2023 Pan Am U20 Day 1 Evening Session highlights
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico - The 21st Annual Pan American U20 Track and FIeld Championships are being held at the Jose A. Figueroa Freire Stadium
from Friday August 4- Sunday, August 6.
Full results will be posted here with live stream available for all sessions can be found here.
Below is the recap of the Day 1 evening session. Photos by Joy Kamani.
Shot Put – Men
The same duo who competed in the Hammer Throw earlier in the day competed in the shot, this time with better results. Gary Moore (BAYLOR; Hillhouse, New Haven, CT), the 2022 Nike Indoor Nationals fifth place finisher, was the winner at 64-03.75, not far off his 65-00.75 best.
Michael Pinckney (UCLA, Construction Trades, Queens, NY), eighth in that 2022 Nike Indoor Nationals Shot Put, was second with a throw of 57-00.75
Long Jump – Women
Torrential rains hindered the first half of this event. Avery Lewis (Friends Central, Wynnewood, PA) was second until the 5th round when she took the lead with a jump of 20-04.75 (-0.9). She improved in the 6th round to 20-05 (-0.4) to secure the win.
Vanessa Sena dos Santos (Brazil) leading for four rounds, was second at 20-03. Morgan Davis (Saraland, AL), sixth in the 2019 New Balance Nationals Outdoor JHS High Jump, was 3rd at 19-08. Morgan attained that on her final jump, edging Victoria Zanolli (Argentina) by 1”. It should be noted that Alyssa Jones (STANFORD; Southridge, Miami, FL), the 2023 NCAA Division I runner up, USATF U20 Champion and US U20 record holder (22-06.25) and World U20 leader, did not compete in this event.
3000m Steeplechase – Men
As with the women’s long jump, heavy rains wreaked havoc in this event. Caleb Jarema (MICHIGAN; Pinckney, MI), the USATF U20 runner up, won with a time of 9:05.92, more than 15 seconds off his best. Benjamin Balasz (OREGON; Sunset, Beaverton, OR), the 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals steeplechase champ, ran with Jarema for half the race, fell back to ultimately finish 4th (9:39.64). Pablo Gomez Gonzalez (Costa Rica) ran a gutsy race, almost catching Jarema down the home stretch, running 9:07.20. Third was Mark Lopez Sanchez (Mexico) in 9:16.26.
Pole Vault – Men
Jack Mann (TEXAS A+M; Lake Travis, Austin, TX), SEC runner up and co-US U20 leader at 17-08.5, won with a jump 16-04.75. Aurelio de Souza Leite (Brazil) was 2nd, 4 inches back. Brenden Vanderpool (BAHAMAS; Whitefield Academy, Mableton, GA), the 2023 Georgia high school 1A champion, was third at 15-07. Tyler Cash (BAHAMAS; Allatoona, Acworth, GA), 5th at the 2023 Georgia high school 6A Championship, was 5th at 14-07.75. Cody Johnston (Hobart, IN), the 2023 Nike Indoor Nationals Pole Vault champion did not start.
1500m – Women
Ellis Shea (Belmont, MA), the 2021 Nike Outdoor Nationals 5000m Champion, ran her usual consistent race. She was often challenged, but persevered, running a fine 4:16.61. She had run a bit faster two weeks ago finishing second at the NACAC U23 meet against much older competitors. She has been running at a high level for 3 years now.
Second, and running with Ellie much of the way, was South American U20 Champion Anna Poma Mendoza of Peru, with a personal best of 4:18.28. Kyla Martin (CANADA) was third in 4:25.95. Isabel Conde de Frankenburg (ARGENTINA; Cedar Park, TX), 6th in the 2022 Nike Cross Nationals cross country championship, was fourth in 4:30.33. Charlotte Sinke of Canada, the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals 2 Mile runner up, was fifth in 4:38.15 (she was 18th in the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals Mile). Audrey Allman (VANDERBILT, Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, IL), the 2019 New Balance Nationals Outdoor Freshman Mile runner up, was 6th in 4:41.18. Audrey actually finished 6th at the 2023 USATF U20 Championships, but those placing 2nd through 5th were not able to compete for various reasons. Sophia Gorriaran (Moses Brown, Providence, RI), 2nd at the USAT U20 meet, opted to compete only in the 800m here. Angelina Napoleon, Ella Cohen and Reece Dalton, who finished 3-4-5 at the USATF U20 meet, opted not to compete for various reasons.
400m Hurdles – Women
Sanaa Hebron (MIAMI; Neshaminy, Langorne, PA), seventh in the 2021 Nike Indoor Nationals 200m, and Allyria Mc Bride (VANDERBILT; Wheeler, Marietta, GA), 5th in the 2022 Nike Outdoor Natonals 400m Hurdles, garnered the gold and bronze medals. They are the US U20 first and second ranked 400m hurdlers. It was Hebron winning with 56.90 and Mc Bride third at 58.32. Michelle Smith (US VIRGIN ISLANDS; Montverde Academy, Montverde, FL), the U.S. high school leader and 2023 NACAC U18 champion, was second in 57.99. Reyne Rodriguez (CANADA/CORNELL U), 10th in 2019 New Balance Indoor Nationals Freshman 400m and 4th in the 2023 Ivy League 400m Hurdles, was 5th here in 60.81.
