Hey, athletics fans! It's time to celebrate the achievements of our talented BC athletes who took to the track and field at the 2023 Pan American U20 Championships. From August 4th to 6th, the picturesque Mayagüez Athletics Stadium in Puerto Rico witnessed the best and brightest junior (U20) athletes from across North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Let's dive into the incredible performances of our homegrown stars who made us proud on the international stage! For full results click here.
Amelia Kristen, the Canadian U20 400m Hurdles silver medalist, placed seventh in a fierce field with a time of 1:02.45 seconds. Come the fall, Kristen will be taking her talents to the University of Pennsylvania, where she is bound to reach even higher heights. We can't wait to see what more she accomplishes!
Speaking of talented athletes, Divine Aniamaka is coming back to BC with a bronze medal. He broke records back home, dominating the BC High School Senior Boys Triple Jump with an incredible leap of 15.42m earlier in June. Just a week ago he secured his first National Championship title at the U20 Bell Canadian Track and Field Championships. At the Pan American U20 Athletics Championships, he claimed third in the triple jump event with a mark of 15.25m (+2.3m/s). The University of Milwaukee will be welcoming Aniamaka with excitement come the fall!
Kaiya Robertson proved her tenacity by qualifying for the NCAA West Preliminary round in the 1500m during her freshman year at Boise State University. At the U20 Pan American Championships, she secured an impressive fourth-place finish in the 3000m with a time of 9:52.61 seconds. In a similar manner, Krysthina Vlahovic, fresh from her first year at Utah State University, blazed through the preliminaries of the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.23 seconds, making her way to the final where she secured an eighth-place finish with a time of 14.78 seconds.
In the field, Levi Tuura soared to new heights with an impressive 1.90m leap in the men's high jump, securing the sixth position. He had earlier showcased his talent during the Bell Canadian Championships, where he secured fifth place in the U20 high jump with a mark of 1.95m. Lastly, rounding out the BC talent, Nate Paris, a recent freshman from UBC, made Canada proud by becoming an NAIA National Champion in the Decathlon earlier this May. At the U20 Pan American Championships, he made yet another podium, placing third.
These young athletes have proven that hard work, dedication, and talent can take you places. Their achievements at the 2023 Pan American U20 Athletics Championships are just the beginning of their inspiring journeys. As they continue to push boundaries and their own limits, we'll be right here cheering them on every step of the way!