Kara Patterson took the U.S. Olympic Trials title with a record-breaking throw Monday, guaranteeing herself a spot in the Olympics.

July 1, 2008

West Lafayette, Ind. - Purdue javelin thrower Kara Patterson is bound for Beijing after a record-setting performance Monday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Patterson set the Olympic Trials record with a winning throw of 58.44 meters (191-09) in just her third toss of the evening. The throw guaranteed Patterson a spot in the Olympics, as it topped the automatic qualifying standard of 55.00 meters.  Patterson was one of just two women to top the automatic standard at the Olympic Trials.

Patterson will be joined in Beijing by Kim Kreiner, who clinched a spot in the Olympics by eclipsing the automatic qualifying earlier in the season even though she finished fourth in the Olympic Trials event.

Patterson began the night with a bang, launching a throw of 55.56 meters in the first round, the top throw in the round.  After a second throw of 54.72 meters, Patterson uncorked her record-setting throw in the third round. 

In fact, Patterson broke the 58-meter mark in each of her final three throws.  She was the only athlete in the competition to eclipse the 58-meter mark.

It was a great return to the Pacific Northwest for the native of Vancouver, Wash., who just completed her junior year at Purdue.

Meanwhile, former Boilermaker Lindsay Blaine finished eighth in the finals with a top throw of 51.38 meters (168-07). Blaine, the 2007 NCAA Champion for Purdue, currently competes for Team Nike.