Winger's javelin win earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Setting a season best and winning the NACAC title in the women's javelin, Kara Winger (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF New York) earned recognition as the 27th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2022.
 
Winger, 36, continued her "farewell" tour with a big win at the NACAC Open Championships in the Bahamas, throwing a season best of 64.68m/212-2 to break her own meet record by more than 15 feet. It was the 12th-best throw in U.S. history, and Winger now owns eight of the top 12 performances by an American woman in the javelin.
 
A four-time Olympian and six times a Team USATF representative at the World Championships, Winger won her first World Championships medal at Eugene last month, taking silver with a 64.05m/210-1 on her final attempt, an effort that elicited a raucous celebration from the appreciative home crowd. She also has Pan American Games gold from 2019 on her resumé, along with nine U.S. titles and the 2015 NACAC gold she won in Costa Rica.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Freddie Crittenden moved to No. 14 on the all-time U.S. performer list with his 13.00 to win the men's 110m hurdles gold at the NACAC Championships.
• Kyree King earned silver medals in the 100m (10.08) and 200m (20.00 PB) and anchored the men's 4x100m relay to gold in 38.29 at the NACAC Championships.
• Keira D'Amato won the women's Falmouth Road Race in 36:14, the first American woman to win since 2011.

Now in its 21st year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2022 Winners: January 10, Alicia Monson; January 17, Keira D’Amato; January 24, Nyckoles Harbor; January 31, Elle Purrier St. Pierre; February 7, Chris Nilsen; February 14, Grant Fisher; February 21, Camille Herron; February 28, Cole Hocker; March 7, Grant Fisher; March 14, Randolph Ross; March 21, Grant Holloway; March 28, Anna Hall; April 4, Natalie Cook; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Gabby Thomas; April 25, Robyn Stevens; May 2, Erriyon Knighton; May 9, Emily Sisson; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Janee Kassanavoid; May 30, Michael Norman; June 6, Chari Hawkins; June 13, Devon Allen; June 27, Sydney McLaughlin; August 10, Roisin Willis; August 17, Grant Fisher; August 24, Kara Winger.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org.

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