Hall of Fame
Kate Hatch was an All-American javelin thrower for the Lady Raiders. She earned those honors during her junior and senior years.
Her freshman year in 1985 she finished second at the PSAC championship meet with a throw of 134-8. Shippenburg placed third in the team standings. The following season she placed fifth in the conference with a throw of 144-9. The Lady Raiders were fourth in the team standings.
In 1987 Hatch burst onto the national scene in the early spring by winning the javelin throw at the Colonial Relays hosted by the College of William & Mary. The Colonial Relays were one of the most prestigious meets on the East Coast with primarily a Division I field of entrants, including most of the Atlantic Coast Conference teams. Hatch won the event with a throw of 157-3 ½, which was the school record until it was retired when the world governing body made technical changes to the women’s javelin by modifying the center of gravity in 1999.
Hatch placed second in the PSAC with a throw of 145-0 ½ as the Lady Raiders took third place in the team standings. Hatch went to the national championships and earned All-America honors by placing fourth with a throw of 44.82 meters (147-0).
During her senior year Hatch again took runnerup honors at the PSAC championships with a throw of 45.31 meters (148-8). The Lady Raiders also finished third in the team standings again. At the national championships Hatch improved to third place with a throw of 44.86 meters (147-2). Shippensburg finished 12th in the national team standings in 1988 and Hatch was named co-MVP of the team along with All-American Kathleen Stec.
In addition to her performances at the championship meets, Hatch helped the Lady Raiders remain undefeated in dual meets from 1983 to 1988, a streak of 40 wins.
Hatch went on to earn a master’s degree from Wilkes University and married David Poust. The couple has two sons, John (16) and Sean (13). She has been employed by the East Lycoming School District as an elementary teacher for 21 years and has been a throws coach for several years at Hughesville High School.
