Dyestat Athletes of the Year (2012-13)

Rudy Winkler made the metal fly

Rudy Winkler’s dogged pursuit of the national record in the hammer paid off. The senior from Averill Park, N.Y. overcame some long odds to surpass recent stars Walter Henning and Conor McCullough, but he got it done at an early July meet at Army.

Winkler threw 260 feet, 5 inches and became the only male high school athlete in the country to break one of the hallowed outdoor national records. For that reason, and his dominance in national meets, Winkler is Dyestat’s Most Outstanding Performer for 2012-13.

There was considerable competition for the honor from distance legend Edward Cheserek, history’s first sub-10 high school sprinter Trayvon Bromell (albeit wind-aided) and hurdles star Marlon Humphrey.

Winkler’s story was best told by Steve Underwood after his record-breaking performance.

VIDEO OF THE RECORD

The Cornell-bound Winkler also won the weight throw at New Balance Indoors and the hammer competition at New Balance Outdoors and U.S. Juniors.

Here is a closer look at some of the other top achievers this year in boys track and field and cross country:

DISTANCES

Edward Cheserek (N.J.): Although he didn’t run much outdoors as a senior, it’s impossible to overlook his cross country season (repeat Foot Locker champion) and historic indoor two-mile record of 8:39.15 at the Millrose Games. He broke Gerry Lindgren’s 49-year-old national record and that effort, alone, put him on the short list for Athlete of the Year.

Ben Saarel (Utah.): He won the celebrated 3,200 meters at Arcadia with a US outdoor No. 1 8:45.74. That came on the heels of a fourth-place finish at Foot Locker and a 9:00.62 win at Simplot in the 3,200. He also won the Mt. SAC Relays mile in 4:08.55 and won the adidas Dream Mile in 4:02.72. 

Bernie Montoya (Ariz.): He left his mark on Arizona prep history by tripling at the state meet and he ran US#1 4:01.71 against pro runners at the Prefontaine Classic. He won the two-mile at Brooks (8:54.63) indoors and was second at Arcadia (8:47.07).

Blake Haney (Calif.): The junior won CIF titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 and placed fifth at the World Youth Champs in US#1 3:44.69. He was third at Arcadia in 8:48.58. All of it sets him up to be one of the top distance runners in the country in the upcoming school year.

Sean McGorty (Va.): He was second at Foot Locker nationals, affirming a status that he maintained throughout the remainder of the year. He ran US#3 4:04.47 for a mile at the Penn Relays and won the two-mile at New Balance Outdoors with US#1 8:45.61.

Henry Wynne (Ct.): He won the New Balance Indoors mile in US#1 4:08.15 at The Armory and the outdoors he ran US#4 4:05.04 at the adidas Dream Mile. He repeated his New Balance Nationals title outdoors as well. And he ran US#5 1:49.93 in the 800, too.

Bailey Roth (Colo.): Made a name for himself as the country’s top prep steeplechaser with four sub-5:50 times in the 2,000-meter event. He placed seventh at the World Youth Champs. He also doubled in the 1600/3200 at the Colorado state meet.

Andres Arroyo (Fla.): He showed great range during the season, from 400 (49.01) to 3,200 (8:51.47), but his 1:47.79 in the 800 at the Florida Relays was a US#1.

Jake Leingang (N.D.): After placing third at Foot Locker, Leingang left his stamp on North Dakota and then won New Balance Outdoors in the 5,000 with US#1 14:11.61.

Honorable Mention: John Crossley (N.C.), Sam Wharton (Ohio), James Randon (Mass.), Jacob Thomson (Ky.), Ben Malone (N.J.)

SPRINTS/HURDLES 

Trayvon Bromell (Fla.): The argument for Bromell as the overall athlete of the year is very strong, particularly when he sped to a wind-aided 9.99 in the 100 meters. That was history-making, even if it wasn’t a national record. In fact, he was the Gatorade National Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, and his wind-legal best of 10.27 was US#1. He won the Great Southwest (where he ran that 9.99), the Golden South, New Balance Outdoor and U.S. junior national titles. The only blemish was at the fifth-place finish in the adidas Dream 100 in NYC.

Cameron Burrell (Texas): In the Burrell family, the apple obviously didn’t fall far from the tree. The son of Olympian and former world record holder Leroy Burrell enjoyed a tremendous senior season. He posted the No. 2 all-time 60-meter dash at the Brooks PR meet (6.61) and ran a wind-aided 10.07 at the Texas Relays. He won at the adidas Grand Prix but lost to Bromell at NBNO and Junior nationals.

