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

INDIANAPOLIS — Bettering the American record* and winning the Brussels Diamond League meet in the women's javelin, Kara Winger (Colorado Springs, Colorado/USATF New York) earned recognition as the 29th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2022, her second win in the past three weeks.
 
Once again hitting her biggest throw on her final attempt, Winger sailed the spear 68.11m/223-5 to move to No. 12 on the all-time world performer list and reclaim the national record she had held from 2010-2021. Her mark added 71 centimeters to the American record of 67.40m/221-1, set by Maggie Malone last year, and is the longest throw in the world in 2022.
 
Just as she had done to win the USATF Championships and take a historic silver at the World Championships, Winger saved her best for last at Brussels and won by more than 15 feet. Her second-best throw of the day, a 63.82m/209-4 in round four, would have been enough to win, but she took advantage of friendly conditions to launch her massive effort in round six.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Yared Nuguse ran the fastest men's 1,500m of the year by an American to win the Padua Continental Tour in 3:33.26. That time makes him the No. 16 all-time U.S. outdoor performer.
• Allie Wilson won her second straight 800m race in Italy, taking the Padua Continental Tour win in 1:58.37 over Olympic fourth-place finisher Jemma Reekie of Britain.
• Grant Fisher bettered the American record in the men's 5,000m with a 12:46.96 to take second at the Brussels Diamond League meet. It was his third outdoor AR of 2022 and elevated him to 12th on the all-time world performer list outdoors.
• Valarie Allman won the women's discus at the ISTAF meet in Berlin with a throw of 70.06m/229-10, the fourth farthest ever by an American. She now owns the top nine marks in U.S. history in the event and 18 of the top 20.

*Subject to verification by the USATF Records Committee
 
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; August 31, Alicia Monson; September 7, 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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