C. J. Hunter
Encyclopedia
Cottrell J. Hunter, III (born December 14, 1968, in Washington, D.C.
) is a former American
shot put
ter and coach
. He was the 1999 World Champion
, but is perhaps best known for his involvement in the BALCO scandal
and as the onetime spouse of sprinter
Marion Jones
. His personal best was 71' 9" (21.87 meters), thrown during a 2nd place finish in the 2000 US Olympic Trials
. A month later he was tested positive for the performance enhancing steroid Nandrolone at the Bislett Games
, which was revealed before he competed in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. He had previously competed at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, finishing seventh
The 6'1", 330 lb Hunter was a three-time All-America
n at Penn State University, where he still holds the outdoor and indoor shot put record (65'5" and 64'4½", or 19.93 m and 19.62 m respectively). He earned his Bachelor of Arts
in political science
there in 1991. Hunter first began throwing the shot after repeatedly failing to make the basketball
team at Hyde Park, New York
's Franklin D. Roosevelt Senior High School.
Hunter met Jones
in 1998, while a coach with the University of North Carolina
track team. He resigned his position there to conform with school rules that prohibited coach-athlete dating. They married on October 3, 1998, only to divorce
in 2002 following the publicity surrounding the BALCO scandal. Hunter currently resides in Apex, North Carolina
with his two children from a previous marriage, Ahny and Coryatt.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
ter and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He was the 1999 World Champion
World Champions in athletics (men)
- 100 m :- 200 m :- 400 m :- 800 m :- 1500 m :- 5000 m :- 10000 m :- 110 m hurdles :- 400 m hurdles :- 3000 m steeplechase :- 4 x 100 metres relay :- 4 x 400 metres relay :- Marathon :- 20 km race walk :- 50 km race walk :...
, but is perhaps best known for his involvement in the BALCO scandal
Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative
The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative was an American company led by founder and owner Victor Conte, a former bass player for the soul band Tower of Power. In 2003, journalists Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada investigated the company's role in a drug sports scandal later referred to as the...
and as the onetime spouse of sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
Marion Jones
Marion Jones
Marion Lois Jones , also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete, and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA...
. His personal best was 71' 9" (21.87 meters), thrown during a 2nd place finish in the 2000 US Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
. A month later he was tested positive for the performance enhancing steroid Nandrolone at the Bislett Games
Bislett Games
The Bislett Games is an annual track and field event at the Bislett Stadion in Oslo, Norway. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League. It is sponsored by ExxonMobil and officially known as the ExxonMobil Bislett Games.-History:The first...
, which was revealed before he competed in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. He had previously competed at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, finishing seventh
The 6'1", 330 lb Hunter was a three-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n at Penn State University, where he still holds the outdoor and indoor shot put record (65'5" and 64'4½", or 19.93 m and 19.62 m respectively). He earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
there in 1991. Hunter first began throwing the shot after repeatedly failing to make the basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team at Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
's Franklin D. Roosevelt Senior High School.
Hunter met Jones
Marion Jones
Marion Lois Jones , also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete, and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA...
in 1998, while a coach with the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
track team. He resigned his position there to conform with school rules that prohibited coach-athlete dating. They married on October 3, 1998, only to divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
in 2002 following the publicity surrounding the BALCO scandal. Hunter currently resides in Apex, North Carolina
Apex, North Carolina
Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 37,476 according to the 2010 census., wakegov.com-Geography:Apex is located at ....
with his two children from a previous marriage, Ahny and Coryatt.
External links
- C.J. Hunter biography, USA Track & Field
- C.J. Hunter photo, biography & stats at sporting-heroes.net
- "It's been going on for a long, long time" Black Athlete Sports Network, August 28, 2004