This website has admittedly had a bias towards track events since it was created just over three years ago, but the Montgomery County throwers of the 2009 track season have started the season in such a way that is impossible to ignore. With one thrower already over 60 feet, three more over 50 feet, and still more knocking on the door for the 50 foot mark, this crop of strongmen, all from a relatively small area outside of the nation's capital, are set on a legendary path that may never again be followed with quite the same intrigue.

The discussion of throwers begins with Gaithersburg's Sean Stanley, who for now is still the man to beat. Stanley, who has won four county titles, four region titles, and four state titles in the shot put over the last four track seasons, started off this year's Montgomery Invitational with two throws over 57 feet, knocking on the door of the six-year-old meet record of 58-feet 5-inches.

Right on Stanley's heels, however, was the rapidly emerging giant from Quince Orchard, Marcus Brown. Brown is noticeably several inches taller than Stanley, and has just as much mobility when he gets in the circle. Brown threw a personal best of 57-06.50 on his second throw to take the lead.

Stanley regained the lead by a few inches on the very next throw.

On the third and final throw, Brown launched it about 59 feet, but could not maintain his balance and fell out of the circle.

Stanley tossed a 60-foot and a half-inch bomb. It topped his personal best from last year's outdoor state championship by a quarter inch.

Both throwers returned to the circle for the finals over two hours later, but neither had a better mark than the opening round.

Stanley and Brown get along well. Brown says that this year is all about bettering himself and becoming more of a student of the sport. While he believes that he can throw 60 feet and win a state title before indoor season is over, he says there is no rivalry between the him and Stanley. They both understand what they are doing and there are no hard feelings between the two whatever happens.

Brown has narrowed down his college choices to two or three schools that are recruiting him for track and says that he is getting close to making decision. Stanley has committed to Penn State for football, and despite rumors that he would leave high school early to join the Nittany Lions, he has said that he will be finishing out his senior year with Gaithersburg High.

The discussion of throwers would not be complete without mentioning Clarksburg's Avery Graham, who not only throws over 50 feet consistently and owns two 2A shot put titles, but also happens to be one of the fastest sprinters in the nation. Though Graham only threw for 50 feet and a quarter inch at this year's Montgomery Invitational, he also finished second in the 55-meter dash by less than a hundredth of a second. His time of 6.35 in the finals smashes the best all-time mark on Mocorunning.com. Although Mocorunning.com only spans the past four indoor seasons, this is also the fastest mark by a Montgomery County athlete in the era of automatic timing. The mark should rank him in the top five in the nation, but he's still not up with fellow Marylander Devon Smith of Westlake who currently leads the nation at 6.21!

To conclude the discussion on throwers, Victor Wang of Blair High School threw 50-07.25 inches for fifth place at the Montgomery Invitational. Other athletes who are likely to reach the 50 foot mark before the end of the year are Christian Smith and Rob Thompson of Clarksburg, and Jake Furr of Damascus.