Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

Category: Athlete | Alma Mater: Baldwin, 1972 | Sport: Track & Field

A 1972 graduate of Baldwin, Ron Semkiw is one of the best shot put throwers to come from Western Pennsylvania, holding numerous records for over 30 years. Semkiw’s toss of 70-01.75 at the 1972 WPIAL Track & Field Championships lasted for 44 years, and later that year he established a new PIAA championship meet record of 66-05.50 - that mark holding strong for 33 years. He earned the 1973 AAU national junior championship in shot put with a throw of 64-01.25, winning by more than five feet. At 19 years old, Semkiw became the first member of the 70/70 club with a toss of 70-00.05, claiming distances of at least 70 feet with both 12 and 16-pound shots. He went on to compete collegiately at Arizona State University, Mesa Community College, and San Jose State University. Semkiw owns the NJCAA shot put record with a toss of 70-05.00 in 1974, and captured the national title that year. At the NCAA Championships with Arizona State and San Jose State, he placed fifth in the shot put in 1973 with a toss of 63-03.00, second in 1976 with a throw of 64-02.00, and fourth in 1977 with a mark of 62-01.00. Semkiw ranks second all-time at San Jose State in outdoor and indoor shot put, recording respective marks of 65-09.00 and 62-09.00 in 1976.