Patterson after winning the Big Ten title in the javelin (Purdue sports info)

Junior Kara Patterson pierced the air on a first attempt throw of 61.56 (202 feet even), and it was all that she needed to secure herself atop the podium for a Big Ten Championship title and recognition as the championships’ Woman Athlete of the Year with nearly a four-meter lead over Minnesota senior Ruby Radocaj (also throwing an Olympic ‘A’ standard). She sits down with trackshark.com to give insights into her life as the Division I currently top-ranked women’s javelin thrower.

1. Can you describe what you were feeling as you released the implement from your hands on your first attempt?

Well, we worked on hitting positions over and over again. That throw was everything that I’ve been practicing for the past two weeks…not perfectly, but consistent with my training. I was like, ‘Wow, I’m hitting my positions!’ I hit my block hard and waited to hear the distance. It was awesome, because of the coaches’ reaction and that distance.

2. Weather conditions for the Mideast Regional Championship Meet are expected to be in the upper 80’s with lots of sun, except for Sunday. What were the conditions of your throw at Illinois for the Big Ten Championships?

It was pretty warm, a little bit windy.

3. You were not at all surprised by your throw. What is your biggest technical strength in the javelin throw?

I think my fearlessness and relentlessness. I like the way that I keep attacking in the javelin throw.

4. What is different about the last healthy season you had from this one?

I guess I’m just enjoying abilities that I have now that I won’t take for granted again. I watched my roommate Mallory Peck succeed in the 2006-2007 season. I’m just more mentally strong in what I’ve learned from my roommate who is also instructed by Coach Rodney Zuyderwyk. Seeing Mallory and learning from her, but understanding what believing in your capabilities can mean and having 100% with no doubt. It’s cool to finally understand that and apply it to competition. I think I just understand my priorities.

5. In your words, you are going to focus on your athletic career beyond the NCAA Outdoor Championships, but the present task is this weekend and the national meet, how difficult is it for you to stay on task?

Well, it’s pretty easy for me to focus meet by meet. I have enjoyed that mental capacity of myself. It’s fun to think about post-collegiate meet and sponsorship, but I have eligibility for one more year.

6. In 2004, you competed at the USA Olympic Trials. What effect have those type of competitions had on your mental approach?

I got to the trials, but was so star-struck. I’m really happy that I’ve competed at the Trials already. Wearing the American uniform really makes me happy. I have it hanging up at my room at home and look at it all of the time. The 2004 Olympic Trials was kind of whirldwind experience. I didn’t know that I was able to go until shortly prior. I just really wanted to go for the experience. I know what to expect and I know how much better I am now.

7. Have you ever spoken to any other elite javelin throwers since your performance earlier this month? Can you comment on anything shared with you?

Well, former Purdue javelin thrower Serene Ross is living in Kentucky right now. We correspond by email and she said congratulations to me. I get a lot of inspiration from Serene (2002 NCAA Champion).

8. How efficient do you feel in your throwing?

I feel really good about it. I have a mental capability to hit the positions that I know I’ve been training to execute. I’ve been really enjoying the consistency that I’m experiencing this year.

9. When you’re in the weight room, how much lifting do you actually do? What is your favorite lift and how much do you max on that exercise?

Well, in the fall it’s a lot -- 90 minutes, or sometimes 60 minutes. I had a pretty serious injury last year. We are just lifting a little bit now because we are tapering off for the championship season. We would add in javelin-specific lifts with a lot of shoulder stuff. This year, I really grew to enjoy the snatch. I’ve never been very good at it at all. It was really good to get the bar over my hips and throw my shoulders up working on flexibility. I really like hang cleans, because I can’t use my back much because of the injury still.

10. If there is any one thing about your training that you feel benefits you the most, what is that one thing?

We’re running a lot more and doing more sprints. We’re doing more endurance work – getting a more full body workout and being more agile than a traditional thrower, and going to rehab to do back work which consists of mostly mobility and a lot of core work.

11. Your high school track and field coaches Ron Heidenreich and Nate Botnen and first met you in your high school freshman year and thought that you had the level of competitiveness to match the physical ability you possess. Why did you ever think that throwing the javelin would be good for you when you considered the question of joining the high school team?

A friend of mine in my freshman year in high school and I wanted to go out for the golf team. We were thinking of what we could do for a sport that wasn’t intense. I didn’t want to play softball anymore. And, we went to one golf practice. A couple days after that I kind of (laughing) conceded to the coach. I didn’t know what else I would do, because I was a distance runner in eighth grade. I think I’m pretty good at seeing details and following technique. Coach Heidenreich is really motivating and it was really fun to try a sport that I had never done before. Being a thrower in high school, I liked the individual aspect of the sport.

12. Are you still playing basketball or swimming in the off-season?

We swim as part of our training. I swim a couple laps to gain more flexibility in my shoulders. Swimming was my best team experience and a lot of my friends back home are swimmers. I don’t play basketball so much. I sort of have (laughing) a problem with getting hurt in sports aside from track and field.

13. Will you ever try to take up golfing again?

Oh, yeah, my dad is a huge golf fanatic. He says I should focus on it more and can start golfing when I’m 90 years old. My boyfriend Russ throws the shot put for Idaho, he enjoys golfing and we’re going to get in some games.

14. What is your strategy going into Mideast Regional at University of Arkansas Razorbacks’ John McDonnell Field?

Well, a competition is always an opportunity to keep cementing things that you are practicing. It’s a good chance to focus on executing my training. The whole season I have been focusing on each meet as an opportunity. When I was lifting in the off-season, I missed an opportunity to make a lift on the bench press and my coach told me that I had missed the chance to lock out the lift. I don’t why it has stayed with me, but that moment taught me to focus on each opportunity in each meet.

15. How many steps do you have in your full run-up approach?

I have 3 carry steps and 2 crossovers. I have little kind of running start at the beginning of my approach.

16. How does it feel to be currently top-ranked in your event?

It feels really good and it’s a motivation to stay on the top. I thought more about rankings before I got injured; I feel now that I’m focusing on myself. I am focused on my competitors and know that they’re my friends, and I really enjoy seeing them at competitions. Top rankings and first finishes will come with execution of the things I know how to do.

17. What is that extra something that keeps you going?

Just appreciating gifts that I’ve been given and abilities that I have. I’ve been shown that by tons of family. My boyfriend is a big part of my track life and we have something to share since he’s also a thrower. My parents drove with me for the summer when I had my back brace on. Sometimes when you’re having trouble with something, parents are the perfect people to be there. They made me feel that they were there with me.