JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Cornell men's track and field got off to a very promising start on Day One of the NCAA Preliminary Round at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on Thursday.  Two Big Red athletes advanced on Day One, with the efforts of sophomore standout Rudy Winkler highlighting first day action.
 
Winkler got things started for the Cornell men on Thursday with a thrilling performance in the hammer throw. Sitting in 14th place going into his third and final throw, he unleashed a clutch 216' bomb to move all the way up to seventh in the field to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
 
The Big Red men also had James Gowans advance out of the first round of the 1500. He'll race again on Saturday with a trip to Eugene on the line.  Closing in 57.05 for his final 400 and 2:00.28 for his final 800, Gowans was fourth in his heat in 3:45.42 to run the seventh best time of the day.
 
 Junior Ben Rainero was in a more tactical 1500 heat, placing ninth in his race and 32nd overall in 3:53.19, over fifteen places better than his pre-meet seeding to cap a terrific season.  Junior co-captain Max Hairston competed in the 400 hurdles, fifth in his heat (and 32nd overall) in 52.43.  Also competing for the men was junior Ryan Hynes, who placed 45th in the long jump at 20' 6 ¼".
 
Event by event results can be found here:
http://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/external/track-field/results/d1/outdoor15/east/index.htm
 
The Big Red will be back in action on Saturday. Hairston will line up in the 110 hurdles, senior Keith Rayburn in the pole vault, junior Stephen Afadapa in the high jump and senior co-captain Stephen Mozia in the discus.