In a powerful display, the US team dominated the fourthteenth edition of the Pan-American Junior Championships, which took place in the “Estádio Ícaro de Castro Melo” stadium in Sao Paulo, the venue of South America’s high performance training center, from 6-8 July.

Thirty-five of the hemisphere’s national federations fielded teams with over 400 athletes.  The US team won 48 medals (24 gold) to 13 of Canada (4 gold) and 11 of Brazil (3 gold).  Athletes from Trinidad and Cuba won two events and nine other countries were victors in one event with athletes from a total of 21 countries mounting the podium, including nine of South America’s 12 participating Members.

Eight championships records were improved during the five sessions of competition, two in the men’s division and six in the women’s program.

One of the oldest records of the competition was broken twice by American Kristi Castlin in the 100m hurdles with 13.02 (-0.8).

Lynne Layne with 11.24 in the 100 meters (0.8) and Queen Harrison in  the 400 hurdles with 56.26 continued the USA  re-writing of the championship record book.

In the Pole Vault, American Alicia Rue set another Championship record with a 4.20m PB.

Johnny Dutch of the USA set a championship record for the USA in the 110 hurdles (13.46).  Dutch also won the  400m hurdles (50.82) to become the sole double victor of the meet.

The remaining Championship record for the USA was set by their women’s team in the 4x400m relay (Brandi Cross, Latavia Thomas, Brehanna Jacobs and Jessica Beard) in 3:29.67.

But there were records by nationals of other countries:   Jamaican Bobbygaye Watkins in the 400 meters with a 51.72 performance and Victor Fateche winning the javelin with a 75.43 throw that gave Paraguay their first ever gold in these championships.