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Jessica Oji has been saying all season that she felt like it was just a matter of time before she launched a massive shot put bomb.
That time came on Saturday when the junior at Livingston sent the 8.8-pound ball soaring 49-10.50 in the American Division competition at the Super Essex Conference Championships at Schools Stadium in Newark.
Oji's monumental blast broke the Essex County record and moved her all the way up to No. 3 in NJ history, No. 7 in the nation this season, and No. 2 in the country among high school junioirs.
The former Essex County record of 49-10 was set by Shelby Bigsby of Montclair when she finished second at the 2018 New Balance National Championships.
The only two NJ girls to ever throw further than Oji in high school are Alyssa Wilson of Donovan Catholic, who set the state record of 58-1 at the 2017 Pan-American Junior Championships in Peru, and Nickolette Dunbar of Whippany Park, who unloaded a 53-0.25 to finish first at the 2016 USATF Hershey Youth Championships at Millersville, Pa.
Oji, who missed the very end of the outdoor season last spring and the early part of this past indoor season after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL, has made a remarkable recovery and comeback!
Oji came into Saturday's meet with a PR of 47-2.25, which she threw to win the State Group 4 indoor title in 2023, and her previous best this season was 46-6.50 at the Essex County Relays last week. Now she's the third best thrower in state history!
Next stop for Oji is 50 feet!!!