KARA PATTERSON

Event: Javelin
Height: 5-9
Weight: 168
PR: 61.56m/202-0
Born: April 10, 1986
Current Residence: Lafayette, Ind.
High School: Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.) HS
College: Purdue ‘09
Coach: Jack Warner

Career Highlights: 2008 Olympic Trials champion

Patterson made her first Olympic Team by winning the women's javelin in Olympic Trials-record style. The 22-year-old posted a best mark of 58.44m/191-9 to win over defending national champion Dana Pounds and American record holder Kim Kreiner. At the 2008 Big 10 Champs, Patterson secured her second career Big Ten title and shattered the Big Ten Championships record and the Boilermakers' all-time record with her heave of 61.56m/202-0, It was the top throw by an American so far in 2008, the second longest in NCAA history, and places her second on the U.S. all-time list behind American record-holder Kim Kreiner..…Patterson redshirted the 2007 season…In 2006, Patterson won her second straight NCAA Mideast Regional javelin championship with a throw of 51.16 meters, advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships where she finished 26th…Capped off her 2005 season winning the silver medal at the Pan Am Junior Championships with a launch of 50.26m/164-11. Patterson won the 2005 NCAA Mideast Regionals, beating top-ranked Brenda Grace-Hunt of Louisiana Tech, also was the Big Ten Champion in the javelin, recording a winning launch of 49.96m/163-11...in high school, Patterson was a four-year varsity letter winner in swimming, basketball and track and field, three-time javelin state champion as a sophomore, junior and senior ... three-time district and regional javelin champion… majoring in interior design at Purdue.

2008: 22nd in qualifying at Olympic Games (54.39m/17-5)...Olympic Trials champion (58.44m/191-9)…5th at NCAA Outdoors (53.93m/176-11)…1st at Big 10 Champs (61.56m/202-0)
2007: redshirt
2006: 26th at NCAA Outdoors…NCAA Mideast Regional champion (51.16m/167-10)…2nd at Big 10 Champs
2005: 2nd at Pan Am Juniors (50.26m/164-11)…2nd at USA Junior Champs (50.08m/164-4)…13th at NCAA Outdoors (46.88m/153-10)…best of 50.26m/164-11.
2004: 19th in qualifying at Olympic Trials (42.60m/139-9)…4th at USA Juniors (43.45m/142-7)