Malone’s American record earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Bettering an American record that had stood for 11 years earned Maggie Malone (Vestavia Hills, Alabama) recognition as the 20th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2021.

Throwing at the USATF Chula Vista Field Festival in California, Malone took down the previous American record in the women’s javelin with a throw of 66.82m/219-3. The previous AR of 66.67m/218-8 was set in 2010 by Kara Winger to win the USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines.

Malone, an Olympian in 2016 and the NCAA champion that year for Texas A&M, had a lifetime best of 63.81m/209-4 coming into the Chula Vista meet, a mark she had achieved the previous week at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson. Her record throw came in round three after a 63.42m/208-1 in the second round.

More top performances from the past week:

• Hobbs Kessler bettered the American U20 record in the men’s 1,500m with a 3:34.36 at the Portland Track Festival. The previous U20 record was 3:36.1, set in 1966 by Jim Ryun.
• Athing Mu bettered her own American U20 record in the women’s 400m with a 49.68 at the NCAA West first round meet in College Station. It was also a collegiate record.
• Michael Norman ran a world-leading 44.27 to win the men’s 400m at the Doha Diamond League meet.
• Tonea Marshall won the women’s 100m hurdles at the NCAA East first round meet in Jacksonville with a U.S.-leading 12.44, moving her to No. 4 on the all-time collegiate performer list.
• Vashti Cunningham cleared a world outdoor leading and lifetime best 2.02m/6-7.5 to win the women’s high jump at the USATF Chula Vista Field Festival.
• Robyn Stevens bettered the women’s 35-39 10,000m race walk American record with a 45:48.01 at Chula Vista. The previous record of 45:52.63 was set in 1995 by Victoria Herazo.

Now in its 20th 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. 

2021 Winners: January 21, KC Lightfoot; January 28, Ryan Crouser; February 4, Bryce Hoppel; February 11, Athing Mu; February 18, Elle Purrier; February 25, Jaylen Slade; March 4, Grant Holloway; March 11, Emmanuel Bor; March 18, Tara Davis; March 25, Emily Sisson; April 1, Tara Davis; April 8, Kenny Selmon; April 15, DeAnna Price; April 22, Athing Mu; April 29, Rudy Winkler; May 6, Trayvon Bromell; May 13, Sha’Carri Richardson; May 20, Athing Mu; May 27, Ryan Crouser; June 3, Maggie Malone.

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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