CONOR MCCULLOUGH

We at On Track have been watching this young man for a while now—ever since he walked away from the 2006 California High School Hammer Championships with a winning throw of 201' 1"—as a freshman! Now a high school senior attending Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills (northeast of Los Angeles), Conor McCullough is poised for what looks to be a very promising college athletic career. After all, what college coach wouldn’t covet his 2008 national high school record (260' for the 12 lb. hammer) and second place finish at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland?

While he puts the shot and throws the discus for Chaminade, Conor appears to have been born to throw the hammer. His father, Conor Sr., a two–time Olympian (1984,’88) in the event representing his native Ireland, introduced the younger Conor to the hammer before the age of 10. Our camera recently captured Conor Jr. training at the Moorpark Community College throws center, reeling off a wicked spin that most college–level throwers would envy. Meanwhile, “Coach Dad” tossed out an occasional tip and served up a late lunch off the tailgate of his truck.