National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

The following are the previously published mini-previews (Aug. 9-10) -- plus updates when available -- for Team USA men and other leading athletes for the 2013 Pan American Junior Championships, August 23-25 in Medellin, Columbia.  For Team USA stat bios from the USATF, check out the Men's and Women's pages.  For more about the team and the meet, go to the USATF.org home page for the meet HERE.

Prep athletes on the roster are listed in bold.

Event
Place(at USA Juniors), Athlete Name, School

SPRINTS

100m
1. Trayvon Bromell, Gibbs, St. Petersburg, FL, Senior
2. Tevin Hester, Clemson
Relay: Cameron Burrell, Ridgeview, Missouri City, TX, Senior
Relay: Raymond Bozmans, TCU

200m
1. Just'N Thymes, Riverside CC (CA)
3. Riak Reese, Lincoln, Gahanna, OH, Senior

400m
1. Marcus Chambers, Foss, Tacoma, WA, Senior
2. Juan Paul Green, Illinois
Relay: Lamar Bruton, Howard Tech, Wilmington, DE, Senior
Relay: Alexis Robinson, Eureka, CA, Senior

Preview (see update below): The Pan Am Junior sprints are often loaded with some of the world’s best talent and 2013 will be no exception.  In the 100, Team USA has won three of the last four golds, and collegian Tevin Hester as the likely fastest entrant (10.21) has a good chance to continue that trend.  Prep Trayvon Bromell (photo at right from USA Juniors, by Joy Kamani), the USA Junior champ with bests of US#1 10.27/9.99w also is a good candidate for the medal stand.  The 200, where an American hasn’t won since 2007, could be a little tougher – with World Youth champ Michael O’Hara JAM (20.63) the expected top seed.  But collegian Just’N Thymes (20.68) should fight for a medal.

Even more challenging for Team USA will be the 400, where World #2 Javon Francis JAM (45.24) and #3 Yoandys Lescay CUB (45.39) would be favored if they follow their expected appearances at the IAAF World Seniors with the PAJs.  Even if they don’t show, World Youth champ Michael Manley (45.89) has the sub-46 creds that the Americans don’t and will put in jeopardy the trend of American champs (three of last four).  USA Junior champ Marcus Chambers is coming off a 6th-place finish in the USATF JO 400 final.

UPDATE: Emerging as a top medal threat in the 100 and 200 is Anguilla's Zharnel Hughes, who has blasted marks of 10.23(+1.7) and 20.77 this year. Also under 10.30 in the 100 are Jazeel Murphy JAM 10.25, Andre de Grasse CAN 10.25 and Levi Cadogan BAR 10.28.  In the 200, Bernardo Baloyes of host Columbia has emerged as the #1 potential entry with a 20.46A ... however, he ran just 22.37 in Moscow representing his country's senior squad.  Also watch for Vitor Hugo Dos Santos BRA at 20.67, Reynier Mena CUB 20.72, De Grasse 20.72, and Stephen Newbold BAH 20.76.  In the 400, Javon Francis JAM 45.24 and Yoandes Lescay CUB (now 45.29) continue to be the top threats. Newbold 45.94 and Baloyes 45.98 are also under 46.

UPDATE 2: Heat sheet information reveals that all of the top entries in the men's 100 were competing in the Friday morning prelims.  In the 200, however, 20.63 performer Michael O'Hara JAM, Bernardo Baloyes COL, and Stephen Newbold BAH are not listed, and Miguel Francis ANT 20.60 is now the top entry.  Levi Cadogan BAR 20.93, who looked good in his 100 prelim, should be a threat as well.  In the 400, Javon Francis JAM, Bernardo Baloyes COL, Michael Manley JAM and Stephen Newbold BAH were all not here. Yolandes Lescay CUB 45.29 is the only entry now under 46.  Watch for Brandon McBride CAN, who lowered his best from 46.18 to 46.09 in prelims.

