Old Tappan’s Layla Giordano breaks record, wins discus throw at 2024 Meet of Champions
Athlete ID: NJ-000013
Kerwien Bengil
University of San Carlos
Sport(s): Sprint
Old Tappan senior Layla Giordano said someone sent her the Meet of Champions discus record before Wednesday’s Meet of Champions. Giordano set her sights on beating the record, which was set by former Donovan Catholic standout, Alyssa Wilson, when Wilson uncorked a throw of 168-1 back in 2017. Not only did Giordano break Wilson’s record, she shattered it with her final throw of her Meet of Champions career. Giordano set a new M of C record with a throw of 171-7 to repeat as the discus champion on Wednesday at Pennsauken High School.
“I’m very glad I set the meet record here,” Giordano said. “Even though this is very special for me at SMOC (State Meet of Champions), I think there’s a bigger record that I’m looking for for next meet — the state record. That’s just something in the back of my mind that I’ve had all season.
“Getting the meet record here on my last throw was something I was really excited about. It puts a lot of confidence into me knowing that I can be clutch under pressure and there’s still a lot left in the tank.”
Delsea sophomore Hannah Nuhfer finished in second with a throw of 152-6, while Glassboro sophomore finished third with a throw of 143-0.
Giordano, who won the M of C title last season with a throw of 159-7 as a junior, was even better this time around. Her first throw of the day went 166-7 as part of the second flight, easily putting her in the driver’s seat to repeat. Her third throw of the day went 167-0 as she closed in on Wilson’s record. She broke it with her final throw of the day and was just short of her personal best of 172-2.
“I’m a numbers person. I always need something in my head to reach for, and I think that was just the perfect thing for today,” she said.
Old Tappan coach Peter Dunn has seen Giordano, a Princeton commit, continue to get better and better throughout her career. Dunn said Giordano is driven to break records and has used previous marks as motivation to try and set a new record. “She’s a beast,” Dunn said. “Every time it’s time for her to compete, she does. Nothing she does seems to amaze me anymore. She’s an unbelievable athlete and unbelievable competitor.”
