Giavonna Meeks and Skylar Soli take Hammer gold and silver at Pan American U20 Championships

MAYAGÜEZ, Puerto Rico, (August 4) — Giavonna Meeks and Skylar Soli clinched gold and silver respectively for the United States in the women’s Hammer Throw at the 2023 Pan American U20 Championships. The track and field competitions kicked off on Friday at the Jose A. Figueroa Freire Stadium in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, with the USA winning five medals in the morning session.

Meeks, the national champion from last month’s USATF U20 Championships, threw 59.17 meters (194′ 1″) in the third round, edging out her compatriot Soli. Soli registered her best mark of the competition in the same round, throwing a close 59.13m (194′ 0″).

Read more: Day 1 AM Session: Pan American U20 Championships 2023 track and field results

Sophie Perez of Guatemala, currently in the best form of her career, secured the bronze medal with a throw of 57.93m in the fourth round. She finished ahead of Puerto Rico’s Yarielis Torres, who threw 57.60m.

Miguel Castro wins Pan American U20 Championships Hammer Gold

In the men’s Hammer Throw, the gold medal was claimed by Miguel Castro of Chile. He recorded a throw of 72.47m (237′ 9″) in the third round and managed to exceed 70 meters in four of his attempts.

Argentina’s Tomas Olivera secured second place with a throw of 71.16m, while the bronze medal went to Jose Chavez Espinoza of Mexico, who achieved a throw of 70.23m.

The American athletes failed to reach the podium in the men’s Hammer final. Michael Pinckney achieved a fifth-place finish with a throw of 68.38m, while Gary Moore’s best throw of 64.89m secured him a seventh-place finish.

Full Results Below:

Women’s Hammer Throw Final

1. Giavonna Meeks (United States) – 59.17m (194′ 1″)
2. Skylar Soli (United States) – 59.13m (194′ 0″)
3. Sophie Perez Gonzalez (Guatemala) – 57.93m (190′ 0″)
4. Yarielis Torres Rios (Puerto Rico) – 57.60m (188′ 11″)
5. Giuliana Baigorria Alarcon (Argentina) – 56.67m (185′ 11″)
6. Liangie Calderon Reyes (Puerto Rico) – 46.57m (152′ 9″)

Men’s Hammer Throw Final

1. Miguel Castro Vasquez (Chile) – 72.47m (237′ 9″)
2. Tomas Olivera (Argentina) – 71.16m (233′ 5″)
3. Jose Chavez Espinoza (Mexico) – 70.23m (230′ 5″)
4. Jean Ortiz Cruz (Colombia) – 68.43m (224′ 6″)
5. Michael Pinckney (United States) – 68.38m (224′ 4″)
6. Cipriano Riquelme Barra (Chile) – 65.61m (215′ 3″)
7. Gary Moore (United States) – 64.89m (212′ 10″)
8. David Ayala (El Salvador) – 63.82m (209′ 4″)

For more results and updates, click here