DISTANCES

800m
1. Nicholas Rivera, Texas Tech
2. Marcus Dickson, BYU

1500m
1. Justin Brinkley, Stanford
2. Craig Engels, North Carolina State

5000m
1. Thomas Awad, Pennsylvania

10,000m
1. Matt McClintock, Purdue
3., Brandon Shemonia, Southern Illinois - Carbondale

3000m SC
1. Tate Schienbein, Purdue
2. Brendan Smith, Pennsylvania

Preview (see UPDATE below): Team USA did quite well in the five longest men’s races in 2011, with the PAJ being in Florida, claiming four golds and seven total medals.  They have typically won at least five or six distance medals in other recent games.  In 2013, Americans could have top entrants in four of the five races with collegians Thomas Awad (14:04.24 5,000), Matt McClintock (29:37.89 10,000), and Brendan Smith (9:00.58 3k ST).  In the 1500, Canadian Adam Palamar has a spanking new 3:38.92 PR that ranks him in the world’s top 10, but Team USA will battle for a few medals with collegians Justin Brinkley (3:46.13) and Craig Engels (3:45.51).

The 800 could be very interesting as Puerto Rico has the potential top two seeds, including Florida prep Andres Arroyo, who ran 1:47.74, way back in April.  That country could also send Hector Hernandez, a Texas A&M frosh who prepped at Killeen Ellison TX.  Team USA’s collegians Marcus Dickson (1:48.71) and Nick Rivera (1:49.55) will be in the hunt, though.

UPDATE: In the 800, no Puerto Ricans, so no Andres Arroyo or Hector Hernandez.  Besides, above-mentioned Americans Marcus Dickson and Nick Rivera, look for Canadians Corey Bellemore (1:49.75) and Scott Buttinger (1:50.06). In the 1500, Canadian Adam Palamar is not here, so Team USA's above-mentioned Brinkley and Engels are the top seeds, then Elijah Silva CAN 3:47.09 and Edgar Alan Garcia Quiroz MEX 3:49.25.  The above-mentioned Thomas Awad and Matt McClintock are well ahead as favorites based on entry times in the 5,000 and 10,000, while the steeple should be a USA-Canadian fight again, with Brendan Smith (9:00.58) and Tate Schienbein (9:07.62) repping the former, and Deon Clifford (9:05.87) and Antoine Thibeault (9:02.03) the latter.

HURDLES

110mH
1. Tony Brown, Ozen, Beaumont, TX, Junior
2. Trey Holloway, Hampton

400mH
1. Scottie Heams, Mississippi State
2. Khallifah Rosser, Chaffey JC (CA)

Preview (see UPDATE below): Two of the world’s current top 5 in the 110s will clash when #5 Texas prep Tony Brown (photo at right from USA Juniors, by Joy Kamani) meets #2 Jamaican Omar McLeod – a double World Youth finalist in 2011 who has improved to 13.24 this year.  However, will we see the Brown who dominated USA Juniors and ran 13.38 and 13.40 at the Texas Relays and Texas 4A state, respectively, or the Brown who missed making the NBNO final and also lost at USATF JOs?  Collegian Trey Holloway should also be a finalist and possible medal threat.  In the 400H, McLeod is also favored with his World #3 49.98 best.  Collegians Scottie Hearns and Khallifa Rosser should also be in the final with Hearns a good bet for silver.  Americans have won every hurdle race since 2007, with Wayne Davis II nailing a HSR and WJR 13.08 in 2009.

UPDATE: A few more to watch in the 110H, along with McLeod and Brown, are Tyler Mason JAM at 13.51 and Cesar Ramirez MEX at 13.73A.  In the 400H, Ramfis Vega of Puerto Rico at 51.11 could contend, along with Kion Joseph BAR 51.31 and Okeen Williams JAM 51.33.

