Team USA has the largest group of athletes at the championships, and a good amount of Texas high school and former high school athletes.
Day 1 was a successful day for several of those athletes.
After relay duties in 2018, Houston Strake Jesuit graduate Boling has a full slate at this year's Pan American Games. Boling started things off with a 100m win and a new 10.11 PR.
Getting off to a good start was the key, "I've been working on it (start) a lot," Boling said. That helped propel him to the win and the outstanding time. He still has a work load remaining the last two days with the 200m, 4x100 relay, and the 4x400 relay.
Claire Bryant Stacks Medals With A Long Jump Gold
Houston Memorial senior Claire Bryant not only let the state and the nation know who she was this year, but she has now put the world on notice.
Bryant won the gold medal in the long jump on her last jump. She was in silver medal position, but she decided to go for the gusto on her last and popped a good one.
In her first international competition, Bryant showed the composure and competitiveness necessary do well and she contributed some of that to Texas, "Texas is pretty competitive and I guess internationally is too, it's kinda funny to go small scale to kind of a global scale."
Eric Edwards Continues His International Success
Former Langham Creek star Eric Edwards already has an international gold medal and repeating was a goal. However, there would be no shortage of challenges for hims this year.
After being disqualified at the NCAA 110 Hurdle Finals in June, redemption was on Edwards' mind. The former Oregon Duck and now LSU Tiger had to battle injuries on his road to the award stand this time around, but there was clearly no stopping him as he ran an outstanding 13.11 for another gold medal.
Branson Ellis Never Satisfied, But Grabs Gold In Pole Vault
Former Tyler Lee state champion and current Stephen F. Austin star set the tone for Team USA with a gold medal performance in the pole vault.
Ellis survived a long collegiate season that saw him qualify for the NCAAs in his first year and climb as high as 18-4, got on poles for the first time in this competition on his way to the win. "Freshman season, I really couldn't have asked for it to be better. It's been a super long season and I'm happy where I am at now," Ellis said.
The Badal Sisters Have International Experience Representing Trinidad
Tomball Concordia Lutheran stars Tamia Badal And Taejha Badal have competed for Trinidad before and have positive hopes for this weekend's competitions.
Recent graduate and Colorado signee Tamia will compete in both hurdle events and Taejha competed in the 400m today as they represent their school, TAPPS, Texas, and Trinidad.
