On the track, the runners are often the stars of the show, displaying their athleticism to the crowd. However, meets are won not only on the track, but also on the grass fields and sandy pits of the throwing ranges. Through shot put, discus and javelin, these athletes won competitions for the team in the shadows.

“We work every day trying to improve, and on meet day all of our work is tested in one throw,” senior captain Justin Swayze said.

Here’s a look at these unique events.

Shot Put

Shot Put takes place in the sand pit on the far side of the track, where athletes compete to throw a heavy metal ball as far as possible. The boys’ team excels at this, led by Swayze, who threw 47.175 feet at NJAC East on Tuesday, May 5, and senior Benjamin Quinn, who threw a 49-4 at the Blue Devil Classic on Saturday April 11, 2026.

Juniors Jake Cangelosi and Bevyn Carbery have also become key contributors.

For the girls, freshman Jayda Lambo has thrown a 34-0 at the NJAC East, while sophomore Sophia VanAntwerp has recorded a throw of 28-8 at NJAC East.

Discus

Discus competes behind the middle school and involves throwing a frisbee-like disc while spinning inside a circle. Quinn notably won the Blue Devil Classic with a throw of 144-10.

Senior Zahir Hoppe followed with a mark of 115-1 at the Morris Hills Relay on Wednesday, April 29.

For the girls’ team, VanAntwerp led with a throw of 71-6, while sophomore Avery Altemose recorded a 74-3 at the Morris Hills Relay.

“I love discus not because of the throwing aspect of it, but because of getting better every single day and seeing the progress in your marks,” Quinn said.

Javelin

Javelin, one of the most technical throwing events, challenges participants to make the farthest possible throw with a spear-like object.

Sophomore Manny Samaniego has been one of the top performers in a competitive field, throwing 167-5, at the Freshman-Sophomore Championships on May 8, 2026. Other competitors, including sophomore Dolan Vogel, threw 109-9 at the same event.

On the girls’ side, sophomore Layla Tavares threw a 105-0 at NJAC East, while senior Jessica Lenord reached 79-9 at NJAC East.

“So far, I am happy with my performance hitting the 160s,” Samaniego said. “Still, I am trying to reach my goal to get into the 170-foot range by the end of the season.”

Although they are not in the spotlight, the throwers continue to work hard to win meets for the team off the field.

The throwers are excited to display their skills through the remainder of the season.