UPDATE 2: Omar McLeod and Tyler Mason are not in the 110H or 400H for JAM, so Team USA's Tony Brown is now .35 ahead of the 110H field on the watch, with teammate Trey Holloway next.  But six more are under 14.00, with Juan Carlos Moreno COL joining Cesar Ramirez MEX as a 13.73 seed.  In the 400H, with McLeod gone, Team USA's Scottie Hearns is the only entry under 51. Kion Joseph BAR and Okeen Williams JAM missing as well.

JUMPS

High Jump
1. Justin Fondren, Alabama
2. Wally Ellenson, Minnesota

Pole Vault
1. Daven Murphree, Big Sandy, TX, Senior
2. Dylan Duvio, John Curtis, River Ridge, LA, Senior

Long Jump
1. Andre Jefferson, John Tyler, Tyler, TX, Senior
6. Kaelan Washington Jr, Oklahoma

Triple Jump
1. Timothy White-Edwards, College of the Canyons (CA)
2. Felix Obi, Baylor

Preview (see UPDATE below): Team USA has a good chance for multiple medals in both men’s vertical jumps, but the horizontals will be more of a challenge.  In the high jump, the U.S. actually has the top three and seven of the top 10 on the world list during what is a weak year, globally, but the top two – Logan Brittain and Randall Cunningham – did not compete at USA Juniors.  With collegians Wally Ellenson and Justin Fondren (2011 World Youth medalist), however, Americans will likely battle for the medals with Jamaican Christophe Bryan – a two-time Penn Relays champ.  Canadian superstar Shawn Barber, who set the HSR (and grabbed WJ Bronze) last year while finishing up at Kingwood TX HS, is the overwhelming PV favorite with a World #1 18-8.75 best.  He is also on Canada’s Senior WC team for Moscow this week.  Team USA is missing its best junior, 2011 WY bronze winner and collegian Jacob Blankenship, but Texas prep Daven Murphree – unbeaten this year with a 17-8.5 best – is a great bet for silver.  Louisiana prep Dylan Duvio, a 17-3.5 performer, could also nail bronze.  In the last four PAJs, Americans have grabbed four golds and 10 total medals in these two events.

In the long jump, Brazilian Higor Alves, the only eligible over 8 meters (26-3.75), is the man to beat.  Top U.S. junior Jarrion Lawson (26-0.5), who won WJ bronze in 2012, did not compete at USA Jrs this time.  So the top American medal hopes are 25-0.5 performers Texas prep Andre Jefferson and collegian Kaelan Washington.  Jefferson won USA Juniors and while Washington was a poor sixth, he had his 25-footer for Oklahoma at Big-12s earlier in the spring.  Similarly, the World #1 in the triple jump should be here in the person of Cuban Lazaro Martinez, a 54-6.75 performer who took the World Youth title last month.  Still, Team USA has two solid contenders for at least bronze in collegians Timothy White-Edwards (53-1) and Felix Obi (51-11/52-9.25w).  Americans have three golds and nine total horizontal jump medals in the last four PAJs.

UPDATE: In the high jump, Alhaji Mansaray CAN 7-2.25 should join the Americans and Jamaica's Bryan as top contenders.  Fans will wait to see in the pole vault if World #1 Shawn Barber, who did not make the final at WCs for Canada, will show here.  If not, Americans Daven Murphree and Dylan Duvio have a solid chance for 1-2.  Higor Alves BRA continues to look like the man to beat in the LJ, but also look for José L. Despaigne CUB 25-8 to challenge, along with the Americans, for a medal.  In the TJ, it's still Cuba's Martinez, then also look for Latario Collie-Minns BAH at 53-10.25 and perhaps Clive Pullen JAM 51-11.25.

UPDATE 2: In the pole vault, World #1 Shawn Barber CAN is indeed here, though the event has been postponed until Sunday due to equipment transport issues (!), and the top high jumpers and long jumpers are all here.  In the TJ, there is no Latario Collie-Minns BAH or Clive Pullen JAM, so the Americans are next after the Cuban, Martinez.

