Charlie Ionata of Barrington recently won the 2012 USA Track & Field National Championship for the 12-pound hammer throw in the Young Men’s Division, according to his coach, Bob Gourley.

The division is for 17-18 year old athletes, Gourley said. The national championship meet was held at Morgan State University in Baltimore.

"He is having a great year," said Gourley, "and has one, possibly two meets left."

Ionata's winning throw in Baltimore was 203’5”. He threw in a field of 35 of the top throwers from around the country, Gourley said.

"Charlie threw more than seven feet further than runner-up Carlos Mangum of Providence, and over 12 feet past third-place finisher Landon Carroll of Georgia," Gourley said.

"Charlie won both of the qualifying meets to get to the national championship meet," he added.

These meets were the USATF-New England championships at Fitchburg State University, where he threw 203’7”. And the USATF Region 1 championship meet at the Mitchell Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY, where he threw 209’3”.

In addition to this series of meets, said Gourley, Ionata won the high school division at Hammerama 2012 in Wakefield, RI, with a throw of 209’2”.