Throws
The Big Names
As the top returner in the shot put and second best returner in the weight throw, Erik Fertig is an early favorite to pull of the throws double this March.
Fertig returns with a 50-11.25 shot put best that earned him second at the indoor state meet and 63-11.75 weight throw best that earned him gold. He improved that shot put mark to 53-4.25 outdoor, but finished outside of the top eight in the event at state. What was truly impressive about his outdoor season, though was his 204-2 hammer throw - 12th in the entire country - and his state hammer throw championship. That should bode well for the senior as he comes inside for the weight throw and eyes a gold medal there.
The young man ahead of Fertig in the weight throw, Van Buren's Tyler Arbaugh will be looking to hold off the multiple time state champion in his own quest for his first gold.
Runner-up in the weight throw last season, Arbaugh has already made a major statement this indoor season with a 68-1.25 heave at the first Tiffin meet, good enough for the top mark in the country so far. He hasn't had that same success in the shot put just yet, but, if he can keep moving up and surpass the 70 foot mark in the weight, it could be Arbaugh's event to lose this March.
Speaking of making a statement in the early goings, Austin Clay has done just that in the shot put.
At last Sunday's Sunday Series meet, Clay chucked the shot a US No. 2 58-0.5, over seven feet ahead of Fertig's top returning mark. He had already surpassed that 50-11.25 mark at the first Tiffin meet, though, when he hit 53-10 for the win. After finishing 15th in the outdoor shot at state, Clay appears ready to make the climb to the top of the podium. He was already the second best returner in the event indoor (50-7).
Clay also returns as the third best weight thrower with his bronze-winning 59-2.5 mark at last March's state meet, but he's already surpassed that mark, too. He took fifth at the first Tiffin meet with a 60-3.5 toss.
Jackson's 50-2.5 best in the shot put is third among returners in the event. A shot put specialist in the winter, he'll be looking to improve on his third place finish at last year's state meet. He took second in the Division 2 shot put outdoor with his 55-5 heave, but may have to go through Fertig and Clay if he wants to grab a gold this March.
Jacob Crawford - North Baltimore
Crawford returns for the 2019 indoor season as the fourth best shot putter, specializing in the event throughout his indoor career. He finished ninth at the state meet last winter and tossed 49-8 twice before going 47-7.5 at state. Outdoor, Crawford took third at the Division 3 state meet and improved his lifetime best to 56-7.25. Should Crawford parlay that outdoor success into his 2019 indoor campaign, he should help make the shot put an interesting one this March.
The Up-and-Comers
Not many freshman tend to make noise at the state level in the throws events, but Ridgewood's JJ Durr decided to be the exception last March.
Durr placed fifth in the 2018 weight throw with his 53-8.75 personal best. Outdoor, Durr hit 48-0 in the shot put and nearly missed clearing 150' in the discus with a 149-4 toss. He's the fifth best returner in the weight now and has a bright future ahead of him.
Hurtt competed twice last indoor season in the shot put, topping out at 40-3.75, but he improved upon that in the outdoor season with a 47-1.25 put at his region meet.
Marinacci is in the same boat as Hurtt, throwing 40-8.5 in the shot put in his freshman campaign. He wasn't able to improve upon that mark in the outdoor season, but will be one to watch moving forward this indoor season.
Event to Watch
Shot Put
All five of the big names profiled above have the chops to take home the shot put title. Fertig is the top returner based on 2018 marks, but he has already been surpassed by Clay and Arbaugh is looking ready to make a move on the event, as well, with his weight throw improvements. Jandre Jackson will be a sneaky candidate to compete for the title and Crawford had his breakthrough during the 2018 outdoor campaign. With so many athletes to choose from, the shot put will be one to watch as the meets start to pile up.