IT HAS BEEN A BUSY YEAR for the world’s No. 1-ranked discus thrower. “I knew I would be on a little bit of a low coming into the U.S. Championships,” said Valarie Allman, “but I knew that competing at Hayward is honestly one of the best things I could do for preparation going into Worlds.”
The Olympic gold medalist promptly won here with her first throw, 215-3 (65.61), which she topped with her third-round competition best of 219-7 (66.92).
The action behind Allman saw Lagi Tausaga move from 4th to 3rd to 2nd. She was thrilled with her fourth-round PR 211-7 (64.49) and with making her second WC team.
“It’s a feeling I can’t even describe,” she said. “It makes you feel like you turned into The Hulk, like you’ve almost got superpowers — especially in this field of women. It took 62m to make the team.”
Rachel Dincoff took 3rd with a 203-10 (62.14). “I think it was actually one of my most consistent competitions all season,” said the Tokyo Olympian. “I am super-grateful for a competition that got me into 3rd!”
Vanderbilt’s Veronica Fraley finished 4th at 196-6 (59.90), with Minnesota Frosh Shelby Frank 5th in 187-8 (57.70) — up a place from her NCAA finish.
All three World Championships qualifiers noted challenges coming into the season and the meet.
“So much of our technique is really rhythm-based,” Allman said, and given her busy schedule, including a Diamond League tour in Europe, “I think my rhythm is just a little bit off.”
Tausaga struggled with her technique in the beginning of the season as she adapted to a new coach, but now has found her rhythm again. “Big dreams, big goals, and I’m ready to conquer them any way I can,” she said.
The week before the meet, Dincoff’s confidence was low and her technique off. She thought it might have been a letdown after her mid-June PR of 214-9 (65.46), which made her the No. 9 performer all-time US.
“This has been my dream since 8th grade,” she said. “I’m going to keep pushing until I’m the best in the world.”
Said Allman, who is looking forward to focused training time before the Worlds, “It’s an incredible honor to have my fourth U.S. title and I’m so excited about that. I’m definitely very motivated to really dial it in.”
WOMEN’S DISCUS RESULTS
(June 24)
1. Valarie Allman (Asics/NYAC) 219-7 (66.92)
(215-3, 194-8, 219-7, f, f, 215-8) (65.61, 59.35, 66.92, f, f, 65.75)
2. Lagi Tausaga (CVE) 211-7 (64.49) PR
(188-1, 197-1, 198-10, 211-7, f, 187-5) (57.34, 60.07, 60.60, 64.49, f, 57.14)
3. Rachel Dincoff (unat) 203-10 (62.14)
(203-6, 202-11, 203-10, 199-6, f, 200-1) (62.04, 61.84, 62.14, 60.81, f, 60.99)
4. Veronica Fraley (Vand) 196-6 (59.90)
(192-3, 196-6, 193-2, f, 188-3, 192-6) (58.60, 59.90, 58.88, f, 57.38, 58.68)
5. Shelby Frank (Mn) 187-8 (57.20); 6. Corinne Jemison (Mi) 186-3 (56.78); 7. Alyssa Wilson (unat) 183-3 (55.86); 8. Deborah Ajagbe (Mia) 179-4 (54.66); 9. Ashley Petr (unat) 178-0 (54.27); 10. Cierra Jackson (Fres) 177-3 (54.03); 11. Grayce French (DesertHP) 175-10 (53.60); 12. Emily March (IaSt) 173-4 (52.85); 13. Amanda Anderson (NDSt) 172-9 (52.66); 14. Seasons Usual (TxT) 166-2 (50.64); 15. Lauren Jones (Ok) 164-10 (50.25); 16. Essence Henderson (VaT) 160-4 (48.86);… 3f—Malin Smith (TxT), Jayden Ulrich (In). ◻︎