Allman Breaks U.S. Record

BERLIN, Germany – Valarie Allman '17 broke her own American record in the discus on Sunday, adding to an incredible season that included an Olympic gold medal.

Allman threw 233-5 (71.16 meters) on her first attempt to win the centennial Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) meeting in front of 20,000 at the Olympiastadion, breaking the meet record. 

The throw outdistanced her previous U.S. record of 230-2 (70.15m) – achieved in Rathdrum, Idaho, on Aug. 1, 2020 -- and was the longest in the world in 2021. Allman, who also threw 225-8 (68.80m) on her sixth attempt, now has 12 of the 14 farthest throws in American history. 

Allman, the 2018 Pac-12 Woman of the Year and a six-time All-American at Stanford, moved to No. 19 on the all-time world list, joining Croatian Sandra Perkovic (71.41m) as the only throwers to break into the top 20 in the 21st century.

"I am still processing it," Allman said. "This stadium, the crowd and the competition were so incredible. This season had so many magic moments -- 2021 is coming to an end and I have a PR that is so good. All my work is paying off. My season has been a dream come true."

This year, Allman competed in 11 meets in seven different countries, and won eight. She dominated the competition in Tokyo in her first Olympic Games, and also won the Diamond League title at the famed Weltklasse meet in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, earning her an automatic berth in the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in 2022.