Morristown's Vena sets new shot put record

Sunday, December 20, 2009

STAFF WRITER

Nick Vena of Morristown unloaded a throw of 67-8.25 in the shot put to break the 40-year-old national junior class record, and the Hunterdon Central High girls indoor track and field team won a pair of distance races at yesterday's 25th Gardiner Relays at Drew University in Madison.

Vena's 67-8¼ smashed the national junior class record of 67-feet that Jesse Stuart of Glasgow, Ky., set in 1969. Vena now owns the national freshman, sophomore and junior class marks.

The Hunterdon Central girls foursome of Rashmi Singh, Juliana Lindner, Katherine Vodopia and Allison Payenski teamed up to win the 4x800 (10:03.28) and distance medley (12:57.25).

In the boys competition, All-Staters Pat Schellberg (3:12.3 for 1,200) and Morgan Pearson (4:31 on the anchor) led Delbarton to victory in the distance medley in 10:48.84. Schellberg also had a 1:59.1 800 carry, and a 54.5 400 split on the day.