Kara Patterson’s status in the world of track and field might have changed in the past year, but not her desire.
“I try to remain the same; I always want to be hungry,” the javelin thrower said this week, as she prepared to make her 2011 debut today at the Drake Relays.
Patterson, a graduate of Skyview High School, is coming off a season in which she shattered the American record in women’s javelin, recorded the three best marks in U.S. history, and finished the season ranked sixth in the world according to Track and Field News.
It was a breakthrough year for Patterson, who turned 25 earlier this month. But it also was a stepping stone.
“I feel more powerful, more sound, more fit to hit the positions I need to hit,” she said. “I feel like a different athlete.”
For this weekend’s meet, Patterson returns to the scene of her American record. She threw 218 feet, 8 inches, last June at the National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
While that will elicit fond memories, she’s not necessarily looking to break the mark this weekend. Instead, she’s attempting to set the foundation for a successful season.
Patterson’s next competition will be May 26 at the Rome Golden Gala, part of her sport’s elite Diamond League series. She also has her sights set on the U.S. Championships, June 23-26 in Eugene, and the World Championships, which begin Aug. 27 in Daegu, South Korea.
“I’m trying to think more technical,” she said. “The video will be more of a telltale sign of success than the distance.
“I’m not really looking at it as setting the tone for the whole season, because I won’t compete for another month.”
