A 3-TIME international championships finalist, Rudy Winkler comfortably won his fourth U.S. title. He will lead what will probably be the same U.S. trio as competed at the ’21 Olympics and last year’s WC.
Daniel Haugh finished 2nd at 253-5 (77.24) and Alex Young reached 248-11 (75.87) for 3rd, seasonal bests for both. Now 30, Winkler is the only American to have surpassed the Budapest Q of 78.00 (255-11). Haugh and Young should place high enough in the WA rankings to secure their positions even if they don’t reach the standard.
Finish was foretold in the first round as Young, the first thrower among the three, took the lead at 241-2 (73.52), only to be surpassed by Haugh at 245-10 (74.95) and then Winkler at 256-8 (78.23).
Round 2 saw Brock Eager move into 3rd with a 243-8 (74.28). Young, the next thrower, had his effort fall 2cm short of his first throw. Haugh followed with an improvement to 249-10 (76.14), still 2nd, and Winkler let loose his eventual best of the day, 259-4 (79.04).
Eager did not improve, but Young did, to 242-10 (74.02), not enough to pass Eager. Neither Haugh nor Winkler improved, although Winkler’s 258-4 (78.74) displayed his consistency with his third throw over 78m.
With the order reversed, Young, in 4th, was up first and dropped the hammer at 248-11, his 3rd-place mark. Eager tried to regain the bronze spot but fouled, and would do so on both of his remaining throws.
Neither Haugh nor Winkler improved in round 4, but in 5 Haugh got his best of the day, his 2nd-place 253-5. Winkler ended the day as the final thrower, and got his second-best throw of the day, 259-0 (78.94).
The winner, equally pleased with his performance and that of his competitors, said, “In the meet we’re cheering for each other, we want each other to do well. It was kind of a relief [knowing the team will be] the crew that we’ve had the past couple years.”
Citing his current form, he continued, “The goal has been Worlds, obviously. I’m in the mix with those top guys now, being consistent around 79m.”
MEN’S HAMMER RESULTS
(July 08)
1. Rudy Winkler (TSNYAC) 259-4 (79.04)
(256-8, 259-4, 258-4, 250-2, 254-3, 259-0) (78.23, 79.04, 78.74, 76.26, 77.51, 78.94);
2. Daniel Haugh (NYAC) 253-5 (77.24)
(245-10, 249-10, 244-10, 243-5, 253-5, f) (74.95, 76.14, 74.62, 74.20, 77.24, f);
3. Alex Young (unat) 248-11 (75.87)
(241-2, 241-2, 242-10, 248-11, 246-7, 243-8) (73.52, 73.50, 74.02, 75.87, 75.16, 74.27);
4. Brock Eager (Iron) 243-8 (74.28)
(f, 243-8, 238-1, f, f, f) (f, 74.28, 72.57, f, f, f);
5. Jordan Geist (Az) 241-1 (73.48)
(233-3, 235-9, 226-0, 241-1, 235-0, 236-7) (71.10, 71.86, 68.88, 73.48, 71.62, 72.12);
6. Justin Stafford (unat) 239-0 (72.86)
(f, 228-5, 236-5, 234-4, 239-0, 237-0) (f, 69.63, 72.06, 71.42, 72.86, 72.24);
7. Erich Sullins (Vel) 237-2 (72.29)
(232-7, 237-1, 233-2, 237-2, f, 228-6) (70.90, 72.27, 71.07, 72.29, f, 69.64);
8. Tanner Berg (unat) 235-9 (71.87)
(233-11, 229-5, 235-9, 230-10, f, 232-3) (71.31, 69.94, 71.87, 70.37, f, 70.81);
9. Sean Donnelly (adidas) 235-0 (71.63); 10. Tyler Williams (Shore) 234-9 (71.55); 11. Tyler Merkley (PennSt) 233-9 (71.24); 12. Tarik O’Hagan (Ms) 232-2 (70.76); 13. Avery Carter (unat) 229-10 (70.07); 14. Morgan Shigo (Vel) 224-7 (68.46); 15. Isaiah Rogers (KennSt) 220-1 (67.09); 16. Trevor Otterdahl (NDSt) 213-7 (65.10).