Last month, the girls high jump national record was broken by Vashti Cunningham with a 6'4.25" clearance at the Mt. SAC Relays. One month later, another girls field event national record has been broken by only a sophomore in Madison Wiltrout. From Connellsville High School in Pennsylvania, Wiltrout torpedoed her javelin a great distance of 185'8" at the WPIAL AAA Central Sectional Qualifier on Thursday afternoon.
After taking up the javelin for the first time last year as a freshmen, but eventually winning a Pennsylvania state title in the event, Willrout has quickly ascended to now own the nation's best high school performance ever in the event with her historic throw on Thursday. The previous national record was held by Haley Crouser from Gresham High School in Oregon with a 2012 performance of 181'2".
As a freshmen, Wiltrout had topped out with a solid first season of throwing the javelin with a best throw of 151'1". Two weeks ago at the Penn Relays, Wiltrout was a runner-up to previous US leader in junior Sophia Rivera (Brentwood MO) with a new personal best mark of 168'5.25". Rivera had held the previous nation's best throw in the javelin this spring at 175'10".
While a significant personal best improvement for Wiltrout over 17 feet might seem suspect in other throwing events, it is not uncommon for javelin throwers to breakthrough with new PR's over 20 feet. Being only a sophomore as well, Wiltrout has plenty of time show herself again as a 180 plus foot thrower in many meets ahead and extend her national record to even greater distances.
More to come of Wiltrout's performance including video of the throw!
