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 | 115th Penn Relays
Thu.-Sat., April 23-25, 2009
Franklin Field, Philadelphia PA
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Vena named meet MVP
Nick Vena of Morristown NJ, who smashed four long standing records when he repeated as shot put champion with his mamouth throw of 72-2 ½ on Friday, made even more history yesterday when he was named MVP for the boys individual events at the 115th Penn Relays.
Vena, who broke the N.J. meet, national sophomore record and the national mark for a 16-year-old, is the first field event athlete in meet history to earn the MVP award two years in a row.
He joined Matt Centrowitz of Broadneck High in Annapolis, Md., as the only boy to win two straight MVP’s in an individual event. The award has been given out for 24 years.
``It’s a great achievement for me to be able to win this award again,’’ said Vena. ``There are so many great athletes here, so to be able to standout and be chosen as MVP is something I am very proud of. It’s a great honor and really means a lot to me.’’
Vena, who turned 16 on April 16, was the first freshman boy to earn MVP honors a year ago when he won with a 63-6 ¾.
His 72-2 ½ shattered the Penn Relays record of 67-3, set in 1985 by J.J. Grant of Liverpool (N.Y.). The New Jersey outdoor record of 69-8 ¼ was set in 1997 by Kevin DiGiorgio of Bayonne, while the other records Vena broke were the national U.S. sophomore record of 68-10 ¾ by Kevin Bookout of Stroud, Okla. in 2000, and the U.S. 16-year old national record of 71-10 ¼, set in 1983 by Arnold Campbell of Airline High in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Vena is now ranked No. 6 on the all-time U.S. list and is No. 1 in the nation this season.
The 72-2 ½ is the furthest by a U.S. high school athlete since Brent Noon of Fallbrook, California let losse a 76-2 in 1990. Noon was a three-time NCAA champion at Georgia and the 1995 U.S. outdoor champion.
Vena, who also had throws of 69-7 ½, 70-5 ¾ and 70-4 ½, is just the second boy to repeat as shot put champion, joining John Stephens of North Rockland High School, N.Y., who won in 1988 and ’89.
Here is a list of the 19 New Jersey boys MVP’s at the Penn Relays
2009-Nick Vena, Morristown
2008-Nick Vena, Morristown
2004-Reuben McCoy, Winslow
2003-Anthony Miles, Winslow
2002-Glenn DiGiorgio, Bayonne
1998-Robert Jordan, Millville
1993-Bob Keino, Ridgewood
1988-Matt Mitchell, Christian Brothers
1984-Dan Bertolami, Woodbridge
1983-Vance Watson Willingboro
1978-Bill Hartley, Southern; Aubrey McKithen, Trenton
1977-Kevin Byrne, Paramus Catholic
1974-Ron Klotzer, Union
1971-Pete LaCorte, Cedar Grove
1970-Keith Davis, Lincoln
1968-Joe Savage, Roselle Catholic
1967-Marty Liquori, Essex Catholic
1959-Al Adams, Jersey City |
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