Ole Miss signee extends streak to five straight years of prep standouts surpassing prestigious barrier with 71-3 effort in fifth round at CIF Central Section South Area Championships

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

For the fifth consecutive year, a high school boys shot putter surpassed the 70-foot barrier when Bakersfield Liberty CA senior Daniel Viveros produced a nation-leading mark Wednesday at the CIF Central Section South Area Championships.

Viveros, an Ole Miss signee, elevated to the No. 5 all-time performer in the state and equal to No. 21 in prep history with a fifth-round effort of 71-3 (21.71m) at Bakersfield High’s Griffith Field.

The 1997 Central Section record belongs to Bakersfield High standout Van Mounts, who delivered an effort of 71-10 (21.89m) at the National Scholastic Outdoor Championships in Raleigh, N.C.

Although the implement landed for Mounts within the high school sector, it was considered a foul inside the more confined international sector, which was marked for the National Scholastic competition. Mounts also had a legal mark in the international sector in the third round of that meet at 68-8.75 (20.94m).

In competition only using a high school sector in California history, Viveros trails only Fallbrook graduate Brent Noon (76-2/23.21m), St. John Bosco star Matt Katnik (72-3/22.02m) and Esperanza talent Bronson Osborn (71-7.25/21.82m).

Katnik’s effort at the 2015 Trinity League finals began the five-year run of 70-foot performers.

Jordan Geist of Knoch PA, Adrian Piperi of The Woodlands TX and Osborn all surpassed the barrier in 2016, with Gabriel Oladipo of Fort Bend Hightower TX joining Geist and Piperi in 2017.

Desert Edge AZ graduate Tyson Jones and Lockport Township IL standout John Meyer Jr. both achieved the feat last season, before Viveros extended the streak Wednesday.

Viveros’ showcase, which also included a 192-10 (58.77m) effort in the discus throw, came less than a week after Clovis West pole vaulter Elizabeth Funk set the Central Section record May 2 at the Tri-River Athletic Conference Championships by clearing 13-9 (4.19m), eclipsing the mark of 13-8.50 (4.17m) set in 2003 by Kira Costa of San Joaquin Memorial.

Funk tied the state’s No. 3 all-time performer and equaled the No. 20 female vaulter in prep history.

She ranks No. 4 in the country this season behind Washington standouts Chloe Cunliffe of West Seattle (14-8/4.47m) and Lianne Kistler of Ballard (14-1/4.29m), along with Stafford VA senior Gennifer Hirata (14-0/4.26m).