Harlin Still Going Strong

 Tony Harlin, a lifelong Pearl River resident, puts the shot better than most, even as he ages.

The 53-year-old-- who starred at Nanuet High in the mid-1970’s and still holds the Rockland County record at 66½ feet (fourth-best in the state) -- continued his comeback on Friday with a toss of 56 feet, 10½ inches in a USATF Masters and Junior Olympics qualifier at Monsignor Farrell HS in the Oakwood section of Staten Island.

Harlin, a member of the state and Rockland County Halls of Fame—as well as the county’s Track and Field Hall of Fame — surpassed the men’s 50-to-54-year-old shot-put distance of 56 feet ½ inch, held by John Nespoli of Tennessee.

“This one was for dad,” said the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Harlin, who scaled the Toledo at 300-plus in his heyday at the University of New Mexico, and then Manhattan College, where he was a six-time IC4A champion.

Harlin, who arguably hit the high point of his career with a fifth-place finish at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials in New Orleans, came out of retirement about two years ago at the urging of his dad, Jim, and his son, James, a college student.

Tony’s dad died at 77 on April 26 after nearly a two-year battle with blood cancer. This was six weeks after the untimely death of Tony’s friend, Thomas Boggart, at the age of 45.

 “My dad was my biggest fan; I miss him big-time,” said Tony. “And Thomas’s death was a tragedy. He was a life-long friend.”

Harlin--who survived an operation for esophageal cancer in 2005, and then a freak accident at the spot where he had the surgery, nearly bleeding to death — said Boggart also urged him back into competition.

 “He was tired of seeing me sitting around the house,” said Harlin, a laser technician at Chromalloy in Orangeburg. “He (Boggart) literally pulled me out of house and into the gym (Premier Fitness in Nanuet). I started to lift, got strong again. My son said you have a Masters division, and said I should give it a shot, but it had been 20 years since I put up a shot.”

Harlin did as he was told, and was practicing again when his dad passed. Devastated, sitting at home one day, moping, Tony was reminded by son that he had a meet that day, in Ridgewood, NJ.

 “My son said, ‘You have a meet today. You told me, you told grandpa, that you were going.'" Harlin said. "I actually went there, had a good throw, 54-1, and that placed me in the top of my group in the country. And my son told me again that grandpa said I had to do this. I started throwing, and practicing. The meet (on Friday) was only my second (in the comeback). When you’re older you realize it’s all about having fun, not setting records. Now I’m doing both -- having fun, and (breaking) records. (June 10) was a good day.”

Harlin, of course, has always had a passion for the shot, which began after he was tossed from the basketball team as a freshman.

“We had an industrial arts teacher, Ed Denton, who was a field-events coach," Harlin said. "He said give it (shot put) a try, we will have fun. He made good on his promise.”

The fun, however, did not start immediately. Nor did it come without a bump in the road.

“I was throwing about 28 feet going into the freshmen championships. Mom and dad, and Denton were there,” said Harlin, rolling back the clock as easily as he puts the shot. “So I throw a shot, and it falls out of my hand, maybe 12 feet. The guy working said, ‘Give me a yardstick.’ Everybody was laughing; I was livid. My dad grabbed the coach, who told him I was upset. My dad said, ‘No, he’s not upset, he’s pissed.’ I took the 28 feet and added 10 feet to it. I don’t know how I did it, and over the years I’ve been adding to that.”

So it’s not surprising that Harlin is now putting the shot in his dad’s memory.

 “He was my biggest fan, even though he wanted me to be a football player,” Harlin said. “When I showed him the shot, he said ‘What’s that?’ Then he started liking it. He did a lot for me; he was always there, chasing down the ball, and bringing it back. He had a good set of eyes, and could be very critical. I miss him big-time. He had heart problems, but was doing OK. But the blood cancer—that took a toll. He was always a big man; even like one-and-a-half-years ago he was a 230-pound man. He was 120 when he passed away.”

Harlin’s passion will continue on Saturday, June 18, in Holmdel, NJ, and in Albany the following weekend. Then it will be two weeks off before another meet in Marietta, GA.

 “After that? After that I’ll go back to the weight room, and get ready for next year,” boomed Harlin who, despite the amazing longevity, realizes he is shaking hands with Father Time.

  “A month back or so, when I threw against some college kids, I actually won. My son went, ‘Dad, that’s great, you beat these younger kids.’ I said to him, yes, but you know what’s the difference? The next day they went out to practice, and I was in a tub of Bengay, and took aspirin for 10 days! But I still have another year left (in the 50-54 division), so I’ll keep having fun.”           

Having fun—and maybe breaking records.