400m Hurdles – Men
Bryce Tucker (Pennsauken, NJ), 4th at the 2023 Nike Indoor Nationals 400m, trailed for half the race but saved his best effort for the last 10 meters, winning in 51.36. He is the US High School and US U20 leader with a best of 50.96. He actually finished 3rd at the USATF U20 Championships, but was named to the team because 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals 400m Hurdles champ Gage Gose had passport issues.
Second was 2022 Nike Outdoor Nationals 400m Hurdles Champ Yan Vazquez (PUERTO RICO/UCLA; Red Mountain, Mesa, AZ). Damon Frabotta (BOSTON COLLEGE; St. Ignatius, Cleveland, OH), surprise USATF U20 runner up, was third in 52.19. He had a substantial lead through 7 hurdles, but labored over the last 3 hurdles, barely hanging on to get the bronze medal. Shimar Bain (BAHAMAS/TIFFIN U), 2023 NCAA Division II semi finalist was 5th in 53.55.
5000m – Men
Ethan Coleman (NOTRE DAME; Olympia, WA) led the entire way and won with a time of 14:44.58. It was hot and humid and was obviously not favorable weather for this distance. Ethan did not run the 5000m at the USATF U20 meet; he was the 10000m winner. Challenging Coleman the entire race was Elvis Campanocca Checco of Peru, running 14:45.85.
The 5000m USATF U20 champ, Andrew Rogers (MISSOURI/Herscher, IL) did not make the trip. Liam Tilton (RUTGERS/Highland Park, NJ) was second at the USATF U20 meet and did not run here, though he was originally entered. Third was William Ryan (IOWA; Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines, IA) in 14:52.06. Austin Garcia-Silver (COLOMBIA; Marshfield, Coos Bay, OR), 22nd in the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals 2 Mile, was 4th in 14:53.26. Austin Ledgerwood, 7th in the USATF U20 10000m, was 5th. We’re unsure why a third American was in the race.
100m - Women
Alana Reid, the Jamaican high school champion with a best of 10.92, was the winner in 11.33 (0.3). Kaila Jackson (GEORGIA; Renaissance, Detroit, MI), 5th in the 2021 Nike Outdoor Nationals 200m, was a close second (11.41) with Camryn Dickson (TEXAS A+M; Clear Brook, TX) third (11.48)
100m - Men
Tyler Azcano (East Ridge, Clermont, FL 2022 grad who will be a freshman at FLORIDA A&M in the fall) continues to surprise, upsetting Jamaican high school champ Bouwahigie Nkrumie 10.26 to 10.31 (0.3). Azcano, virtually unknown last year, finished the season as the number 2 US Junior (10.09 best) and Pan Am U20 champion. Adrian Canales Correa of Puerto Rico, an obvious crowd favorite, surprised for third with a lifetime best of 10.35. Cameron Tarver (SAN JOSE STATE; Fresno Central, Fresno, CA) was 4th in 10.50.
Mixed 4x400m Relay
It was a relatively easy run for the U.S. team, winning in 3:18.07. George Garcia (LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN; Eastwood, El Paso, TX) led off and took a slight lead that grew with each leg. Second was Madison Whyte (Heritage, Newport News, VA), third in the 2021 Nike Outdoor Nationals 200m, followed by Max D’Angelo (Millbrook, Raleigh, NC) and Jameesia Ford (Jack Britt, Fayetteville, NC), the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals 400m Champion. Ford and White had finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, at the USATF U20 championships. Garcia made the USATF U20 final, but was disqualified. He was named to the US relay pool nonetheless. D’Angelo did not make the USATF U20 final, but was 10th overall in that event. To their credit they ran well and will come home with gold medals. Only four teams were in this event. Brazil was second (3:24.23) and Jamaica third (3:25.03).
Decathlon Day 1 Summary
Just a three man field with two Americans and a Canadian. Nate Paris (CANADA/U BRITISH COLUMBIA) leads the field. He is the 2023 NAIA Decathlon Champion (as a Freshman) scoring 7232 points (with the international implements) to win that meet. He was also 12th in last year’s World Athletics U20 championship, scoring 7309 points.
Aidan Carter (Brentwood, TN), the USATF U20 Champ, the 2023 Nike Indoor Nationals pentathlon champ and 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals decathlon 4th place finisher, is in second after Day 1.
Koby Kessler (OREGON; Tigard, OR) is in third, just 26 points behind Carter.
Comparing previous stats for Paris and Carter:
Nate Paris:
2022 World Athletics U20 Decathlon: Day 1 4145 points, Day 2 3164 points
2023 Pan Am U20 Decathlon: Day 1 4017 points
Aidan Carter:
2023 USATF U20 Decathlon Day 1 3628 points, Day 2 3287 points
2023 Pan Am U20 Decathlon: Day 1 3555 points
He had a slightly better high jump and 400m compared to the USATF U20 m
