Alabama sophomore Takyera Roberson and incoming freshman Jaimie Robinson reached the medal stand for the United States at the 2017 Pan American U20 Track & Field Championships this weekend in Trujillo, Peru.
In the final women’s event of the meet on Sunday, Roberson ran the anchor leg for the United States women’s 4×400-meter relay as the quartet raced to the gold medal in a PanAm meet record time of 3:28.55. Canada (3:33.19) and Ecuador (3:46.57) finished second and third, respectively. The winning time surpasses the previous meet record of 3:29.67, which was set by the United States at the 2007 Pan American U20 meet in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Roberson also earned a fourth-place finish in the women’s 400 meters on Friday with a time of 52.89.
Robinson, who will enroll at Alabama this fall, finished second in the women’s triple jump on Saturday with a leap of 43-8 ½ (13.32m). Cuba’a Davisleydi Velazco won gold with a mark of 44-7 (13.59m). Jasmine Moore of the United States finished third at 43-5¾ (13.25m).
The next major international competition on tap for Alabama track & field athletes will be the 2017 IAAF Outdoor World Championships, Aug. 4-13 in London, England. Members of the 2017 Crimson Tide track & field team who have qualified to compete include the Quanesha Burks (United States/women’s long jump), Steven Gayle (Jamaica/men’s 400 meters), Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago/men’s 200 meters), Ruebin Walters (Trinidad & Tobago/men’s 110-meter hurdles) and Domonique Williams (Trinidad & Tobago/women’s 400 meters).
Former Alabama athletes who have also qualified include Alex Amankwah (Ghana/men’s 800 meters) and 2016 Olympic 4×100-meter relay bronze medalist Akeem Haynes (Canada/men’s 4×100-meter relay).
