Vancouver's Kara Winger wins national title number eight as USATF Outdoor Champs opens...
Winger led from start to finish, with her first round throw of 186-7 (56.89m) good enough to win.
However, the three-time US Olympian, who attended Skyview HS, put it all together in the sixth and final round, throwing the spear 206-3 (62.88m), a season best and a marginal improvement on her previous US leading mark of 205-7 (62.67m) set in Offenburg, Germany on June 2nd.
“I really wanted to set the tone early in the competition, and I didn’t do that. In the sixth round, I was in the lead going into the finals, so I was the last thrower, so it was a lot easier to throw and let it happen", she told USA Track & Field.
In a mild surprise, Western Washington grad and former NCAA Division II champ Bethany Drake finished fourth in the competition, throwing a personal best 177-10 (54.20m), while fellow Viking alum Katie Reichert missed the finals by one spot, finishing ninth at 164-3 (50.07m).
In other finals Thursday, University Place native and 2016 US Olympian Andrea Geubelle, competing for the first time outdoors this season after suffering a hamstring injury, finished fifth in the triple jump, jumping 44-1.5 (13.59m), as Georgia’s Keturah Orji won with a meet and stadium record of 47-10.5 (14.59m).
There was a bit of drama surrounding the women’s triple jump involving runner-up and American record holder Tori Franklin, as Franklin, who was sponsored by Seattle-based Oiselle, switched sponsors before her contract was up.
Garrett Heath of the Brooks Beasts finished fifth in the men’s 10000, running 29:09.15, in a race won by Lopez Lomong of the Nike Bowerman TC in 28:58.38.
Jessica Tonn of the Brooks Beasts was 11th in the women’s 10000, running 32:47.29, as Molly Huddle successfully defended her national title in 31:52.32.
In qualifying action, Drew Windle of the Brooks Beasts was pulled from the first round of the men’s 800 by coach Danny Mackey.
Mackey said he did so after he looked “off” after winning the Portland Track Festival ten days ago.
“I just wanted to protect him from getting sick or hurt and it felt unwise making him race this weekend,” said Mackey.
Izaic Yorks of the Beasts advanced to Saturday’s finals in the men’s 1500, as he finished third in his heat in 3:43.51.
Washington State alum CJ Allen finished second in his heat of the 400 hurdles, running 50.24 to advance to Friday’s semis.
In the men’s 400, both Foss HS grad Marcus Chambers from Tacoma (45.93) and Michael Berry from Seattle’s Rainier Beach HS (46.03) advanced to Friday’s semifinals.
Washington alum Mel Lawrence ran the second fastest time of the day in the semis of the women's 3000 steeplechase, clocking 9:45.35, behind heat winner Courtney Frerichs of the Nike Bowerman TC, who ran 9:42.02. Both advance to Saturday's final.
Friday's competition will be streamed online via NBC Sports Gold ($) subscriptions. Friday will also be broadcast on a tape delay on NBC Sports Network from 8-10 p.m. Pacific time. Saturday and Sunday will be televised live on NBC from 1-3 p.m. Pacific.
Complete day 1 results from the USATF Outdoor Championships are available here.
NOTE: USA Track & Field contributed to this report.
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