It was a banner indoor season for Maria Deaviz of Souderton in the shot put. After an injury derailed the end of her junior outdoor season, she came back with a vengeance for her senior season.
Deaviz was already having a terrific season before she made a major statement at the DVGTCA Meet #7 on February 7. After some big puts in the opening rounds of 49-7.25 and 49-5.5, Deaviz unleashed a bomb in her third and final attempt.
It soared 51-10.75, a mark that moved the University of Virginia signee all the way up to PA No. 3 all-time indoors. It was also a performance that put her at US No. 16 all-time. It was a mark that would top the nation for the 2020, and no one else in the U.S. would come close to.
Deaviz went onto top the 50-foot mark on two other occasions during the indoor season. At the Philadelphia Public League Invitational, she won with a toss of 50-6.25 and then on her final attempt at the PTFCA Indoor State Championships, Deaviz broke the meet record with a put of 50-0.
Like the rest of the track and field world, Deaviz may not get the opportunity for an outdoor season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Surely, Deaviz would have had a shot at Payden Montana's all-time state record of 51-00, which, of course, Deaviz already topped during the indoor season.
In the meantime, let's relive Deaviz' big season by watching her nation-leading mark in the shot put above and checking out her interview after winning the PTFCA indoor state title below: