ROCK HILL, SC-- Winthrop Track and Field head coach Ben Paxton announced an impressive throws recruiting class for 2019.

The class includes a pair of throwers from Rhode Island with national hammer throw champion Jacob Furland on the men's side and All-America hammer thrower Ambar Nunez on the women's side.

Furland comes to the Eagles with the strongest resume of any recruited athlete in the history of Providence Classical High School. He was the New Balance national high school champion in the hammer in 2018, was seventh in the indoor weight throw in 2018 as well as the Rhode Island state champion in the weight throw. Furland is ranked as the 35^th best track prospect in the nation, regardless of event, by MileSplit USA, the top website for high school track in the United States.

"I am very excited that the Eagles and throws coach Brett Best continue our strong tradition of great throwers," said Paxton. "These two student-athletes will make an immediate impact to our upcoming seasons."

Nunez finished her junior year ranked in the top 20 in the nation in the hammer throw and weight throw and had her best meet of the year at the Rhode Island divisional championship during the outdoor season where she finished fourth in the hammer.

Both athletes hail from the same high school, a powerhouse program in Rhode Island, the only state that features the hammer throw in high school.

"Both of these kids are following in the tradition of Marthaline Cooper (who came to Winthrop in 2013)", said Classical head coach Bob Pallazzo. "She was treated very well by the school and the program and they wanted to follow in her footsteps."

Cooper is a 2017 graduate of Winthrop, who earned All-America honors four times in the hammer throw in her career as an Eagle from 2014-2017.