The U20 Pan Am Championships was an experience to remember. Located in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, it was a hot and humid trip beyond measure. I was fortunate to have met some fantastic people and be a part of a supportive team. Having met some of the people the year previous at the U20 World Athletics Championships, I felt surrounded by a great group of friends and support. Every athlete dreams of representing their country internationally, which became a reality again at the U20 Pan Am Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

The Road to Puerto Rico

My path to the U20 Pan Am Championships was paved with a year of adversity. In the months leading up to the U20 Pan Am Championships, I raced more than I ever had in a few months. The NCAA season is long, with the indoor and outdoor seasons virtually as one. The year leading up to U20 Pan Ams had me making many adjustments in training and life in general. Towards the end of the NCAA season, I returned to my peak form from the previous year. Looking for a big breakthrough and not having it happen was frustrating. However, the consistency was there, running around a second off my personal best (PB) in the 1500m and 800m in almost every race. Some relief came as I finally PB’d in the 800m and 1500m. Moving the needle closer to a time that could make my dreams a reality. PB’s come at weird times. Going into the 1500m race in Windsor, ON, I had taken some time off as I was dealing with ongoing knee pain. It had started to feel better before the race, but my anxiety was high, and I didn’t know what to expect. Although I didn’t place where I wanted to in the race, achieving a personal best mark filled me with joy and gave me a sense of self-belief I hadn’t felt in a while. I further my PB one more time at the Victoria track classic out in British Colombia, running 3:42.1. That time secured my spot on the U20 Pan Am team and put me atop the ranking of my age category (U20) and top 15 in all of Canada.

The U20 Pan Am Championships

The U20 Pan Am Championships, held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, brought together junior athletes from across the Americas, providing a platform to showcase their talents and compete at an elite level. I faced high-quality competition from athletes from countries like Jamaica, the US, Brazil, Mexico, and more. The atmosphere was unique. It wasn’t entirely as professional as the U20 Worlds, but the people were super friendly, and they hosted a great event. I ran three events at the championships: the 1500m, 800m, and 4x400m relay. Initially, there were semis and finals for all events; however, with limited people attending the event, they made each event a straight final, playing into my favor as I had multiple events to focus on. The day of the 1500m final was one to remember.

The emotions of being nervous and excited were interchanging. I knew what I had to do and was just sick of the anticipation. When the moment came, I felt ready. Getting out in the middle of the pack, I was confident the whole time. As the move was made with 500 to go, I went with it. Making my way up to the top of the field with around 400 meters to go, I turned in on with 300m left and never looked back. I closed the last 400m in 51.5. Crossing the line, a wave of emotion surged through my body. I was fortunate to have my parents and coach there supporting me, making it a moment my family and I will cherish forever. I learned a lot from the season, now being at the tail end of it. Soon after the race and the medal ceremony, I had to refocus on the 800m and 4x400m, as they were on deck. The support from back home was overwhelming. My phone was blowing up, and I was getting calls from friends and family. The 800m and 4×400 didn’t go as well, coming 4th and 5th. Finally, being able to rest a little was a relief but also bittersweet.

My experience at the U20 Pan Am Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, was a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and discipline. It took a lot of behind-the-scenes work to get there and to perform once there. Coming home with a gold medal wrapped up a tough season in the sweetest way.