Brahe-Pedersen, 17, becomes only second female athlete in meet history to win 100, 200 and 4x100 relay titles in same year; Wiley and Shea both run faster than 1,500 meet record to produce 1-2 finish for Americans, who also win women’s 4x400 to finish with 24 golds and 49 overall medals

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Mia Brahe-Pedersen and Addy Wiley might never occupy the track in the same race, but the elite 17-year-old sprinter from Lake Oswego High in Oregon and the 19-year-old distance standout from Huntington University in Indiana were teammates for the United States last year at the World Athletics U20 Championships, sharing similar experiences in Colombia.

Although both individuals demonstrated they could compete against the top young athletes in the world, Brahe-Pedersen and Wiley each narrowly missed out earning a medal, creating even greater motivation the next time they represented the U.S. at an international championship event.

Less than a year later, Brahe-Pedersen and Wiley both made history for the Americans at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Under-23 Championships at the National Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica.

INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

Brahe-Pedersen became only the second female athlete in event history to win gold medals in the 100-meter dash, 200 meters and 4x100-meter relay in the same year, with Wiley delivering the most dominant performance for the U.S. by smashing the meet record in the 1,500 meters Sunday to contribute to another impressive showcase by the Americans.

Brahe-Pedersen, the only U.S. athlete to secure three golds at the three-day meet, ran a wind-legal 23.05 seconds Sunday in the 200 to complete her sprint sweep, including a wind-legal 11.08 in the 100 final and running anchor on another meet-record performance of 42.74 in the 4x100 relay.

Brahe-Pedersen joined fellow American Cierra White, who won all three titles in 2014 in Canada, after finishing fourth in the 200 and seventh in the 100 in August at the World U20 Championships, in addition to not being selected to compete for the U.S. on the 4x100 relay.

Wiley, who was fifth in Colombia in the 1,500 final, not only eclipsed the meet record in Costa Rica, but did so by nearly 10 seconds. The seven-time NAIA national champion clocked 4:05.84 to lead a 1-2 finish with 17-year-old Ellie Shea of Emerging Elites in Massachusetts running 4:14.90.

Both athletes ran faster than the previous meet record of 4:15.52 achieved by Canadian Jenna Westaway in 2014 in British Columbia. Holly MacGillivray of NAIA University of British Columbia took third for Canada in 4:15.99.

Wiley has improved from running 4:11.43 at the World U20 Championships to achieving three sub-4:06 performances in less than two months, including a personal-best 4:03.22 on June 3 at the Music City Track Carnival in Tennessee.

The Americans achieved one final meet record in the women’s 4x400 relay, with Michigan’s Ziyah Holman, Central Florida’s Kiah Williams, USC’s Jan’Taijah Jones and Texas A&M’s Jermaisha Arnold clocking 3:26.83 to prevail against Jamaica (3:28.50).

The U.S. eclipsed the 3:27.46 performance by Jamaica from 2008 in Mexico.

Arnold finished with a pair of gold medals, including a meet record 50.68 in the 400. Williams contributed to a pair of relay victories for the U.S., also running on the mixed 4x400 that clocked 3:14.71.

The Americans finished with 24 golds, including four Sunday, and 49 overall medals.

Akron’s Hunter Garretson prevailed in the men’s pole vault final with a meet-record 18-4.75 (5.61m) on his third attempt, eclipsing the 2019 performances of fellow Americans Zach Bradford and Clayton Fritsch, who both cleared 18-4.50 (5.60m) in Mexico.

Kansas’ Clayton Simms missed on three attempts for the U.S. at his opening height of 17-6.50 (5.35m).

Romaine Beckford, representing Jamaica, shared the spotlight in the men’s high jump final with new Arkansas teammate Kason O’Riley.

Beckford, who captured NCAA Division 1 indoor and outdoor titles for South Florida, recently announced his decision to join the Razorbacks’ program, which O’Riley represented this past year.

Beckford cleared 7-3 (2.21m) on his first attempt to win gold, with O’Riley achieving a clearance of 7-1.75 (2.18m) on his first opportunity to secure silver.

Nebraska’s Rhianna Phipps, representing Jamaica, captured gold in the women’s triple jump final with a wind-legal effort of 44-8 (13.61m) in the third round.

The Americans earned silver and bronze, with Missouri’s Euphenie Andre producing a wind-aided performance of 44-0.50 (13.42m) on her opening attempt and Central Florida’s Asherah Collins contributing a wind-legal mark of 42-9.50 (13.04m) in the third round.

Penn State’s Handal Roban of St. Vincent and the Grenadines won a thrilling men’s 800 in 1:47.43, with Villanova’s Sean Dolan securing silver for the U.S. in 1:47.54. Dennick Luke of Dominica took third in 1:47.62.

Eastern Michigan’s Callum Robinson, representing Canada, won the men’s 200 title in a wind-legal 20.52.

Demar Francis of Jamaica grabbed silver in 20.67, with Arkansas’ Connor Washington achieving bronze for the U.S. in 20.74, just ahead of American teammate Brice Chabot of Texas-San Antonio in 20.83.

Syracuse’s Kevin Robertson, representing Canada, won the men’s 3,000 steeplechase in 9:04.77, with American Carson Williams of Furman earning bronze in 9:30.66.

Nebraska’s Rhema Otabor, the reigning NCAA Division 1 champion in the women’s javelin representing the Bahamas, grabbed gold in Costa Rica as well with a meet-record 188-7 (57.48m) in the third round.

Otabor surpassed the 2016 mark of 187-4 (57.09m) established by Cuba’s Yulenmis Aguilar.

Auburn’s Maura Huwalt earned silver for the U.S. with a first-round throw of 161-7 (49.25m).

Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson, Reheem Hayles, Delano Kennedy and D’Andre Anderson won the men’s 4x400 relay title in 3:02.44.

USC’s William Jones, Georgia’s Caleb Cavanaugh and former Bulldogs teammate Will Sumner, along with Washington, placed second for the Americans in 3:03.84. Cavanaugh finished with three medals for the U.S., including gold in the 400 hurdles and mixed 4x400.

Canada enjoyed a 1-2 finish in the women’s 800, with University of Alberta’s Olivia Cooper prevailing in 2:07.59, ahead of West Virginia’s Cassandra Williamson in 2:07.83.

Emile Toupin of Team Quebec added another victory for Canada in the men’s 1,500 final in 4:00.01.

Boston University’s Foster Malleck achieved bronze in 4:02.43.