If anyone is looking for a reason why Dominick Padovano keeps placing second in meets, look no further than the competition.
Padovano has placed second in the shot put in the Greater Middlesex Conference, Central Jersey Group IV and Group IV meets. East Brunswick's Sam Mattis won all of those meets.
"Unfortunately, he's had to throw against a local guy all season," South Brunswick Coach Stefan Moorhead said. "Dominick was second in all of the events. Fortunately, he doesn't let that get him down. If anything, it's pushed him to raise his level."
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Padovano placed second in the Group IV championships, held on Feb. 18 at the Bennett Center in Toms River. Padovano had a recorded distance of 54 3/4.
"He's been very consistent this season," Moorhead said. "He never threw over fifty feet last season. This season, everything is over fifty feet."
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The top six finishers in each event at the Group IV finals earn the right to compete in The Meet of Champions, scheduled for Feb. 26 in Toms River. Joining Padovano at that event will be Derek Forthun.
Forthun placed fifth in the high jump with a height of 6' 2".
"He even had a couple good jumps at 6' 4", which would have been a personal best," Moorhead said. "Hopefully, he'll get another chance at it in The Meet of Champions."
Because not all of the talent is distrbuted equally among the different groups in the state, there are wild card entries for The Meet of Champions. The top six non-medal winners in each event also advance. This pool of talent will be selected from all of the groups combined.
Because of the wild cards, Forthun could possibly be competing in the pole vault at The Meet of Champions. Forthun placed seventh in the pole vault at 12' 6", a personal best. That would be quite a height for six other non-medal winners to top.
Adam Dickert placed ninth in the shot put with a distance 45 10 1/2. Much like Forthun in the pole vault, Dickert put up a mark that will hard for six non-medal winners to top.
Matt Eder competed in the 3200.
"It was a nice accomplishment for him to get here (the Group IV finals)," Moorhead noted.
It's also a nice accomplishment for South Brunswick to qualify two -- possibly three -- boys for The Meet of Champions.
"We're definitely proud of the accomplishments," Moorhead said.
