Locked In: Valarie Allman Dominates the Discus

2025 USATF Championships

By Mark Cullen

It was hard to focus on the women’s discus today because when Valarie Allman threw it, it traveled so far that it was hard to see.

Literally.

The two-time Olympic champion unleashed a series in which she averaged over 69 meters (226-4) per throw, a meter farther than when she won the 2024 Olympic Trials last year.

 “My fiancé (Coach Zebulon Sion) talks a lot about our averages,” she said.

The higher the averages, the more confidence she has.

“So we talk about that a lot,” she continued. “Our season’s average, our meet average.”

And once she reaches those averages?

“That’s rock solid through all of your throws,” she said, and indeed, each of her six throws would have won the meet.

“I think it’s really critical to open your series with a good throw,” she said. She opened with one of those six winning throws, a solid 67.25 (220-7).  

 Allman threw her farthest in the 4^th round at 71.45 (234-5), “and I really wanted to throw over 71 meters.”

Another mission accomplished.

                                       Valarie Allman

Lawi Tausaga-Collins had only two fair throws, but her third round 64.86 (212-9) counted most as it earned the 2023 World champion not only a place in the final but, ultimately, a place on the team.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” she said. “So be ready for me. I’m coming.”

Veronica Fraley and Jordan Ulrich had been separated by only a centimeter going into the last round, 60.31-60.30 for 3^rd and 4^th places, and it appeared that that’s where the excitement would come.

Instead, Gabi Jacobs vaulted over them both with an unexpected 63.33 (207-9) to nab the third place to Worlds.

Why unexpected?

 Of her previous five throws, two were fouls and none of the remaining three was over 60.00m: 59.42, 56.03, and 58.74. Her life-changing throw was 3.89 m – almost seventeen (!) feet farther than her previous best today.

It should be noted, too, that 4^th placer Shelbi Frank 61.11 (200-6) is a likely 4^th qualifier for the United States by virtue of her place in the World Athletics ranking system.

However, this will not be confirmed until midnight on August 24.

Clue that she very likely will be on the team? USATF made sure she went through the qualified athlete protocol today in Eugene.

“It felt good to put together six really good throws,” said a very determined Allman. “It shows I’m locked in. It shows I’m working on the right stuff. And it has me excited just to keep on doing what we’ve been doing. It’s almost as important as throwing one big one.”

 

Allman’s series:

67.25 – 69.66 – 67.33 -71.45 – 70.28 – 68.12