Auburn, Ala.—After record setting seasons in 2019, Auburn senior Kylee Carter and sophomore Madi Malone will look to continue their success at the USATF Outdoor Championships, July 25-28, at Drake Stadium on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa.
Carter will kick things on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT in the women's javelin throw, while Malone will compete on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the women's hammer throw. The meet will air online on NBC Sports Gold with limited action airing on NBC and NBC Sports.
CARTER CONFIDENT
Carter represented the United States two weeks ago as a part of Team USA at the NACAC meet in Mexico. The NCAA Outdoor and SEC Outdoor champion in the javelin, Carter had an impressive performance, throwing 54.48m/180-2 to bring home the gold medal. The win provided reassurance for Carter and the ability to compete against some of the best athletes in the world was an unmatched experience.
"My experience competing for Team USA was definitely an answered prayer," Carter said. "Getting a win gave my confidence reassurance that I'm where I'm supposed to be even if it's not at home and that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing," Carter said.
After a more relaxed environment in Mexico, this week's US Championships will bring a different energy level.
"Mexico was a little laid back, really about enjoying the experience and having fun," Carter said. "USAs will be very intense especially competing against Olympians javelin throwers," said Carter.
Carter enters the competition ranked third nationally, behind two professional throwers. Despite the fierce competition, Carter remains confident and is not placing too much pressure on herself.
"My goal for USAs is to just compete,' Carter said. "The competition will be high, and I just want to get a good throw out there," said Carter.
Another important factor in the javelin throw is technique, which the two have been refining.
"We are tweaking her technique a little bit so that it is setting her up for her senior season," Ebel said. "Working on focal point and keeping her arms a little bit higher, all technically things we are working on that are showing up in her throwing, so I think she is ready to go."
"It's been an amazing year," Carter said. "I'm so thankful for all of the support, it has meant the world to me and excited to go at it one more time. War Eagle!"
MALONE "I SET THE BAR HIGH FOR MYSELF"
Malone had a successful freshman season earning All-America honors both indoors and outdoors, while being named the SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year. While she was pleased with her rookie campaign, she is not satisfied.
"After such a crazy, but awesome, indoor season, I had big expectations for outdoor. So you can imagine I was a little upset when I didn't place at the outdoor championships," Malone said.
After redshirting in 2018 due to a broken wrist, Malone was more ready than ever to compete in 2019 and set high goals for herself. Malone feels all of the events leading up to this meet have prepared her for a big performance.
"I was really happy when I made it to indoor and outdoor NCAA's, but I also really just expected that of myself," Malone said. "I set the bar really high for myself after coming off an injury, ready to prove I was fit for the field."
Her goal heading into this weekend's championships is to keep the same focus and intensity that got her to this point.
Malone's coach, Patrick Ebel, believes training has been going well ahead of the USA meet.
"We have been doing a little bit of the regular implement throwing and also light ball to work on her speed and working on some new things to incorporate for USAs, but also moving forward into her sophomore, junior and senior years of her eligibility at Auburn," Ebel said.
In the hammer throw, competitors typically use a three turn or four turn approach. Malone has previously thrown from a three turn but has begun to implement the four turn, but will stick with her comfort level and the three turn this weekend.
"We need to make some technical changes as she progresses in her hammer career," Ebel said. "One is moving from a three turn to a four turn, which we experimented a little with a little bit this summer already."
Goals for this meet are simple. Do your best.
"Especially when you are throwing against professionals, and being 'only a freshman', we are looking for two things- either a new personal record or making finals," Ebel said.
Malone enters the USA meet ranked 11th of 15 competitors and will vie to be among the top eight that make finals. A year ago, 65.96m/216-5 made finals at the USATF Outdoors. Malone threw an Auburn school record 65.49m at NCAA Outdoors, falling just short of finals in Austin. It will require another PR throw for Malone to final this weekend, but it's an opportunity she has been preparing for her entire throwing career.
MEET INFORMATION
2019 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships
Drake Stadium
Des Moines, Iowa
Meet Home: https://auburntige.rs/USATFOutdoors
Schedule: https://auburntige.rs/USATFOutSked
Start List: https://auburntige.rs/USATFOutStartList
Broadcast Coverage: NBC Sports Gold, NBC Sports Network, NBC
Carter: Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m. (women's javelin)
Malone: Saturday, July 27, 12:30 p.m. (women's hammer)