Winkler’s hammer win earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- A world-leading throw at the first Gold Label meet on the World Athletics Continental Tour earned Rudy Winkler (Newark, New Jersey) recognition as the 15th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2021.

Winkler, a 2016 Olympian in the hammer throw and a finalist at the 2019 World Championships, moved to No. 2 on the all-time U.S. performer list with a massive 81.98m/268-11 on his final attempt to win the USATF Grand Prix at the Oregon Relays in the first professional meet held at the new Hayward Field.

Already atop the 2021 world list coming into the meet, Winkler improved that mark on his first and fifth attempts before his sixth-round throw sailed out to a mark that has only ever been bettered by one American, national record holder Lance Deal, who set the AR in 1996 at 82.52m/270-9. Winkler’s throw was also the sixth-best performance ever by an American and improved his lifetime best by more than four feet.

More top performances from the past week:

• Keturah Orji bettered the existing American record* in the women’s triple jump with a 14.92m/48-11.5 effort at Chula Vista.
• Nico Young of Northern Arizona bettered the American U20 record* in the men’s 5,000m with   a 13:24.26 at the Drake Relays.
• Isaac Updike ran a world-leading 8:17.74 in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the USATF Grand Prix.
• JuVaughn Harrison long jumped a world-leading 8.44m/27-8.25 at the LSU Alumni Gold meet.
• Tamara Clark moved to =7th on the all-time collegiate list in the women’s 100m with a 10.96 at LSU’s Alumni Gold meet.
• Rachel Schneider won the USATF women’s 1 Mile Road Championships with a 4:30.26 at the Drake Relays.
• Eric Avila was the men’s winner at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships with a 3:58.96 clocking.

 
* Records are pending ratification
 
Now in its 20th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2021 Winners: January 21, KC Lightfoot; January 28, Ryan Crouser; February 4, Bryce Hoppel; February 11, Athing Mu; February 18, Elle Purrier; February 25, Jaylen Slade; March 4, Grant Holloway; March 11, Emmanuel Bor; March 18, Tara Davis; March 25, Emily Sisson; April 1, Tara Davis; April 8, Kenny Selmon; April 15, DeAnna Price; April 22, Athing Mu; April 29, Rudy Winkler.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org.
 
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