Track And Field News Release

ITHACA, N.Y – Following a record-breaking year in the hammer throw, Cornell men's track and field freshman Rudy Winkler has been named the High School Boys Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News.

En route to his Athlete of the Year Honors, Winkler – who comes to Ithaca from Averill Park, N.Y. – set national records at both the high school (260-5) and junior (249-0) levels on July 2 at a U.S. Army Hammer Strong meet at West Point.

The weights of the implement differ at each level; high school competitors throw a 12-pound hammer, while the weight at the junior level is slightly heavier at six kilograms (approximately 13.2 pounds).  His personal record at the collegiate weight (16 pounds) is 213-0.

Winkler received nine of 22 possible votes and finished 21 points ahead of the second-highest vote-getter. This is the fourth time in the last 15 years that a hammer thrower has garner Athlete of the Year honors.