AINSLEY CUTHBERTSON GOES COAST TO COAST TO WIN THE NATIONAL TITLE
Meet Information
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 3
June 20, 2026
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - By any measure, Saturday, June 20, 2026, will always be remembered as one of the greatest days in the history of Lexington High School athletics. Senior captain Ainsley Cuthbertson, fresh off her cross-country flight from Eugene, OR to Philadelphia that saw her arrive in the wee hours of Saturday morning, came to the Mondschein Throwing Facility on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, and won the national championship in the girls hammer throw.
The saying goes, "I love it when a plan comes together." That could not be more applicable to how things fell in place for Cuthbertson, as just getting to the hammer cage in Philly took a village. On Wednesday of this week, Cuthbertson and Coach James Hall flew from Boston to Eugene. The plan was to compete in the hammer at the USATF U20 Championships on Friday morning, then immediately get on a plane to Philadelphia so she could make it there in time to throw at the New Balance Nationals. After a controversy with the meet schedule in Oregon, things went off as scheduled at 9:30am PST, and Cuthbertson placed sixth with a PR of 179'0". She then loaded up the car with Coach Hall, and raced to the airport. Their flight had a few delays, and it was not until 3am EST that they finally got to the team hotel in Philly. At 11:30am, Cuthbertson was checked in for the hammer, and began her warm-ups.
The competition got off to a fast start at Pittsford (NY) junior Avery Brunner uncorked a massive PR of nearly 10 feet on her first attempt (175'6") to surge into the lead. Cuthbertson was able to get her first throw out 174'7" into the sector, but was unable to better that mark on her second two throws. That meant Brunner would have the final throw of the meet in the finals. Brunner found another gear with a 177'5" fourth round throw to extend her lead over the LHS senior. However, as all the great ones do, Cuthbertson delivered an immediate and emphatic response. With four turns, Cuthbertson hit her release, and electrified the crowd with a personal best throw of 180'4" (54.97m) to move into the lead. After a foul on her final attempt, all she could do was stand and watch, as Brunner walked into the cage for her final attempt. Sure enough, the pressure trying to eclipse Cuthbertson's mark was too much, as she fouled the throw. And, with that, after over 5,000 miles of travel, Ainsley Cuthbertson became the first Lexington High School track & field athlete to win a national title.
Other Highlights from the Meet
The Minutemen return to historic Franklin Field one final time on Sunday, June 21st. Deardorf and Tandeih will be joined by fellow classmate and captain Amari Mow in the long jump, while Whorton will be back for the 800m. All events can be livestreamed free HERE.
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 3
June 20, 2026
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - By any measure, Saturday, June 20, 2026, will always be remembered as one of the greatest days in the history of Lexington High School athletics. Senior captain Ainsley Cuthbertson, fresh off her cross-country flight from Eugene, OR to Philadelphia that saw her arrive in the wee hours of Saturday morning, came to the Mondschein Throwing Facility on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, and won the national championship in the girls hammer throw.
The saying goes, "I love it when a plan comes together." That could not be more applicable to how things fell in place for Cuthbertson, as just getting to the hammer cage in Philly took a village. On Wednesday of this week, Cuthbertson and Coach James Hall flew from Boston to Eugene. The plan was to compete in the hammer at the USATF U20 Championships on Friday morning, then immediately get on a plane to Philadelphia so she could make it there in time to throw at the New Balance Nationals. After a controversy with the meet schedule in Oregon, things went off as scheduled at 9:30am PST, and Cuthbertson placed sixth with a PR of 179'0". She then loaded up the car with Coach Hall, and raced to the airport. Their flight had a few delays, and it was not until 3am EST that they finally got to the team hotel in Philly. At 11:30am, Cuthbertson was checked in for the hammer, and began her warm-ups.
The competition got off to a fast start at Pittsford (NY) junior Avery Brunner uncorked a massive PR of nearly 10 feet on her first attempt (175'6") to surge into the lead. Cuthbertson was able to get her first throw out 174'7" into the sector, but was unable to better that mark on her second two throws. That meant Brunner would have the final throw of the meet in the finals. Brunner found another gear with a 177'5" fourth round throw to extend her lead over the LHS senior. However, as all the great ones do, Cuthbertson delivered an immediate and emphatic response. With four turns, Cuthbertson hit her release, and electrified the crowd with a personal best throw of 180'4" (54.97m) to move into the lead. After a foul on her final attempt, all she could do was stand and watch, as Brunner walked into the cage for her final attempt. Sure enough, the pressure trying to eclipse Cuthbertson's mark was too much, as she fouled the throw. And, with that, after over 5,000 miles of travel, Ainsley Cuthbertson became the first Lexington High School track & field athlete to win a national title.
Other Highlights from the Meet
- Superstar sophomore Amelia Whorton delivered a sensational race in the unseeded section of the girls mile; she ran a personal best of 4:45.55 to place fourth in her heat, and 13th in a star-studded field.
- It was senior captain Aubrey Deardorf who finished 21st in the girls triple jump, as she landed at 38'8.75" (11.80m).
- In the 110m hurdle prelims, senior captain Simon Tandeih finished 38th with a time of 14.41 seconds.
- Senior Cleavon "The Frog Man" Manor Jr (45'5") was 46th in the boys triple jump.
- Freshman Abbey Kohut finished 19th in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.31 seconds; she came back to finish 25th in the triple jump with a leap of 34'7.50" (10.55m).
The Minutemen return to historic Franklin Field one final time on Sunday, June 21st. Deardorf and Tandeih will be joined by fellow classmate and captain Amari Mow in the long jump, while Whorton will be back for the 800m. All events can be livestreamed free HERE.