Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School has a 60-foot shot put pit, but Jason Bryan could use a bigger one, as the thrower’s goals go beyond 60 feet.
Bryan set his personal best and school record of 60-0 in capturing the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II championship on Jan. 31 at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River. His personal best heading into the season was 52-11.
In doing so, he had a remarkable series of throws where he kept extending his personal best. He had a 58-11, which was followed by a 59-8 and then his milestone 60-footer.
“I wasn’t really expecting to hit it,” the 6-foot, 290-pound thrower, who noted that he hasn’t reached his peak phase yet, said about the mark.
He had gone through a hard workout prior to the state sectionals, which he didn’t think would have him ready for a personal best, let alone reach 60 feet.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
Besides all those personal bests, Bryan attained one of his major goals of the indoor season — qualifying for the Penn Relays. The other goals are the state championships and the New Balance Indoor Nationals.
“My main goal is throwing well,” he said.
Bryan recently signed his National Letter of Commitment to Rutgers University to continue his throwing career.
“I’ve always wanted to play a sport in college,” he said.
Prior to entering Rumson-Fair Haven, Bryan would have thought football would be the sport.
It was a fluke, he noted, that got him started in track and field. A friend was throwing the shot put, and on a whim, he decided to give it a try his freshman year. Something clicked, and as the years went by, he became more and more dedicated. He switched from the glide to the spin to throw the shot, and also picked up the discus, which he holds the school record for at 157- 5. Last year as a junior, he qualified for the outdoor Meet of Champions in both.
To really reach his potential, though, Bryan had to make a decision about competing in other sports.
“No more football or wrestling,” he said. “My heart is in track and field. There’s something about it that drives me.”
That something is the search for that perfect throw. It’s what drives all throwers, and Bryan is no exception.
Bryan credits former Monmouth University All-American Jon Kalnas for his success this winter.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without Jon Kalnas,” he said.
Bryan will be searching for more personal bests on Feb. 15, when he goes for the Group II state championship in Toms River. His 60-0 is the second best throw in the state this year, and he’ll be throwing against the competitor with the farthest throw, Nick Pulli from West Deptford High School, who has a personal best of 63-1¾.
New record for Mazza
At the Feb. 7 Central Jersey Group III championships held in Toms River, another thrower who has had an exceptional season, Ocean Township High School’s Michelle Mazza, continued her winning ways and rewriting the school record book.
Mazza, who is also coached by Kalnas, broke her own school record when she won the sectional title with a throw of 40-9¼. Her new personal best is the fifth-best throw in the state in 2014. The top five throwers are separated by less than a foot.
Rumson-Fair Haven girls first in Central Jersey Group II
Rumson-Fair Haven’s girls easily won the Central Jersey Group II title with 88 points.
They used their cross-country prowess to the max, going first through third in the 3,200.
Jacqueline Gottuso (11:23.79), Hannah Anderson (11:31.15) and Megan Hellman (11:31.71) gave the Bulldogs 24 points with their sweep.
Gottuso (5:11.73), Courtney Howley (5:14.79) and Hellman (5:16.02) finished second through fourth in the 1,600, which was won in a meet record by Holmdel High School’s Marin Warner (4:55.09).
Morgan Steinhacker (2:23.93) was second to Warner (2:16.40) in the 800, and Howley was third (2:24.42). Fini Satzke was sixth (2:28.64).
In all, the Bulldogs piled up 57 points in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
Rumson-Fair Haven’s other sectional title came in the 4×400 with Janie DeVito, Raechel Mullan, Howley and Steinhacker, running a 4:07.96.
Steinhacker (1:00.32) and Mullan (1:01.02) went second and third, respectively, in the 400.
Sarena Dixon of Red Bank Regional High School won the shot put (40-4¾).
Also scoring for the Rumson-Fair Haven girls were Emily Boak, who was third in the 55 hurdles (9.04), and Anna Finn, who was sixth in the high jump (4-8).
Long Branch High School’s Cleopatra Morrison continued her domination of the 55 dash by winning the finals in 7.20, her fastest time this winter.
On the boys side, Red Bank Regional’s Xavier Chestnut won the 55 dash in 6.63, while teammate Mario Williams finished third (6.76).
Chestnut was second in the 400 (51.42). He and Williams, along with Sean Patterson and Scottie Reeves, were second in the 4×400 (3:29.92).
In Group I, Shore Regional High School swept the boys and girls 800 races. Kevin Mazzella took the boys 800 in 2:01.00, while Sarah George captured the girls race in 2:20.19.