Michael Cherry (Va.): He was the dominant athlete in the 400 meters, winning New Balance Indoors and Outdoors and posting the US#1 time of 46.02. He broke the national record in the indoor 300 meters and also had the nation’s fastest times in the 400 and 500.

Marlon Humphrey (Ala.): The junior ran 13.38 to tie Tony Brown for US#1 in the 110-meter hurdles and also US#1 in the 300-and 400-meter events. He is, possibly, on his way to become the next great American 400-meter hurdler. He earned silver in the 110s at the World Youth Champs. 

Tony Brown (Texas): Another amazing athlete out of Texas, but perhaps in the mold of Deion Sanders. (You should see this guy play defensive back). He tied Humphrey with the fastest 110 hurdles time in the country and also won U.S. Juniors.

Ryan Clark (Ga.): He was stunningly good as a sophomore, running 46.33 in the semis at the World Youth Champs. He finished with a silver medal there. He also had bests of 10.57 and 21.08.

Kendal Williams (Fla.): Eye-popping times for a junior as he ran US#2 10.28 and US#2 20.64. He won the Golden South in the 200.

Honorable mention: Eli Hall-Thompson (Texas), Ceolamar Ways (Fla.), Mustaqeem Williams (Va.), Zyaire Clemes (N.J.). 

JUMPS 

Randall Cunningham, Jr. (Nev.): He cleared seven feet in eight different meets this spring, including a best of US#1 7-3.25 at the Nevada state meet. He was undefeated until August when he finished third at the AAU Junior Olympics.

Daven Murphree (Texas): He was undefeated in the pole vault and won just about every major national meet. He won New Balance Indoors and Outdoors, U.S. Juniors and posted a season-best 17-8.50 at the Texas Relays.

Jeremiah Green (Fla.): With four meet results over 51 feet, Green was the top triple jumper in the country. He won New Balance Indoors and Outdoors and hit his best mark, US#1 52-2, in Greensboro, N.C.

Andre Jefferson (Texas): Like Green, he doubled up with New Balance national titles indoors and out in his best event, the long jump. He finished the season with a best of US#2 25-0.50.

Travonn White (Ariz.): Although he didn’t travel to the national meets, it was impossible to ignore his consistency over 25 feet in the long jump. He hit a big win to win Great Southwest with US#1 25-5.50.

Honorable Mention: Devin King (La.), KeAndre Bates (Texas), Logan Brittain (Texas), Dylan Duvio (La.), Aaron Worrell (Va.), Adoree Jackson (Calif.)

THROWS

Nicholas Ponzio (Calif.): The California state champion hit the put the shot farther than anyone else this year, going US#1 69-7.25. The big throw came in a dual meet between Ponzio’s Great Oak and Murrieta Mesa.

Braheme Days, Jr (N.J.): He was the national leader in the shot put indoors (69-0) and No. 2 outdoors (68-6.50) and won New Balance titles indoors and out. His best marks were actually slightly down from this junior year, but he did improve in the discus and cranked out a US#8 199-6 PR in that event.

Cullen Prena (Mich.): The national leader in the discus, he hit US#1 210-1 at the Michigan state championships. At New Balance Outdoors, he actually did better in the shot put (fourth) than the discus (10^th).

Honorable Mention: Curtis Thompson (N.J.), Josh Augusta (Ill.), Grant Hill (Ala.), Charlie Ionata (R.I.)

MULTIS

Wolf Mahler (Texas): He was the standout HS decathlete in the land this year and won titles at U.S. Juniors, Great Southwest and USATF Junior Olympics. His junior nationals total of 7,419 ranks No. 3 all-time behind Gunnar Nixon and Curtis Beach.

Honorable Mention: Harrison Williams (Tenn.), Devon Williams (Ga.), Scott Filip (Ill.)

RELAYS

Texas (Texas): That’s right, Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas had the nation’s fastest 4x100 relay this spring, cruising to 40.40 to win the Texas 4A Championship.

Union Catholic (N.J.): This school crushed it at New Balance Indoors with triple titles in the shuttle hurdles, 4x200 and 4x400. UC also won the NBO shuttle hurdles. They won the 4x400 at Penn Relays and the New Jersey Meet of Champions.

Serra Gardena (Calif.): With the top three finishers in the Southern Section Finals in the 100 meters, this squad was loaded and ran US#1 3:10.59 to win the CIF title. Also, there was a US#2 40.49 clocking in the 4x100.

Highland Milford (Mich.): These guys broke the New Balance Outdoors meet record in the 4xMile when they ran 17:16.12, good for No. 8 all-time.