Jessica Oji of Livingston, one of the greatest throwers in U.S. high school history, has announced her commitment to attend the University of Pennsylvania.
Oji, one of the top recruits in the nation, climbed all the way up to No. 2 in U.S. indoor history when she launched the shot 57-4.5 earlier this month at the Essex County Indoor Relay Championships at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, N.Y.
The 57-4.5 put Oji just one inch off the national record of 57-5.5, which was set in 2017 by a another New Jersey legend, Alyssa Wilson of Donovan Catholic.
Oji has thrown beyond 50 feet in eight meets this season, including a meet record 52-0 to win the State Group 4 title on Sunday at the Bennett Center in Toms River. That broke the record of 51-9.25 set in 1991 by Nicole Sims of Plainfield.
Last spring, Oji went undefeated in the shot put with nine victories capped off by a national title at New Balance Nationals Championships at Franklin Field on her future home campus.
Oji will be heavily favored to win her fourth Meet of Champions title in the shot next Sunday at Ocean Breeze. She has captured two indoor M of C titles and one outdoors.
Oji's rise to an all-time great thrower makes her remarkable return from an ACL injury while playing soccer in the spring of 2023 even more impressive. An experience Ojispoke about during her interview at the 2024 Penn Relays, which she won with a mark of 46-4.
Oji owns outdoor PR's of 51-10 in the shot put and 161-7 in the discus throw.
Jessica Oji of Livingston, one of the greatest throwers in U.S. high school history, has announced her commitment to attend the University of Pennsylvania.
Oji, one of the top recruits in the nation, climbed all the way up to No. 2 in U.S. indoor history when she launched the shot 57-4.5 earlier this month at the Essex County Indoor Relay Championships at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, N.Y.
