In a week dominated by American junior and youth athletes, thrower Ryan Whiting (Harrisburg, Pa.) has been named USATF Athlete of the Week after winning two gold medals and setting a meet record at Pan Am Junior Championships in Windsor, Ontario.
With his gold medals in the shot put and discus, Whiting led the way for Team USA, which turned in the most dominant performance in Pan American Junior Championships history. Winning 57 medals over three days of competition, Team USA more than tripled the number won by runner-up Canada.
A Central Dauphin High School (Harrisburg, Pa.) graduate, Whiting got his Pan Am Junior experience going with a shot put gold in the first day of competition July 29, throwing a personal best 19.75 meters/64 feet, 9.75 inches to edge teammate Nathan Englin.
Whiting\'s biggest achievement came Sunday, July 31, spinning the platter 61.40/201-5 on his final throw to break the meet record. His third attempt of 60.57/198-8 also surpassed the previous meet record.
The 2005 USA Junior champion in the shot put, Whiting won the shot at the Nike Indoor Nationals in March and went on to win the shot and discus at the Golden West Invitational in June. He will attend Arizona State in the fall.
Contact:
Jill Geer
Director of Communications
USA Track & Field
317-261-0478 x360