Vena Breaks Own Record in 4th Penn Relays Win

PHILADELPHIA—A hulking figure in a loose white tank top and maroon shorts stopped at the center of the shot put field, then flipped an object gingerly as he strolled to the throwing circle.

A hushed crowd watched as Nick Vena swiftly placed it behind his left ear, dipped his knees and twirled with a violent, controlled spin.

72 feet and 9 1/4 inches later, the thud of the shot cratering in the sand and crashing into a wooden retaining wall was dwarfed by the roar of applause.

Officials had to break out extra measuring tape, and double-check their findings to eventually declare what those gathered already knew.

Vena had broken his own Penn Relays record and won the shot put event for a record fourth straight year. No American high-school student had won more than two in the 117-year history of the track & field event.

"Winning one is great, but four is something I never imagined," said Vena, who has been a shot putting force since his freshman year at Morristown High School. "I'm very happy to have accomplished this, and very honored."

He didn't use the word surprised, and shouldn't have. Three years ago—after his first win at Penn, he finished his year by becoming the first freshman in U.S. track & field history to finish a season with the No. 1 throw in the nation, at 66 feet, 7 and one-quarter inches. His career high is 72.10 ½. 

At age 18, Vena has already collected numerous awards on his way to the University of Virginia, including four New Jersey state shot put titles. On Friday, he easily destroyed the field, beating second-place finisher, Emmanuel Onyia of Munro College in Jamaica, by more than seven feet.

He beat his previous Penn Relays mark—set at 72 2 1/2 inches during his sophomore year—and has the top three shot put distances in Penn Relays history.

"He wants to be perfect all the time," said Ron Davenport, Vena's throws coach. "I told him after his first throw, the 72.8 one, don't be content, and I know he was already thinking that. That's how he is. We're thinking, 'Let's break another one. Keep pushing.'"

Vena, also a dangerous discus thrower, has pushed for that type of consistency all season, and succeeded. In 12 indoor New Jersey track meets last winter, the Virginia-bound Vena has thrown at least 70 feet in eight of those meets, and won his fourth NJSIAA Meet of  Champions title, the first New Jersey athlete to win four straight gold medals. 

Vena still isn't satisfied. Hooked since third grade—after his father, Victor, placed a shot put in his hand—his goal of becoming a physical education teacher may have to wait until he collects a few gold medals at the Olympics.

"There's always someone coming to beat your distance," he said. "I always have to improve to stay on top."

Before each of his Penn Relays tosses, Vena was constantly in motion, pacing behind the stands, waving his arms or jumping up and down. After, he never waited for a measurement or paused to admire his throw.

The crowd did.

"When he threw those two bombs at the end, I was amazed," said Montville High School's Taylor Bernstein, Vena's training partner. "I'm glad I ran over to the side to watch."

Others have been watching Vena's accomplishments for years. He was named one of Sports Illustrated "Faces In The Crowd" in a February 2008 issue. In January, he was featured on ESPN’s RISE, with an illustration of him as an action figure, hurling shot puts from a machine-gun like arm.

“They just created something,” Vena said. “That was funny. We got a couple of copies. It's always there to say, 'I was an action figure at one time.'"

Results for Event 617: High School Boys' Shot Put Championship

1. Nick Vena, Morristown (Morristown, NJ), 22.18m (72-9.25).
2. Emmanuel Onyia, Munro College (St. Elizabeth, JAM), 19.93m (65-4.75).
3. Oshinia Miller, Calabar (Kingston, JAM), 19.76m (64-10).
4. Isaiah Simmons Woodbridge (Woodbridge, VA), 19.27m (63-2.75).
5. Taylor Bernstein, Montville Township (Montville, NJ), 17.00m (55-9.25).
6. Dontaye Rivera, Pleasantville (Pleasantville, NJ), 16.65m (54-7.5).
7. Praduman Singh, Upper Darby (Upper Darby, PA), 16.36m (53-8.25).
8. Patrick Cole, Hasbrouck Heights (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ), 16.33m (53-7).
9. Michael Seminario, Fordham Prep (Bronx, NY), 16.12m (52-10.75).
10. A.J. Wolf, Hackley School (Tarrytown, NY), 16.12m (52-10.75).
11. Scott Rushton, Episcopal Academy (Newtown Square, PA), 15.95m (52-4).
12. Brian Waterfield, Great Bridge (Chesapeake, VA), 15.83m (51-11.25).
13. Tom Buffone, Manalapan (Manalapan, NJ), 15.52m (50-11).
14. Brandon Reynolds, Kings Park (Kings Park, NY), 15.42m (50-7.25).
15. Terrance Edwards, Norristown (Norristown, PA), 15.38m (50-5.5).
16. Traven Mable, Willingboro (Willingboro, NJ), 15.20m (49-10.5).
17. Brendan Lamy, Wilson (West Lawn, PA), 14.31m (46-11.5).