Kara Winger won national title No. 8 on her first throw of the competition. But it’s her last throw that will be remembered. On a rainy and blustery day the Washington native took the lead in the first round at 186-7 (56.89) and was never headed. For good measure, she nailed her final throw at a list-leading 206-3 (62.88) to turn what would have been a modest margin of victory—just over a meter—into an overwhelming one of 20-9 (6.34). It was the eleventh consecutive USATF podium for the 32-year-old AR holder, who set the mark here in the ’10 meet.
Avionne Allgood of Florida, this year’s SEC champion who finished 6th at the NCAA, threw her season’s best by almost a meter on her opening throw of 185-6 (56.54) to secure the 2nd spot.
Allgood, 24, who back in ’11 set a HS Record while finishing 4th at USATF, announced that she has joined the Army and its WCAP program. This is “…one of the steps I have to take to meet my goals,” she said. “It means a lot to have been accepted into the program and I’m thankful that I have the opportunity.” Allgood said she has put years of injury frustration behind her. “I always tell people that when I had surgery I got a fresh arm because I’m pain-free and I’m ready to rock.”
Ariana Ince, whose 183-7 (55.97) fourth-round throw captured 3rd, found her performance to be “underwhelming,” as it was well off her seasonal best 195-3 (59.52). “I didn’t notice the wind that much,” she said. “It seemed to die down every time I threw.” Still, she said, “It is good to know I can still be in the top 3 on a bad day.”
Winger noted the consistency of her results this year. “This is my fourth competition of 2018 and a season’s best today, but all of them have been over 60m [196-10]. I had three 61m-plus throws in my second competition of the year.” She attributes her re-found consistency in part to her new technical coach, Dana Lyon, a 2-time NCAA champion for Air Force. With Lyon teamed with Winger’s longtime strength coach Jamie Myers, Winger has a stronger coaching team, fresh eyes on her technique, and a new perspective.
“I said to myself, ‘If I’m going to get what I want out of this career, something has to change. This year is brand new,” said the super veteran. “It’s really fun; it’s rejuvenating, it’s better for my body overall, so I feel like I have a lot more control over my throw. The teamwork I have with Jamie and Dana has been… so much what I needed. I was very frustrated last season. To feel like I can drop a javelin 60m again, it just brings me so much joy.”
USATF WOMEN’S JAVELIN RESULTS
(June 21)
1. Kara Winger (unat) 206-3 (62.88) (AL)
(186-7, 173-8, 182-0, 178-7, 188-11, 206-3) (56.89, 52.93, 55.48, 54.45, 57.59, 62.88);
2. Avione Allgood (Fl) 185-6 (56.54)
(185-6, f, 178-5, 169-4, 178-2, f) (56.54, f, 54.39, 51.61, 54.32, f);
3. Ariana Ince (Velaasa) 183-7 (55.97)
(170-4, 175-5, 172-1, 183-7, 181-0, f) (51.93, 53.46, 52.45, 55.97, 55.18, f);
4. Bethany Drake (Oise) 177-10 (54.20);
5. Alyssa Olin (ND) 176-4 (53.74);
6. Dominique Ouellette (Sprintic) 174-5 (53.17);
7. Kristen Clark (TxAM) 167-1 (50.93);
8. Rebekah Wales (unat) 165-3 (50.38);
9. Katie Reichert (unat) 164-3 (50.07);
10. Channing Wilson (unat) 164-2 (50.05);
11. Sharon Day-Monroe (unat) 163-1 (49.72);
12. Gabrielle Kearney (Ok) 161-2 (49.13);
13. Dana Baker (KsHS) 160-11 (49.05);
14. Meghan Owens (unat) 151-8 (46.23);
15. Danielle Collier (Miami (Oh) 151-1 (46.06);
16. Brenna Smith (Lib) 149-7 (45.60). □
