Kara Patterson, a Seattle native who attended Skyview High School in Vancouver, WA., qualified for the Olympic Games Sunday by placing second in the women’s javelin at the U.S. Track & Field Trials in Eugene.
Patterson held the lead throughout the competition until the final round when her best toss, 196-2, was eclipsed by Brittany Borman, who threw 201-9.
Patterson, the American record holder in the event, will participate in the Olympics for the second time when she competes in London. She finished 41st in a qualifying round in Beijing in 2008.
Patterson, who graduated from Purdue University in 2009, set the American record of 218-9 at the 2010 U.S. Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, IA. Patterson is a four-time American champion, also winning in 2008 (191-9), 2009 (209-10) and 2011 (194-8).
Patterson landed her first toss 193-10 and had a throw of 191-3 on her second before her top mark of 196-2 on her third attempt. After reaching 185-6 on her fourth try, Patterson passed twice in the fifth and sixth rounds, and it was in the sixth that Borman won.
Until Borman’s winning throw, Patterson had the best toss in the field by eight feet.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Patterson, born April 10, 1986, graduated from Skyview in 2004. She resides at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
Patterson is a two-time NCAA All-America, and was the 2008 Big Ten Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. In high school, Patterson was a four-year varsity letter winner in swimming, basketball and track and field, as well as a three-time javelin state champion.
Two other athletes with connections to Washington state are involved in Olympic trials finals Sunday. Kate (Follett) Mackey, a track All-America at Washington whose career at the school ended in 2010, is in the women’s 1,500-meter final.
Bremerton swimmer Nathan Adrian, who has already qualified for London in the 100-meter freestyle, has one more race remaining, the 50-meter freestyle.
Olympic Qualifiers
The following athletes with connections to the state have qualified (or been selected) to represent the U.S. in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games July 27-Aug. 12.
| Athlete | Sport | Gms. # | Country | State Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Adrian | Swimming | 2 | USA | Bremerton native |
| Sue Bird | Basketball | 3 | USA | Seattle Storm guard |
| Dave Calder | Rowing | 4 | Canada | University of Washington |
| Will Crothers | Rowing | 1 | Canada | University of Washington |
| Tyler Farrar | Cycling | 1 | USA | Wenatchee native |
| Scott Gault | Rowing | 2 | USA | University of Washington |
| Rob Gibson | Rowing | 1 | Canada | University of Washington |
| Lauren Jackson | Basketball | 4 | Australia | Seattle Storm forward |
| Anthony Jacob | Rowing | 1 | Canada | University of Washington |
| Ariana Kukors | Swimming | 1 | USA | Auburn Mountainview |
| Meagan Kalmoe | Rowing | 2 | USA | University of Washington |
| Bernard Lagat | Track | 4 | USA | Washington State University |
| Giuseppe Lanzone | Rowing | 2 | USA | University of Washington |
| Adrienne Martelli | Rowing | 1 | USA | University of Washington |
| Arielle Martin | Cycling | 1 | USA | Spanaway native |
| Conlin McCabe | Rowing | 1 | Canada | University of Washington |
| Tamari Miyashiro | Volleyball | 1 | USA | University of Washington |
| Brett Newlin | Rowing | 2 | USA | University of Washington |
| Kara Patterson | Track | 2 | USA | Seattle native |
| Jennie Reed | Cycling | 3 | USA | Seattle native |
| Jarred Rome | Track | 2 | USA | Marysville-Pillchuck High |
| Hope Solo | Soccer | 2 | USA | University of Washington |
| Courtney Thompson | Volleyball | 1 | USA | University of Washington |
| Queen Underwood | Boxing | 1 | USA | Seattle resident |
| Tejay van Garderen | Cycling | 1 | USA | Tacoma native |
| Brad Walker | Track | 2 | USA | University of Washington |
| Mary Whipple | Rowing | 3 | USA | University of Washington |