BOYS FIELD EVENT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
We interviewed Daniel Viveros after he won a second consecutive shot put title at the State Meet.
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Next in a series featuring individual performances during the 2019 track and field season, this article looks at the Boys Field Event Performance of the Year.
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Going into his 2019 senior campaign at Bakersfield Liberty (CS), Daniel Viveros was already one of the best in the nation and the defending California State champion in the shot put. But some would say that improving only 18 inches between his sophomore year, where he placed third at the California State Meet in 2017, and his junior year (63-10.25) was a disappointment. Well, he dismissed any of those claims as he erupted for a heave of 71 feet, 03 inches at the Central Section South Area Meet in early May!
This performance elevated him from his previous best of 68-11 to fourth on the all-time California lists. Viveros joins an elite list in state history as he became only the fourth to ever clear that magical 70-foot barrier. He ended 2019 as the national leader in the shot put, ending the regular season as the nation's best by over an overwhelming 2-foot, 7-inch advantage!
As a matter of fact, Viveros measured out beyond 65 feet in every meet after March 1! He also had a second 70-footer at that South Area meet, a regional qualifier for the Central Section Masters.
Viveros capped his CIF career with a 
68-10.50 throw at the California State Meet to win a second consecutive State title. That throw was almost 6.50 feet more than his closest competitor in one of the more dominating examples of capturing the state title in any event in recent history!
Even his lowest performance of the season (63-03) would have been enough to win the State shot put title.
The Liberty graduate will attend the University of Mississippi this fall as one the big 'steals' witnessed in the SEC this past recruiting year. Glancing back, Viveros was UNDEFEATED in the shot put over the last two outdoor seasons. To find the last time he didn't win the event, you have to travel back to the 2017 State Meet where he placed third!
Viveros leaves as not only a two-time California State champion, but he also captured Central Section titles as well. In March, he became the section's top shot putter in history with his 68-11 effort at the Easter Relays. His 71-03 performance leaves him almost five feet ahead of the previous Central Section record held by Buchanan's Jacob Wilson (66-5.5) from 2017.
The three-time state meet medalist in the shot put also claimed a fifth place medal in the discus throw this past season as he was also a finalist in the discus as a junior.
Others receiving consideration
Foster, a junior from Clovis North (CS), stole the show at the California State Championships, but his 25-01.50 wind-legal performance at the Arcadia Invitational cemented as one of the nation's best in the long jump. He left the season with that being the fourth best single effort in 2019. After measuring out to a wind-aided 25-00.00 effort at the State Meet, Foster sat back and wisely saved himself for his other events. One of the those events was the triple jump, where he also captured the state title (wind-aided 49-09.40) as he left the season as the best in both horizontal jumps. (It was a VERY tough decision to go with Viveros' 71-03 effort in the shot put over what Foster accomplished at the State Meet in both events.)
Elbettar, a junior at Newport Harbor (SS), launched a 197-04 discus throw at a dual meet in March, a mark that has held up as No. 1 in California and No. 9 U.S. Disappointed beyond belief at the California State Meet after not qualifying for the discus throw final, Elbettar rebounded to not only make the final in the shot put but to place second in the final. Among returners for 2020, he ranks No. 1 U.S. in the discus throw and No. 9 in the shot.
Duensing, a junior at Anaheim Esperanza (SS), uncorked a 66-08 effort to win the Mt. SAC Relays in April. This mark ended the season as the fourth best performance in the United States. Duensing ranks U.S. No. 2 in the shot and No. 3 in the discus among returners for 2020.
Wright, a 2019 graduate of Lodi (SJ) who is headed to Harvard, cleared 16-08 in the pole vault in March. This mark ranks among the top 30 on the all-time California State list and ended the 2019 season ranked No. 12 in the nation. Wright, who cleared 16-05 to win the pole vault title at the California State Meet (based on fewer misses), came into his senior season with a previous best of 15-08.50!