Davis' javelin exploits earn him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Recording the best throw ever by an American collegian in the men's javelin, Jordan Davis (Wallingford, CT/USATF Connecticut) earned recognition as the 12th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2024.

Davis, a senior at Southern Connecticut State University, went into the Texas Relays with a lifetime best of 74.37/244-0, and left Austin with a huge PB of 83.77/274-10, the longest throw ever by an American collegian with the "new" model javelin that was introduced in the mid-1980s. The 2022 NCAA Division II national champion, Davis hit 80.36/263-8 on his first attempt to add almost 20 feet to his PB, and then uncorked his monster throw in round six.

Beating 2023 Pan American Games gold medalist and Tokyo Olympian Curtis Thompson, Davis moved to No. 10 on the all-time U.S. performer list, and he bettered the previous American collegiate record of 83.30/273-3 that was set in 1990 by Tom Pukstys of Florida. 
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Ellie Shea placed 15th individually in the women's U20 6K race at the World Cross Country Championships in Serbia to lead Team USATF to a fourth-place finish.
• Weini Kelati was 15th individually in the women's senior 10K race at the World Cross Country Championships in Serbia to lead Team USATF to a fourth-place finish.
• Valarie Allman won the women's discus at the Texas Relays with a world-leading 67.98/223-0 effort.
• Ja'Kobe Tharp of Auburn won the men's 110H at the Florida Relays in 13.46, making him the No. 2 all-time U.S. U20 performer and equal ninth on the world all-time U20 performer list. Only Renaldo Nehemiah is ahead of Tharp on the U.S. U20 list.
• Gabby Thomas won the invitational women's 100 (10.88w) and 200 (world leading 22.08) at the Texas Relays and also helped the USA Red quartet to a world-leading 42.25 win in the 4x100.

Now in its 23^rd year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 

2024 Winners: January 17, Weini Kelati; January 24, Cooper Teare; January 31, Nico Young; February 7, Fiona O'Keeffe; February 14, Elle St. Pierre; February 21, Grant Holloway; February 28, Jalani Davis; March 6, Elle St. Pierre; March 13, Rachel Glenn; March 20, Grant Fisher; March 27, Myrle Mensey; April 3, Jordan Davis.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.

Join the conversation with USATF on X, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF.

Photo Credit: Jordan Menard