Vancouver's Kara Winger wins Pan Am javelin title with longest throw since 2015...
Winger, the eight-time USA national champion and three-time US Olympian, threw a best of 213-0 (64.92m) in the second round.
She took the lead immediately with a first round throw of 207-8 (63.31m) in the cool, Northwest like conditions of overcast skies and temperatures in the low 60s at the Athletics Stadium.
Winger, who had lamented recently about her lack of consistency, had throws over 61 meters (200-1) in all six rounds, a mark that she didn’t reach in finishing second at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa two weeks ago.
The winning mark was her longest throw since the 2015 season when she threw 218-1 (66.47m) in Austin, Texas in May 2015.
More importantly for the Skyview HS grad is the fact that Friday’s winning distance exceeds the Olympic Games qualifying standard of 210-0 (64.00m). She is currently the only American holding the standard.
Finishing second behind Winger was defending Pan Am champ Liz Gleadle of Canada with a best of 207-8 (63.30m), with US national champion Ariana Ince third at 204-5 (62.32m).
In a text to publisher Paul Merca, Winger said, “I’m thrilled to represent this team that elected me captain with my best throw since 2015, and a series that encourages me SO much! What a fantastic experience with my teammate Ariana Ince also on the podium.”
Alexa Efraimson from Camas finished third in the women’s 1500 meters, running 4:08.63.
Efraimson sat near the front as Muriel Coneo Parades of Venezuela led for the first 800 meters, going through in 2:14.79.
She was in good position through 1200 meters when Jamaica’s Aisha Praught Leer took the lead in 3:20.05. However, Arkansas alum Nikki Hiltz took command coming off the final turn, cruising for the win in 4:07.14, while Praught Leer hung on for second in 4:08.26.
In the final day of track & field competition at the Pan Am Games Saturday, Pasco HS alum Marisa Howard, along with NCAA champ and new member of the Seattle based Brooks Beast Allie Ostrander will run in the finals of the women’s 3000 steeplechase at 1:10 pm Seattle time (3:10 pm in Lima).
Sunday, Bellevue native Katie Burnett, fresh off a victory at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in the 10k walk, goes in the women’s 50k walk at Parque Kennedy at 5 am Seattle time to help conclude Lima 2019.
The Pan Am Games are televised on the networks of ESPN and the ESPN app.
Results of the Pan Am Games are available here.
NOTE: The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, USA Track & Field and the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee contributed to this report.
Comments