Self-taught Licata takes big step forward with 64-5.50 SP

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Gill St. Bernard's NJ senior C.J. Licata knew a big throw was on the horizon in the shot put. On Saturday at the Molloy Stanner Games at The Armory, it finally came.

Licata's 64-foot, 5.50-inch toss marked a massive personal best, as all four throws in the series surpassed his previous best of 61-11.

"It felt really good," Licata said. "I'd been warming up past 63 feet. It was just making a couple of technical cues. ... I knew as soon as it left my hand, it was out there."

Licata's transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. For two years, he threw without a coach at Gill St. Bernard's. But as a devotee of YouTube, Licata still managed to raise his PR from 41 feet as a sophomore to 61 feet as a junior, when he picked up coaching during the indoor season.

"It was a bit of YouTube," Licata said. "I really didn't have a coach until last year during indoor. It was about YouTube, extreme drills. ... Technique has gotten me this far."

Licata, a glider, favors videos of German David Storl.

"The U.S. obviously has fallen out of favor with the glide," Licata said. "Europe probably has the best gliders. There aren't many people to turn to so I have to look at videos from the 1980s. With Storl, our backgrounds are the same. He's 6-5 and a bit of a glider."

In June, he added the help of Tony Naclerio, the former U.S. Olympic throws coach (1996) and longtime New Jersey coach Bill Gorski. They've help put Licata over the top.

"They've put in countless hours, multiple days a week, to get me to 64, where I am today," said Licata, who'll throw at Princeton next year.

Randolph NJ's distance program has regularly been a feeder for college-level programs. Junior Abby Loveys, one of a number of talented Randolph runners -- and a Foot Locker finalist -- is next.  

"We've had a lot of really good girls over the years who've run in college," said Loveys, who finished 33rd in San Diego. 

Duke runner Liz Lansing, a 4:45 prep, is a Randolph alum, as are former collegiate runners Joelle Amaral (Washington),  Molly Higgins (Princeton) and Samantha Jones (a cross country All-American at Wake Forest).

"It's a program," said assistant coach Kevin Higgins, who works with the distance runners, alongside longtime head coach Len Pietrewicz. "We've developed something to be proud of. The kids have put together a nice tradition.

"They generally get better at the next level, too. We're not a high-mileage program. We keep them healthy, developing good habits in high school."

Loveys' forte is the mile. On Saturday she easily won the invitational mile in 5:02.62. Her breakout came last June when she split 4:51 on Randolph's 4xMile relay team at New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, helping the team to sixth place.  

"She's the total package," Higgins said. "She's a smart kid, caring, kind. She's always the last one to leave practice."

Loveys and Randolph will eye the 4xMile relay at New Balance Nationals Indoor in March.

Benjamin Banneker NY sophomore Tahje Flemmings won the invitational 300 meters in 34.52. As a freshman, Flemmings, a native of Jamaica, set the New York state freshman record in the indoor 300 (34.69) and outdoor 400 meters (47.63).

"He knows how to step up," Benjamin Banneker coach Isaiah Cherry said. "Especially when it matters."

St. Anthony's NY junior Matt Payamps won the 1,000 meters in 2:33.80 and finished second in the 600 in 1:22.90.

"I misjudged the number of laps in the 1,000," Payamps said. "I actually felt OK afterwards."

St. Anthony's will focus on the 4x800 and distance medley relays this winter, with Payamps and Millrose mile qualifier Mason Gatewood leading the way.