull for one another, so to see Fabian get a big throw and also get top American is a great feeling,'' said Gonzalez. I'm happy for him.
In the discus, Gonzalez finished second to Nathan Villegas-Reyes of Puerto Rico (205-0), said he just went for broke on his final throw. Sophomore Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic was fourth with a 196-6. Shue was the top American in the discus last year when he placed third overall.
"I figured I had nothing to lose, so I just went for it,'' said Gonzalez, who shattered his Ocean County record of 189-9 that he threw at the Shore Conference Championships last year. "I knew it was a big one. It's the best feeling ever to hit one like that at such a big meet like this.
At the Woodbury Relays last week, Gonzalez launched the shot put an Ocean County record 65-9, the top throw in NJ this season, No. 13 in state history, and No. 2 in the nation this spring.