The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2017
Sport: Track and Field (1987-91)
Inducted: 2017
A four-time All-American and winner of 11 medals at USA Track & Field Championships following her collegiate career, Cynthea Rhodes-Patterson is among the best triple jumpers in school history. As a Longhorn, Rhodes- Patterson helped the women's team win the 1990 NCAA Championship indoors by finishing third in the triple jump. She also earned All-America honors outdoors in 1990 as a member of the 4x100 meter relay team that finished eighth. In 1991, Rhodes-Patterson finished sixth indoors at the NCAA Championship in the triple jump and backed that up with a runner-up finish outdoors. She also ran on the 4x100 meter relay team that finished eighth outdoors in 1991. After her college career, she remained one of the best triple jumpers in the United States. From 1993 through 1999, she medaled at every USATF Indoor Championship, including gold in 1997 and 1999. At the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials, Rhodes-Patterson won gold and went on to finish in 15th place at the Atlanta Olympic Games. She also finished 12th at the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships and was 11th outdoors in 1997. In all, she won three USATF titles in the triple jump along with seven silver medals, one of them for long jump and one bronze medal at USATF Championships in her career. Rhodes-Patterson remains among the elite in Texas history. Her best marks still rank in the top 10 in program history, as she stands at No. 3 outdoors and No. 7 indoors in the triple jump. Her personal best jump of 46 feet 9 inches from the 1997 world championships in Athens still ranks her as the No. 6 American all-time. Rhodes-Patterson earned her bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas in 1994 and received her MBA from Webster University in 2003. She currently heads the Human Resources team for the Home Depot Austin Technology Center. Rhodes-Patterson also works with Home Depot's philanthropic commitment in coordinating several community involvement and diversity initiatives in the Austin area. She remains active on the UT campus as a member of the Athletics Advisory Council, and she also is a Girl Scout of Central Texas board member. She is married to Scott Patterson, and the couple has two children, Bailey and Chase, who both attend Hyde Park High School in Austin.
