Marsh and Williams both capture first championships for Americans in respective events since 2003, with Werner securing silver in women’s 5,000, Aquilla earning bronze in women’s shot put, Comber grabbing bronze in men’s 1,500 and Gray giving U.S. a pair of medalists in heptathlon

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Erin Marsh and Bridget Williams ended a pair of 20-year championship droughts for the United States with their gold medals Thursday at the Pan American Games at Julio Martinez Pradanos National Stadium in Santiago, Chile.

The Americans had not achieved Pan Am titles in either the women’s heptathlon or pole vault since 2003, but the former Atlantic Coast Conference standouts both earned their first international gold medals just hours apart to help the U.S. pull even with Brazil for the overall lead with 14 medals each entering the penultimate day of track and field competition.

Williams, an All-American at Virginia, cleared 15 feet, 1 inch (4.60m) on her first attempt to capture the pole vault title, the first for the Americans since Melissa Mueller won in 2003 in the Dominican Republic.

The U.S. has medaled in the women’s pole vault in all seven editions of the Pan Am Games since it was added to the meet schedule in 1999, but Mueller and Williams are the only two American champions.

Williams needed to clear 14-9 (4.50m) on the third attempt to remain in the competition, then missed her first opportunity at 14-11 (4.55m), before passing to 15-1 and achieving the deciding clearance.

Venezuela’s Robeilys Peinado cleared 14-11 on her second try, then missed her first two chances at 15-1, before deciding to take one unsuccessful attempt at 15-3 (4.65m) and securing silver.

Cuba’s Aislin Quiala grabbed bronze by clearing 14-6 (4.40m).

Marsh, a Duke All-American, continued to build on her opening-day lead in the heptathlon and punctuated her gold medal by running 2:18.57 in the 800 meters to conclude the seven-event schedule with 5,882 points.

Marsh is the first U.S. competitor to capture Pan Am heptathlon gold since Tiffany Lott-Hogan in 2003. She became the first American athlete to secure the Pan Am title, joining Cindy Greiner in 1987, DeeDee Nathan in 1991, Jamie McNeair in 1995 and Lott-Hogan.

Marsh held a 97-point advantage over fellow American Jordan Gray after four events, before adding another 200 points to her lead following a 20-7 (6.27m) long jump to open competition Thursday.

Marsh added a season-best 117-2 (35.71m) in the javelin and her fourth-place finish in the 800 was more than enough to prevail, with Puerto Rico’s Alysbeth Felix achieving silver at 5,665 points and Gray taking bronze with 5,494 points, capped by a victory in the 800 at 2:16.91.

It marked the first time since 1999 that the U.S. had multiple medalists in the heptathlon and the fifth time for the Americans in meet history.

Sarah Mitton triumphed in the women’s shot put with identical marks of 62-11.50 (19.19m) in the fifth and sixth rounds, winning the first Pan Am gold medal for Canada in the event since Nancy McCredie in 1963.

Rosa Angelica Ramirez of the Dominican Republic earned silver at 59-0.25 (17.99m) and American athlete Adelaide Aquilla achieved bronze with a mark of 8-2 (17.73m).

Canada took the top two spots in the men’s 1,500-meter final, with Charles Philibert-Thiboutot capturing his second Pan Am medal of the meet by winning in 3:39.74, edging Robert Heppenstall in 3:39.76 and American competitor Casey Comber in 3:39.90.

Kasey Knevelbaard, winner Tuesday for the U.S. in the men’s 5,000, placed fifth in 3:40.31.

Venezuela’s Joselyn Brea prevailed in the women’s 5,000-meter final in 16:04.12, with American competitor Taylor Werner securing silver in 16:06.48 and Canadian athlete Julie-Anne Staehli grabbing bronze in 16:06.75, with U.S. veteran Emily Infeld just missing the podium with a fourth-place effort in 16:09.53.

Cuba finished first and second in the women’s triple jump final, with Leyanis Perez soaring to 48-4.75 (14.75m) in the third round to capture gold and Liadagmis Povea achieving silver with a 47-3.50 (14.41m) performance.

Thea LaFond of Dominica took bronze at 46-9 (14.25m).

Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic won the women’s 200-meter final in 22.74, adding to her gold medal in the mixed 4x400-meter relay.

Cuba’s Yunisleidy Garcia clocked 23.33 for silver and Brazil’s Ana Carolina De Jesus was the bronze medalist in 23.52.

Renan Correa of Brazil captured gold in the men’s 200 in 20.37.

Jose Gonzalez from the Dominican Republic achieved silver in 20.56 and Nadale Buntin from Saint Kitts and Nevis took bronze in 20.79.

The U.S. was unable to medal in either 4x100 final, placing seventh in the women’s race and not finishing the men’s competition.

Cuba edged Chile by a 43.72 to 44.19 margin in the women’s 4x100 championship, with the Dominican Republic running 44.32 for bronze.

Brazil emerged victorious in the men’s 4x100 in 38.68, with Cuba securing silver in 39.26 and Argentina grabbing bronze in 39.48.