The thing about competing in the javelin, about racing down the runway on the edge of chaos and hurling a spear toward the stratosphere, is that it only takes one.

One throw. One toss. One magical moment where your body is perfectly synchronized and the 86-inch missile flies farther than you could have imagined.

You could be having a country song of a day — dog runs away, truck gets smashed, love of your life leaves — and it only takes one throw to make it better.

Kara Patterson understands this. As a two-time national champion, the Skyview High School graduate heads to the World Championships this week with the belief that such a throw is inside of her.

You know, like the one she unleashed six weeks ago in Eugene, winning the event at the U.S. Track and Field Championships. After barely qualifying for the finals at that meet, Patterson uncorked a toss of 209 feet, 10 inches.

It won the meet by 15 feet. It broke her personal record by nearly 8 feet. It was the second-best throw in American history.

Yes, it only takes one. But then you want to repeat it, like having that first sip of Guinness.