Middletown Native Competes at Olympic Trials,
Places Among the Country’s Best
14 AUGUST 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY TIM MORRIS
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pic Track and Field Trials. The Middletown native was one of the best
college throwers in the country prior to the trials held at historic
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ture in the event.
The shot put competition at the trials was unforgettable as it includ-
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tric,” Liskowitz said. “I was taking it all in. It’s the pinnacle of the sport. The
fans of Hayward are the best. Eugene is called Tracktown, USA.”
Liskowitz played his part in what was the deepest shot put competi-
and 20th best throw all-time at the trials. His throw was also No. 2 all-time
by a college thrower.
Liskowitz, who threw collegiately for the University of Michigan,
where he was a two-time Big 10 champion and six-time All-American, felt
comfortable being in the company of the best.
“I felt very competitive,” he said. “I knew my technique was solid. My
Competing against the best is also a chance to observe them and
learn. Liskowitz said, “With the distances that are happening, the bar
has been raised in the shot put. Crouser is one of the most interesting
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nique is different, but he is so relaxed. There’s a certain balance between
being focused and relaxed. You need your muscles to relax to throw well.”
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ing in Tokyo, Liskowitz has had international experience competing for
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ples, Italy. “It was an incredible experience,” he recalled. “I was fortunate
to have the opportunity.”
The CBA and UM grad made the most of it, winning the silver medal.
Liskowitz also learned the travails of international travel. His baggage
carry-on bag that tided him over.
It has been quite a trip for Liskowitz going from ice hockey at CBA to
playing for its ice hockey team. When he was cut his sophomore year, he
“I kept myself busy, lifting for hockey,” he explained. The lifting led
stick with the sport, he went all out. “I’m so competitive,” he pointed out.
“Anything I do, I want to be the best at.”
There was another motive behind working to be the best thrower:
he had a goal of using athletics to get into college. His older sister Liv,
who played soccer at Middletown High School South and set the school
Photo courtesy of Liv Liskowitz
the rowing team at Syracuse University.
“She’s the most athletic of all of us,” said Liskowitz. “My sister raised
the bar pretty high academically.”
In addition to Liv, there was younger brother Christian, who went on
“We were all involved in sports growing up and played sports together,”
noted Liskowitz. “I was so lucky to have grown up with that.”
Liskowski said he learned his competitiveness from his siblings,
playing basketball in the driveway where elbows were known to thrown.
The big breakthrough for Liskowitz in high school was teaming up
with former Monmouth University All-American thrower Jon Kalnas his
junior year. Kalnas runs Critical Mass, a personal training facility in Tinton
Falls, where he trains up-and-coming high school throwers. Liskowitz
came to Kalnas as a 51-foot thrower. Kalnas turned him from a glider to
using the spin technique.
“I worked real hard at it, and I trusted Jon,” he explained.
That trust was rewarded as Liskowitz improved his CBA school record
best to 183-0, another Colt record. It paved the way for him to be a pre-
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He credits Clayton with helping him become a champion thrower.
“He’s such a decorated coach,” Liskowitz said. “He gave me a program,
and I worked hard.”
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to compete in the American Track League (ATL) meets this summer. Although
he has graduated from Michigan, he is back on campus training
under Clayton. The ATL is designed to help advance American track and
“I’m focused on this summer,” said Liskowitz. “I plan on continuing
to compete.”
His goal for the summer is to improve on his personal best, currently
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