This Cal Poly athlete just shattered a school record that stood for 62 years

Going into the hammer throw event at the West Coast Relays in Fresno, Cal Poly track and field freshman Rory Devaney didn’t have any expectations.

“I only started learning (hammer throw) six months ago,” Devaney said. “I think that’s part of why it went so well for me, because I was just really relaxed and didn’t have much performance anxiety for it. That’s usually when you do the best.”

On Devaney’s fifth attempt in hammer throw at the West Coast Relays on March 30, he recorded a distance of 202 feet, 4 inches, beating a 62-year-old record set by Tom Pagani of 200 feet, 5 inches to win the event. Devaney’s record-breaking throw surpassed his previous personal best by 26 feet.

“I didn’t really expect to do it this year at all, so all the realization kind of set in afterwards,” said Devaney, who’s also a San Luis Obispo High School alum. “Obviously, I was super excited because it’s a really cool thing, and Tom Pagani, who was the previous holder, was there, so that was a really fun experience.

“It really came out of the blue for me. I didn’t expect that to happen.”

A multi-sport athlete

Growing up, Devaney participated in rugby, football, and track and field. At SLO High, he played linebacker for the Tigers’ football team and was named the Tribune Player of the Year in 2021.

“I always thought I was going to play football in college, and I had that dream everybody kind of has,” Devaney said. “I realized at the end of my senior year that track was definitely the way to go.”

Devaney comes from a family of track and field athletes. He’s the youngest sibling in the family and has three older sisters, all of whom competed in track and field at the Division 1 level. His mother also attended college for track and field.

“I enjoyed track throughout high school, but I didn’t really fall in love with it until my senior spring,” Devaney said. “I wouldn’t say it’s been the biggest thing in my whole life, but I definitely ... have been influenced by it for as long as I can remember.”

Devaney also participates in discus for the Mustangs.

On the second day of the West Coast Relays, he grabbed first place with a toss of 172 feet, 6 inches, which ranks No. 10 all-time for Cal Poly. Devaney is currently ranked No. 3 in the hammer throw and No. 4 in discus in the Big West.

With the track and field Big West championship starting up in early May, Devaney “would definitely like to score in both (hammer throw and discus).”

“I’m a competitor, so I want to win those events. My plan is certainly to represent the team and be in the top ... 5 and put on the best performance I can,” Devaney said.

Up next, Cal Poly track and field will compete at the Mt. Sac Relays from April 13-15. The Big West championships run from Friday, May 5, to Saturday, May 13.

This story was originally published April 11, 2023 at 11:45 AM.