THROWS

Shot Put
1. Coy Blair, Purdue
2. Joshua Freeman, Southern Illinois

Discus
1. Hayden Reed, Alabama
2. Reginald Jagers, Kent State

Hammer
1. Rudy Winkler, Averill Park, NY, Senior
2. Alex Young, Gardner-Webb

Javelin
1. Robert Smutsky, William and Mary
4. Jay Stell, US Naval Academy

Mini-Preview: The shot put and discus should be battles between the Team USA duos in each event (all collegians) and Jamaican Fedrick Dacres.  Dacres captured both the 2011 World Youth and 2012 World Junior titles, and won bronze in this meet in 2011, too.  In 2013, however, he’s World #3 at 206-5 and American Hayden Reed is right behind at 206-2.  Reggie Jagers is a U.S. contender for bronze, too.  In the shot, Dacres is looking up to the Americans as the #3 likely entrant, with Coy Blair (65-6) and Josh Freeman (64-8.5) the favorites for gold and silver.  Jamaicans Ashinia Miller and Travis Smikle broke a string of U.S. domination in this event in 2011 with gold-medal performances.

In the hammer, New York prep HSR-setter Rudy Winkler hopes to stay unbeaten, as well as improving on his finishes of 9th in the 2011 World Youths and 11th in the 2012 World Juniors.  He’s the top entrant (245-5), with Chile’s Hevertt Alvarez following at 238-4.  Collegian Alex Young (226-10) should be a bronze contender.  Top junior javelinist Billy Stanley did not throw at USA Juniors and the title went to collegian Robert Smutsky (226-8).  He should fight for at least a bronze with the Caymen Islands’ Alexander Pascal (235-8) being the favorite.  Americans have won three golds and six total medals in these two events at the last four PAJs.

UPDATE: No Fedrick Dacres JAM in the shot and discus, so Hayden Reed USA now top seed in the disc, with Mauricio Ortega Giron COL, Reed's teammate Reggie Jagers and Thiago Adriano Negreiros BRA in the medal battle as well.  Besides Americans Coy Blair and Josh Freeman, the only other entrant over 19 meters in the shot is Nelson Henrique Fernandes BRA.  In the jav, Peters Anderson GRN is also over 70 meters, along with favorite Alexander Pascal CAY.

MULTIS

Decathlon
1. Wolf Mahler, Benton, TX, Senior
2. Devon Williams, Georgia

Mini-Preview: Despite his superb 7,419 at USA Juniors, Texas prep Wolf Mahler will not be a favorite in the decathlon.  7,701-performer Abdel Larrinaga of Cuba and 7,550 scorer Felipe dos Santos of Brazil will be the guys to beat.  The Brazilian has the top international record with a third at 2011 World Youths and 11th at World Juniors last year, while Larrinaga was 13th at WJs.  Americans Kevin Lazas and Curtis Beach have won the past two PAJ decas.

RELAYS

Mini-Preview: The relays are tough to assess because most squads don’t compete until international championships.  In the 4x100, Team USA has the last four titles here, with times ranging from 39.06 to 39.43, and winning by solid margins.  The U.S. roster has Texas prep Cameron Burrell (10.36/10.07w) and collegian Raymond Bozmans (10.42) joining Hester and Bromell and it seems highly likely the quartet can rip a similar time to its previous winners.  While Jamaica has only two bronzes during the last four PAJs, it’s hard to imagine with three performers at 10.37 or better that they can’t challenge for at least silver.

In the 4x400, Americans have won three of the past four titles by large margins, running 3:03 to 3:08, with Trinidad and Tobago breaking that up in 2007 with a narrow win.  This year’s Team USA crew doesn’t have any sub-46 performers, so they could be vulnerable to T&T again or a potentially very strong Jamaican squad.  Back in April, junior teams from Jamaica and T&T ran 3:05.68 and 3:06.23, respectively.  That may not necessarily mean they’re suited to run the same in August, but it’s pretty likely.