The American sprinter teams are now home from the Pan American U20 Championships at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, and they are celebrating. The men’s and women’s USA U20 teams broke back-to-back World U20 records at the races in Costa Rica. Cory Mull with Milesplit USA commented that the team was “resetting records that many saw as nearly untouchable.”
Alexis Holmes, Kimberly Harris, Ziyah Holman and Kayla Davis of the American women’s team ran a time of 3:24.04. That time shaved over three seconds off world record time and broke the record of 3:27.60 that had stood for 15 years.
The USA mens 4 x 400m relay team broke the world record at the Pan American games. Photo courtesy of Milesplit USA.
Meanwhile, the men’s team burst through the three minute barrier posting an impressive 2:59.30. The record time thanks to explosive runs by Fred Lewis, Matthew Boling, Matthew Moorer and Justin Robinson. The American men knocked over a full second off the men’s world record time of 3:00.33. That mark was set at the Pan American Junior games two years ago.
“We’re all used to being the anchor,” commented Alexis Holmes after the victory. Each runner typically running as the anchor melded together for a complete team effort.
The men’s recent high school running sensation Matthew Boling, said they were all focused on running “45’s.” The focus resulted in a breakthrough sprint for the men’s team–the first ever under 3-minutes at this level.
Commentator Michael Herron said “Team USA’s 17 year old high school junior Justin Robinson’s amazing 43.5 second anchor leg split at Pan Am U-20 Juniors is most likely the fastest high school and U-20 split on a 4 x 400m relay in world history.”
When coach Wallace Spearmon was asked about the tremendous showing of the American sprint results, he said “I got lucky, I’m not going to take credit for any of that.”
Michael Reed coaches high school cross country and serves as the editor of The Standard newspaper.
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