At the 2004 United States Olympic Trials (track and field), Patterson finished 19th with a distance of 42.60 m. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Patterson didn"t make it past the qualifying round and finished 41st overall with a distance of 54.39 m. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, Patterson didn"t make it past the qualifying round and finished 29th overall with a distance of 52.71 m.
She is the American record holder in the javelin throw with a distance of 66.67 m. On June 25, 2010, Patterson broke Kim Kreiner"s American record of 64.19 m set in 2007 with a distance of 66.67 m. At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women"s javelin throw, Kara Patterson threw 57.14 meters 21st place in the prelims.
At the 2012 Olympic Trials, Kara Patterson earned second place with a distance of 59.79 m.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she finished 31st in the qualifying round, not reaching the final. At the 2013 World Trials, Kara Patterson earned third place with a distance of 55.88 m.
At the 2015 World Championships in Athletics – Women"s javelin throw, Kara Winger threw 62.21 m in the prelims to qualify for the final and 60.88 meters in the final to place 8th. Key: Arkansas = Area record, NR = National record.
